More clubs take up the Grassroots Challenge

Young farmers’ clubs are continuing to take up the Ulster Wildlife’s Grassroots Challenge – an exciting youth empowerment initiative which is led by Ulster Wildlife and provides young people with the skills, knowledge and confidence to give nature a helping hand in their local communities, through the delivery of ‘wild idea’ projects.

Kells and Connor YFC recently held a Grassroots Challenge taster session entitled ‘Buzzy Bees’.

Currently Ireland has 101 species of bees, 19 of them being bumble bees of which half are in decline.

Members were able to do their part to help by building bee boxes.

They also enjoyed building and decorating flower boxes and planted daffodils bulbs which will flower early, providing vital food for Queen Bees as they search for a nesting site.

West Fermanagh YFC also got involved in the Grassroots Challenge by holding a red squirrel themed club night.

They discussed the factors that have led to the decline of this iconic creature throughout the UK and Ireland, primarily due to the introduction of the invasive greys.

The club then looked at what they could do to help and constructed feeders for their area which is one of the last strongholds of reds in Northern Ireland.