A community-led event focused on managing the landscape of the Blackstairs Mountains will take place on Thursday (November 20), at Rathanna Community Hall, Co. Carlow.

The event will be led by local guest speaker Dr. Kevin Whelan, a professor of Irish history, and will focus on how farming practices have influenced the landscape of the Blackstairs Mountains over the years.

Carlow County Council biodiversity officer, Shane Casey told Agriland: "The event on Thursday will be led by Kevin Whelan who is a historian by profession and a local man to the Blackstairs [mountains].

"He has a keen eye for the landscape of the Blackstairs Mountains, and like any high nature value landscape, it's not just about the nature but very much about the people who live and work there, and specifically about the farming practices.

"The mountain itself was shaped by geology, but what's on the surface and what we see everyday, that was shaped by people and shaped by farmers, and farming communities in that area."

Casey outlined that farming practices have changed over the years and the landscape has evolved because of this.

The biodiversity officer also highlighted that this landscape needs to be protected, and that the rural and farming communities that live and work there should be acknowledged and supported.

"The farming communities that farm the land everyday, or even the rural communities who may not be from farming backgrounds but live there and want to know and learn how the landscape is shaped that way are important to safeguard it into the future," Casey added.

Carlow

Separately, Carlow County Council held an event last week detailing a project it has commissioned with Woodlands of Ireland.

The project is currently in year two of the three-year programme and involves surveying and mapping hedgerows in Co. Carlow.

According to Carlow County Council, the project aims to find a water quality and climate mitigation function and develop a new survey method with the potential to be rolled out nationwide.

The survey was undertaken within the River Burrin and River Mountain catchments, focusing on hedgerows with a flooding, water quality, and climate action function.

Shane Casey said: "We expect it will be possible to identify hedgerow specific recommendations for improving structure, through biodiversity enhancement, that will contribute to protecting the relevant landowner’s property and community.

"Field surveys are complete across both catchments with an excellent response and engagement from landowners, with a number of possible demonstration sites and farms identified for future engagement.

"Hedgerows in Carlow are much more diverse than expected, with a surprising volume of spindle across the catchments."