Background l Project l Stations, Sites and Species l The Ulster Wildlife Trust l Further Information & Stories
Translink, in partnership with the Ulster Wildlife Trust, have taken a positive and proactive approach to complying with statutory duties and obligations by funding a Biodiversity Project. The extent of Translink’s business, operating a bus and rail service across Northern Ireland incorporating a range of properties, structures and land, has warranted the creation of a post focusing on biodiversity. The extent as well as type of property that the company manages is impressive – over 200 miles of railway corridor alone.
Biodiversity is short for biological diversity – it is the total variety of all living things on earth: people, plants and animals and the places or habitats where they live. Biodiversity received international recognition with the signing of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992 by 150 world governments at the Rio Earth Summit, paving the way for individual countries targets and action plans.
Project:
The project will be run over 3 years from late June 2007. The project officer will undertake an audit of Translink’s properties and landholdings and from this will deliver a Biodiversity Action Plan. Issues identified by this process will be addressed. These could include the development of appropriate conservation advisory notes, educational and training events for staff and contractors and promotion of biodiversity through various mediums.
 |
 |
| Project Banner Stand | School children from Whitehead who built Biodiversity Boxes for the Larne line train stations. |
Much of the rail network runs adjacent to areas that are important for conservation such as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) like the Bann Estuary and also other designated sites such as Nature Reserves eg Brakagh Bog south of Portadown. Sites that have European and domestic designations have been recognised for their biodiversity value however, whether sites are designated or not, they will likely have a level of protection under domestic legislation such as that which protects hedgerows during bird nesting season.
It is important that Translink recognises its responsibilities and duties in relation to internationally- and nationally-important habitats and species. The organisation is also a large land owner and through training and education initiatives, it is expected that staff will be better equipped to recognise the opportunities and actions that they can incorporate into their work plans and projects to the benefit of wildlife.
The Ulster Wildlife Trust
 |
The UWT is a local nature conservation charity, working across Without a biodiverse environment, we are all under threat – people and wildlife. We believe in taking local nature conservation action to secure the survival of life, acting locally, thinking globally. |
Station posters developed by the project >>
'Swift Action' article >>
Milford Cutting Nature Reserve >>
Station Posters Developed by the Project:
 |
 |
| Autumn-Winter 2007-2008 | Spring-Summer 2008 |
One such enquiry was made in early 2008 when a local resident contacted us to explore the idea of Translink participating in a swift nest box scheme for his area. Swifts migrate from central and southern Africa each spring to these shores to breed, gravitating to the eaves and roofspaces of older buildings or modern buildings that can accommodate them. A bus depot in his area, it seems, offers prime summer residences for these overseas visitors – the location being the outside wall of the depot where nest boxes could be erected.
Rose Cremin, Translink Biodiversity Officer explains: “The problem for swifts in Northern Ireland is that they have traditionally nested in large colonies in old buildings, many of which were built in the late 19th century and are now being demolished or refurbished. The Northern Ireland Swift Group has reported colonies which have had their numbers halved in the past 20 years or been completely lost due to lack of nesting sites, so it’s important we do our bit to help.”
There are simple measures that can be taken to accommodate these impressive long-distance flyers – for example, being sensitive when redeveloping or using internal or external nest boxes on buildings – and there is plenty of information out there to guide you. Most likely we can all make space for wildlife; in this instance it is the swift species where a bus depot offers an ideal wall to put boxes up on. No doubt there are other opportunities for wildlife that Translink can accommodate, where practicable, with a little help from us.
Millford Cutting Nature Reserve
This small, secluded nature reserve managed by the Ulster Wildlife Trust is a former railway line, outside of Armagh City.
Millford Cutting Nature Reserve
The cutting includes a variety of habitats including a mix of flowery calcareous grasslands and scrubby woodland.
Find out more about the reserve >>
The Biodiversity Project is a partnership between Translink and the Ulster Wildlife Trust. For further information or to get involved, please contact Rose Cremin, Translink Biodiversity Officer at email rose.cremin@translink.co.uk or mobile 077-38886175.
Home | Journey Planner | Timetables | Fares | Travel Advice | About Us | News | Jobs | Feedback | Links | Environment | Contact Us | FOI | Visitors | Park and Ride | Sitemap
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Stumbleupon