A tree survey, community gardens, a bug hotel, and a wildlife walk are among the environmental projects in Westmeath to benefit from funding announced this week.
Funding of €16,000 was announced by Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan for some 21 environmental projects across the county. The projects are co-funded by the Department of the Environment and Westmeath County Council.
Among the projects to be carried out are improvements to a community garden in Dalton Park, and the establishment of a planted area to attract wildlife in Lakepoint Park, both in Mullingar.
Mullingar Tidy Towns committee has been allocated €250 to carry out a tree survey of the town, as recommended by Tidy Towns adjudicators. The survey will serve to establish the current stock of trees and identify where indigenous trees should be planted.
In Athlone, the Monsignor McCarthy Family Resource Centre will receive €400 towards the creation of a community allotment.
Loughnavalley is to benefit from €150 to build a ‘bug hotel’, which involves developing an area of wasteground as a habitat for insects, butterflies, and bees; while the Streamstown Tidy Village group is to receive €300 to plant native trees.
Other projects to benefit include the Tyrrellspass Development Association which is to receive €500 for a community composting project to include rainwater harvesting; and Multyfarnham Tidy Towns which is being allocated €450 to develop a nature walk and forest adventure.
Meanwhile Tubberclare NS has been allocated €500 to provide an outdoor classroom for the school.
Cllr Aidan Davitt welcomed the funding, saying he was delighted to see such worthy local projects benefiting from the allocations.
The total funding for 490 projects nationally amounts to €674,500.
