Inniscarra Grassland Meadow

Uisce Éireann is managing the meadows surrounding Inniscarra Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in County Cork which has led to the development of a diverse grassland meadow. This meadow in turn supports a diverse community of insects, birds and mammals. The wildflower seed from this site is harvested for use on other ecological projects and other Uisce Éireann sites.

Ongoing management of the meadows surrounding the Inniscarra WTP has resulted in a wonderfully diverse grassland. Meadows were once widespread across the entire country but changes in agriculture has seen a large reduction in this type of habitat. These meadows are alive with a multitude of insect, bird, mammal, and plant species.

The meadows at Inniscarra WTP are cut and baled once per year and in recent years Cork County Council and Uisce Éireann have teamed up with Eco Seeds to harvest the seed from the meadows at this site. The seed is then being used on other ecological projects and for landscaping at other UÉ sites. The seed has been used at a farm in North Cork, where experiments are being undertaken regarding the success of different seed transfer and sowing methods of native meadow seed onto agricultural fields. The seeding of agricultural fields, which are predominantly a monoculture of perennial rye grass, with seeds from natural meadows such as that at Inniscarra WTP will increase the biodiversity of the sward. Not only will this improve the resilience of the sward to changing climatic conditions, e.g., drought conditions during summer months, but it will also greatly improve the local biodiversity of the area and provide a greater range of food sources and refuges for insects, pollinators and birds.