microWild - Biodiversity Meadow Project
Donation protected
TL;DR:
- Create a native wildflower meadow with multiple microhabitats for insects and invertebrates.
- Amaze the general public by sharing its progress and increasing biodiversity through high quality images, videos and educational documents.
- Provide educational courses, workshops and talks in the on-site education centre
BACKGROUND
Hi there, my name is Brian Murray, and I'm a naturalist. I have spent all my life with a considerable interest in nature, wildlife and the environment. For the past number of years, I have focused on insects and invertebrates. You may even know me as 'Bees & Wasps of Ireland' on Twitter.
If you allow me, through microWild I will introduce you to, and teach you about some of the most beautiful and fascinating fauna that Ireland has to offer. I'm seeking funding for equipment to support and help publicise a Biodiversity Meadow Project. Over the next few years, I will document and promote the project and use it to educate about Irish fauna (and flora), emphasising my passion, invertebrates.
THE BIODIVERSITY MEADOW PROJECT
In early 2023, entirely by chance, I met Brian Kingham, the owner of Baltyboys House in Blessington, and we bonded over our shared interest in nature and the environment. Brian offered me the use of the country estate to further my survey research into bees, wasps, and other invertebrates. I regularly visited the estate throughout the rest of the spring, summer and autumn. I logged some remarkable specimen finds, including Andrena praecox (Small Sallow Mining Bee) and Meloe proscarabaeus (Black Oil Beetle).
Andrena praecox has only seventy verified records in the country over the past 150 years.
Meloe proscarabaeus has only eight verified records in the country in the same period.
I have since logged dozens and dozens more species of hoverflies, bees, wasps, beetles, craneflies, butterflies, moths, and harvestmen, to name a few. It is clear that this area has immense potential from a biodiversity point of view.
In Autumn 2023, I first raised the possibility of the Biodiversity Meadow Project with Brian to gauge his interest. Having now worked out the finer details of placement, fencing and access, I am over the moon to be given the opportunity to run this project for no other reason than we both understand the essential part that insects and other invertebrates play in our lives and, more importantly, want to share and promote this with others and to delight, educate and enthuse a new cohort of Irish and International 'Bug Ambassadors'.
Brian has offered me the use of over an acre of land to tend, manage, document and survey. It is my intention, over the next three or more years, to turn this previously sheep-grazed area, which sits adjacent to an existing pond fed by a natural spring, into a vibrant native wildflower meadow full of invertebrate-friendly microhabitats.
GOALS
There are so many reasons that I want to undertake this project, but it's probably good to list some here to see which might resonate with you, especially if you are considering becoming a donor:
- A reference project, which others can use to highlight the level of biodiversity that can be supported using small amounts of land.
- To encourage the flourishing of insect and invertebrate life, with a view to positively affecting other fauna in turn (e.g., birds and mammals).
- To document the scale of biodiversity both on the site and in the neighbouring area.
- To use these records to educate about the fauna and flora in question by producing a species list of the site that can be enhanced with supporting information (e.g., ecology, identification tips).
- To work with interested parties to make the project the absolute best to support the other project goals.
- To produce educational collateral through field guides, posters, identification keys, photographs and video resources where suitable.
- Ba mhaith liom roinnt de na físeáin, treoracha agus cáipéisí eile a chruthú ní amháin as Béarla ach as Gaeilge freisin.
- To produce a website and multi-platform social media presence supporting the ongoing activities.
ACTIVITIES
Below is a list of some of the activities that have been, or will be carried out on-site to improve the invertebrate biodiversity:
- Sowing of locally-sourced Yellow Rattle to decrease the grass growth; this allows native wildflowers to break through.
- Scraping of earth banks to provide Mining Bee, Furrow Bee, and Digger Wasp nesting habitats.
- Local wildflower seed collection and sowing.
- Construction and placing nesting boxes for cavity-nesting bees and wasps using local reeds, bramble stems, bamboo, and drilled, upright branches or logs from fallen wood on the estate.
- Introduction of one or more Hoverfly Lagoons.
- Construction of Bumblebee 'Observation Nesting Boxes' to encourage Bumblebee nesting.
- Placement of dead wood both in and out of water to encourage saproxylic invertebrates, those which rely on dead or rotting wood for some part of their lifecycle.
- Fast-growing plant management (Thistle, Dock, Hogweed, Ragwort, etc.)
Luckily, I don't have to carry out all this work alone. I have already worked with ReWild Wicklow and they will continue to provide volunteers to help with some of the larger tasks. I also have a list of local individuals I can call upon who have offered their time should I need it.
WHY I NEED FUNDING?
Well, I already have the drive, the backup team and basic skills to carry out this. What I'm missing are some of the tools I feel are vital to ensure the project's success in the public eye. While the primary goal of the project is to create a native wildflower meadow and appropriate microhabitats to support invertebrates, the secondary goal is to document it and to show you, the public, all the wonderful things that I see while doing this.
High-quality photographs and videos are essential tools in publicising projects such as this. My current camera (Olympus TG-6) is excellent for taking a particular type of photo (see the images of Andrena praecox and Meloe proscarabaeus above). Still, something more is required if you want to get up close and personal with many invertebrates. Check out Pete Burford to see what can be achieved with a really decent camera setup. Now imagine what I could do with that! Apart from a top-quality macro images, I also need the camera to record video to make short documentary-type segments. I haven't opted for the really expensive camera set-up, like Pete's, as it is hard to justify a €5,500+ spend for the project at this time. I have chosen a more humble set-up, which I hope can still achieve excellent results and effectively communicate visually the stunning array of flora and fauna we have in Ireland once we stop to take notice.
In addition, I would love to get a drone for certain types of video shots while documenting the project. It would also act as a cameraman (which I don't have) while walking and talking.
Finally, as the surrounding area will remain sheep-grazed grassland for the foreseeable future, I would like to get two remote cameras for the site to keep an eye on it while I'm absent. Sheep are determined and relentless animals with regard to getting access to the best grazing. I plan to make them very jealous with this project!
BUDGET
The main costs in priority order are:
- Camera system including standard lens, macro lens, flash and diffuser: €2,900
- HOVERAir X1 Pocket-Sized Self-Flying Camera (Drone): €500
- Remote Observational Camera (with SIM card) x 2: €450
Any additional funds secured above the target amount will be used wisely within the project context, and all project purchases will be shared openly during the project.
I would love your support for this project and hope you can join me on the journey.
Follow the project on your favourite social media site below:
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/microWildHQ
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/microwildhq
- BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/microwild.bsky.social
Organizer
Brian Murray
Organizer
County Wicklow