£100k to NI environmental projects

The Irish Whale and Dolphin group has been awarded £15,000 to monitor dolphins and porpoises in the seas off Portrush and the Giant's Causeway

A range of environmental projects, that include plans to eavesdrop on dolphins and a project to enhance Northern Ireland's top dragonfly location, are to benefit from a share of £100,000 of funding.

The money will be paid to four organisations out of the Environment Fund.

The Irish Whale and Dolphin group has been awarded £15,000 to monitor dolphins and porpoises in the seas off Portrush and the Giant's Causeway.

They said it would enable them to investigate patterns of activity using sophisticated acoustic monitoring devices to record communication calls.

In Portglenone, the Bann Valley Community Group will get £10,000 to restore ancient paths and build a riverside path linking an ancient crannog - or lake fort - to the villages of Clady and Inishrush.

The Woodland Trust is getting £40,000 to improve existing woods and plant new ones, as well as improve access by building paths.

Armagh Banbridge and Craigavon Council has been given £35,000 to improve a nature reserve renowned for its dragonflies.

It will introduce measures to control the flow of water through Brackagh Moss Nature Reserve near Craigavon.

The intention is to restore open water in some of the pools to favour dragonflies and other wildlife.

The project will also remove vegetation encroaching onto them and cutting back willow scrub growing into the reserve.