Mayo town gets its own 'Hare's Corner'

Ballyhaunis Tidy Towns planted an orchard of Irish apple trees in the Friary Grounds on Saturday last, writes Mark Godfrey.

The trees were sourced from Burren Beo as part of its 'Hare's Corner' grants. 

“We planted five Irish Heritage Apple trees, planted five metres apart," explained Tidy Towns. "We chose a variety of eating and dual-purpose apples. The group also planted a range of native Irish trees including Burren pine, holly, common alder and black poplar."

Ballyhaunis Tidy Towns, which published a Biodiversity Action Plan for Ballyhaunis earlier last year, is encouraging local farms and landowners to consider a Hare’s Corner in their field. 

The Tidy Towns group explains: “The term 'Hare's Corner' is an old farming expression for the corner of a field or an area of rough ground which wasn't intensively farmed. They are so valuable on any piece of land, big or small, that grants are available for individuals and communities to create small wild spaces such as ponds, heritage orchards, small woodlands and more! You can start small, by leaving corners of the garden un-mowed or uncut for insects, wildflowers and wildlife.”