Ulster Canal Biodiversity Project

Development Plan

2013-2016

June 2013

Kingfisher sighted by Steering Committee member, Joe Shannon. June 9th 2013 from Sheriff’s Bridge

ContentsExecutive Summary...............................................................................................................................................2

Introduction..........................................................................................................................................................4

The Ulster Canal................................................................................................................................................4

The Greenway...................................................................................................................................................4

The Opportunity................................................................................................................................................5

Stakeholders..........................................................................................................................................................5

The Organisations.............................................................................................................................................5

The Linkages......................................................................................................................................................6

Project Proposal....................................................................................................................................................6

Our Vision.........................................................................................................................................................6

Our Goals..........................................................................................................................................................6

Our Actions.......................................................................................................................................................7

The Site..................................................................................................................................................................7

Site Overview....................................................................................................................................................7

Habitat Descriptions..........................................................................................................................................8

Constraints & Challenges..................................................................................................................................8

Development Plan...............................................................................................................................................10

Greenway Construction..................................................................................................................................10

Development of Habitats................................................................................................................................10

Sectional Development Plans..........................................................................................................................10

Section 1: from behind the new Education Campus to the Armagh Rd......................................................10

Section 2: Area between Armagh Rd and N2 By-Pass................................................................................11

Section 3: From By-Pass bridge to Sheriff’s Bridge......................................................................................12

Section 4: Sheriff’s Bridge to bridge at St Davnet’s farmyard.....................................................................13

Section 5: St Davnet’s farmyard bridge.......................................................................................................14

Section 6: Sewerage Works to Rooskey Vale..............................................................................................15

Section 7: Old Cross Square & Ulster Canal Park........................................................................................15

Section 8: St Louis Convent to Horseshoe Bridge.......................................................................................16

Section 9: Horsehoe Bridge to Oriel Way....................................................................................................16

Section 10: Oriel Way to Killyconnigan.......................................................................................................17

Section 11: Killyconnigan to Threemilehouse Road....................................................................................17

Management Plan...............................................................................................................................................18

Appendix A: Bird Survey Spring 2013 (Joe Shannon, Birdwatch Ireland)

Appendix B: Ecological Impact Report (Flynn Furney Sept 2012)

Executive SummaryThe tow path of the Ulster Canal through Monaghan town is to be developed into an off-road walk/ cycle Greenway. Work is expected to start on site in late summer 2013, and to be complete by the end of the year. The canal has lain unused for many years, and as a result, substantial mature habitats have developed along its length.

A Biodiversity Steering Committee has been formed, with two key aims:

- To advise the project promoters on best practice in minimising disturbance to wildlife during the construction of the Greenway.

- To assist in the protection and development of the habitats along the canal as biodiversity resources.

The Committee have walked the canal route and have prepared this Development Plan to guide them in the work ahead of them.

Initially, the focus will be on recording what is there at present, to establish a baseline. This will make it possible to track the impact that various measures have when introduced. It will also identify areas which are particularly species-rich and species-poor. These can then be planned for accordingly.

The long term goal is to develop the land along the canal into a continuous linear habitat which is species rich and which offers a diverse range of habitats, supporting a wide variety of plants, animals, insects, fish and birds. Due to its link via the Blackwater river system to the Special Conservation Area of Sliabh Beagh, the canal corridor offers an important route for the movement of wildlife around the north of the county, and linking in to the Dromore river system to the west of Monaghan town.

In addition to being an important biodiversity site, because the site is located literally in Monaghan town, it provides an outstanding opportunity to engage with the public and promote awareness of the importance of biodiversity. The Steering Committee has devised a Biodiversity Trail which will provide information on both the habitats and their inhabitants, and the measures which have been taken to construct and manage the habitats. It is hoped that this will encourage others to make changes to how they manage the land in their control – even if that’s just a tiny garden – to make more room for biodiversity. The trail will be supported by a website, which will be linked to the various information points along the route by QR codes, enabling the viewer to access additional information via their smartphone. Outdoor classrooms at either end of the Greenway will enable local schools to take students out into the field to explore the subject in a thorough and engaging manner.

The Development Plan identifies the potential that each Section of the greenway offers for development. The three year Management Plan lays out how the various development and maintenance tasks will be achieved and how they fit into the longer term goal of creating a best practice biodiversity project.

Introduction

The Ulster CanalThe Ulster Canal was built between 1825 and 1842 and was 74 km (46 mi) long with 26 locks. It ran from Charlemont on the River Blackwater, through Monaghan town and Clones to Wattle Bridge on the River Finn, south-east of Upper Lough Erne. The last barge passed up the canal in 1931, and it has lain abandoned ever since.

In the intervening time, the canal and its banks have become a haven for a wide variety of wildlife. This habitat has been undisturbed for over fifty years, and the flora and fauna which inhabit it are well established.

A 4.5km stretch of the canal passes through Monaghan town. A tributary of the Blackwater River, the Shambles, flows alongside the canal for much of this length, offering a contrasting fast-flowing water habitat to the stagnant waters of the canal. The connection to the Blackwater also brings wildlife down from the Bragan area, which is a Special Protection Area (denoting it to be a site of European importance) and is also designated as an Area of Primary Amenity Value in the County Development Plan. The canal and the Shambles have created a prime wildlife corridor, bringing rare species right into the town centre. This represents a unique opportunity to both study these species and promote their conservation to a large number of people in an urban setting.

The GreenwayA Greenway is a communication route reserved exclusively for non-motorised journeys, developed in an integrated manner which enhances both the environment and quality of life of the surrounding area (EGA, 2000). Greenways are often developed along disused transportation networks – primarily railway lines and canals –which are brought back into use to facilitate transportation once again, with an emphasis on sustainability (hence the ‘green’ way) .

In 2012, the Dept of Transport, Tourism & Sport announced funding to support local authorities to develop a network of long-distance, off-road cycling routes. The scheme comes from work down by Tourism Ireland on identifying key strategic routes, known as the National Cycle Network. One of these routes passes from Sligo through Cavan and Monaghan and on to Dundalk.

Monaghan County Council saw the call for project proposals as the ideal vehicle through which to pursue its goal of re-opening the tow path of the Ulster Canal as a tourist amenity, providing a safe, off-road walking and cycling path from Clones to Monaghan and on to Glaslough via the disused railway line.

€471,000 was awarded in summer 2012 to construct a ‘Phase I’ of the Greenway, namely the 4.5km stretch through Monaghan town. This pathway will be open by the end of 2013. It is hoped to continue the pathway towards Clones and Glaslough in a Phase II in 2014.

The OpportunityIn spring 2013, Monaghan County Council brought together a number of organisations with an interest in promoting wildlife and biodiversity, and informed them of the planned Greenway. It was unanimously agreed that the project would provide an excellent opportunity to enhance the habitat for the promotion of wildlife, and to educate the public about the importance of biodiversity, and a steering committee was formed to seek to develop the idea further.

This document is the result of the work of that committee. Committee members walked the route, examined the ecological impact assessment report, and identified works which need to be done in order to protect, improve and promote what is there. These were then classified as being achievable in the short, medium or long term, and the short term actions were put into a three year development plan. A road map was also developed to ensure that we are working towards the achievement of the medium and long term goals also.

StakeholdersThe ultimate stakeholders in the project are the people of Co. Monaghan, who will enjoy the amenity for many years to come. However, for the purposes of this document, we are defining the stakeholders as those with a role in developing the Greenway.

The OrganisationsThe following organisations have been identified as having a direct role in the development of the biodiversity Greenway:

Organisation Their interest in the projectMonaghan County Council Water quality

Environmental awarenessBiodiversity awareness

Bird Watch Ireland Habitat preservationSpecies protection

Monaghan Tidy Towns Enhancement of the environmentPromotion of sustainable principlesImproving score in National TT

Monaghan Town Council Provision of an amenity for the people of the town

All four organisations have agreed to participate in this project. The Steering Committee Members are:Joe Shannon Birdwatch IrelandEmer Brennan Monaghan Tidy TownsCheryl Gormley Monaghan Tidy TownsCarmel Brennan Biodiversity Officer, Monaghan County CouncilBernie O Flaherty Executive Chemist, Monaghan County Council Nial O Connor Environmental Awareness Officer, Monaghan County CouncilShirley Clerkin Heritage Officer, Monaghan County CouncilJonathan Condell Assistant Town EngineerDenis Flannery Horticulturalist, Monaghan Town Council

Carol Lambe Community Development Officer, Monaghan County Council

The LinkagesThe proposed Ulster Canal Biodiversity Project links in to the following initiatives in the region:

- “Action for Biodiversity”. This is a three-year cross-border, multi-local authority project which aims to increase the capacity of each local authority to deliver on biodiversity actions. This project has already created some biodiversity features in Tom Young’s Wood, which is at one end of the Greenway. The development of a plan for the whole canal corridor is the next step to the work already achieved through this excellent initiative

- Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership – Monaghan County Council has for a number of years sought to partner up with community groups to deliver action on the ground. This project will be the most ambitious undertaken yet.

- Re-opening of the Ulster Canal. Work is at an advanced stage regarding re-opening the section of canal from Clones to Belturbet. It is hoped that eventually the entire route will be re-developed. In the meantime, it is important to record what is there and understand how the wildlife uses the canal corridor, so that any future developments can be planned sensitively.

- Tourism development. The tourism product of north Monaghan is very much led by outdoor activities. The addition of an off-road walk/ cycle trail will enhance the product mix. It will also link the two main tourist areas of the north of the county, namely Clones and Glaslough.

Project Proposal

We propose to use the new Greenway to provide access to areas of wildlife amenity, with a view to protecting and developing them, and also using them to highlight the importance of biodiversity and related topics.

Our Vision“The people of Monaghan are very aware of the importance of protecting wildlife habitats and promoting biodiversity, and are using best practice as highlighted by the Greenway Biodiversity Walk to implement changes in how they manage their own property, which is having a hugely beneficial effect on the amount of land and the range of habitats which have been given over to wildlife in Co Monaghan.”

Our Goals- To protect, enhance and maintain the wildlife habitats which are present along the route of

the Greenway- To further develop and manage selected habitats to encourage their use by specific wildlife,

as identified in the site’s habitat management plan- To provide information to the public about the importance of biodiversity, the importance of

different habitat types, and how to create and manage each type- To provide information to the public on the measures being undertaken along the Greenway

to enhance biodiversity, and their effectiveness

- To provide infrastructure along the greenway to make it a teaching resource

We will achieve the above by:

Our ActionsEnhancement of Habitats:

- Carry out litter clean-ups in spring each year - Manage the growth rate of dominant species in selected areas to encourage more diversity - Identify all invasive species and devise a strategy for their elimination- Provide nesting, perching, spawning and other aids to support & encourage targeted species

Raising Awareness of the importance of biodiversity

- Provide information stands along the route- Link the project to the County Council’s Biodiversity Plan

Using the Greenway as an educational resource

- Develop wildlife observation points overlooking strategic points along the Greenway- Develop an ‘outdoor classroom’ to the northern end of the route- Link physical information boards via QR codes to further information online

The Site

Site Overview

The route extends from the junction of the Clones Road (N54) with the Newbliss Road (R189) at the south west edge of Monaghan town to the Armagh Road (N12) on the north east edge of the town, passing through the centre of the town en route. For the northern half of the route, the river Shambles runs parallel to the canal, meaning that in some areas there are two watercourses and three banks.

From the Armagh Road, the route passes through agricultural grasslands before running parallel to and east of the River Shambles. It follows much of the eastern boundary of St. Davnet’s hospital grounds. The route then follows a farm lane for a small distance before extending along a grassed embankment parallel to the fast-flowing Shambles River.

The route joins the roadway at Rooskey Vale and then must pass over a number of roads where the canal has been covered over before rejoining the canal channel in Ulster Canal Park. The channel and towpath are clear where it passes through the grounds of St Louis Convent and on through some varying terrain and habitat types. These include broadleaved woodland and scrub.

The route passes under two more local roads and under a private driveway. It then passes through Tom Young’s Wood, an area of high local biodiversity before crossing over one more local road. The route runs parallel to a number of private dwellings before passing through some scrub and young woodland to its conclusion at the Newbliss Road. The route passes under or crosses a total of 8no. bridges and passes 3 no. canal locks.

Habitat Descriptions

In carrying out an ecological impact assessment survey as part of the preparatory works for the Greenway, Flynn Furney Environmental Consultants identified the following habitat types using the Fossitt habitat classification system:

Habitat Code Habitat TypeWD1 Mixed broadleaved woodlandWL2 TreelineFW3 CanalFW2 Lowland/depositing riverED3 Recolonising bare groundED2 Spoil and bare groundGS2 Grassy vergesGA1 Improved agricultural grasslandBL1 StoneworkFW2 Lowland/depositing riverWL1 HedgerowBL3 Buildings and artificial surfacesWS1 ScrubGA2 Amenity grasslandBC4 Flower beds and bordersFS1 ReedswampWD4 Conifer plantationWN2 Oak-ash-hazel woodlandWS3 Ornamental (non-native) shrubED2 Spoil

A full description of the route, including the location of each habitat, is available in Flynn Furney’s report in Appendix A.

Flynn Furney described the value of the habitats to be of moderate (local) importance; however, together they provide an important linear corridor through which wildlife can navigate the town. The convergence of the Shambles (Blackwater tributary) with the Canal provides a rare corridor for the movement of wildlife between the Blackwater river system in North Monaghan and the Dromore river system to the west of the town.

Constraints & ChallengesConsidering that the canal and its banks was unprotected from development for much of the 20 th Century, it is remarkably intact. There is one section of the canal, where it comes into the centre of the town at Old Cross Square, which has been filled in to facilitate the development of a road. This interrupts the ‘green corridor’ provided by the canal. Consideration must be given as to whether it is

better to discourage wildlife from passing through this urban section or to provide them with safe routes by which to do so.

The proximity of this natural amenity to the heavily developed urban landscape of Monaghan poses both opportunities and threats. One ever-present concern will be that of water quality; a flood event in the town would have a major impact on the quality of the water passing down the Shambles. Also, as there is no flow of water in the canal, it will be a challenge to deal with stagnation and to ensure that the quality remains capable of supporting viable wildlife populations. Pollution from ageing septic tanks is a concern along the Clones road. Littering and illegal dumping have been a problem in the past around Horseshoe Bridge; hopefully the increased footfall along the canal from the Greenway will provide a deterrent to this in the future.

There is evidence of some invasive species along the canal; azola is particularly well established at Tom Young’s Wood, and any works in this area will require careful management to avoid spreading the infestation further afield. Bindweed is also present at some points. All new specimens brought onto site will need to be carefully screened for disease; Ash Dieback Disease is present in the county, and we will need to devise a comprehensive Disease Inspection Policy to ensure that any issues are caught and dealt with early, before they can take hold.

Opening up the canal bank to walkers and cyclists via the Greenway will mean that some parts of the canal which enjoyed relative seclusion will now experience an increased human presence. Along with people may come dogs, noise and other factors which might have a detrimental impact on the quality of the environment and/ or on its attractiveness to wildlife. We intend to carry out a baseline study of the wildlife on the canal prior to commencement of work on the Greenway; we will then monitor the canal and banks annually to identify any changes, again before their impact becomes too great, so that mitigation measures may be designed and put in place.

The following section outlines how we will deal with the challenges outlined above, and illustrates how they will fit into an overall development plan for the site.

Development Plan

Greenway ConstructionThe development of the Greenway will open up a 4.5km stretch of the canal all at once. Our immediate job will be to oversee this development and advise the contractors on how to minimise the disturbance to wildlife the development phase will cause. We will also use our habitat development plan and maps to guide the contractors in preserving important features, such as treelines, spawning pools etc. Once disturbed, it could take many years for these habitats to regenerate, so it is vital to ensure that the operators of machinery etc used in the construction of the Greenway are mindful of the importance of these habitats.

Development of HabitatsUsing the data provided by Flynn Furney’s study (see Appendix A), we have developed a series of maps of the canal and its banks, categorised by habitat type. Onto this we have overlaid information collected by the committee on the presence of wildlife species in spring/summer 2013. We have combined this with the recommendations of Flynn Furney, who identified areas which would lend themselves to development for the promotion of various species. Finally, we have considered what work is of highest priority, and where some pieces of work need to be in place before others can be started.

Our aim is three-fold:

- To improve and enhance what is there- To guard against future loss of biodiversity- To provide information on our work so that others may follow our example

We have organised our Development Plan into Sections, each section taking a stretch of the canal. This allows us to address all issues in each stretch. However, we are mindful of the need to keep a focus on particular vulnerable species, and we will develop over time species-specific plans for these.

In addition to the Section Plans, we have added an overall development plan, which looks at issues such as how wildlife uses the entire length of the greenway, and plans for the future expansion of the greenway on towards Clones.

Sectional Development Plans

Section 1: from behind the new Education Campus to the Armagh RdIt was originally planned to bring the Greenway around to the back of the Education Campus. Funding will not allow at this time, so this section is to be left untouched for now. We have therefore excluded it from our Plan for the time being.

Section 2: Area between Armagh Rd and N2 By-PassThe Greenway will be dropping from the level of the roadside down to the level of the canal in the small area between these two roads where they meet at the roundabout. There is standing water in this section of the canal. The inner aspect of the pathway will comprise of a sheer bank, cut to resemble the inside of a lock.

Aerial Photo Habitat types Present Condition & challenges

Proposed Development Measures

Proposed Information Points

Re-inforced artificial bank

Standing water in canal

Mature trees on far bank

Some scrub

To be created from scratch

Azola presentPossible eutrophication

Canopy overhanging the water

Bramble & snowberry provide food sources

Opportunity to establish plants which grow in poor soil/ stony conditions

Investigate whether it’s possible to improve flowTest water qualityControl azola

Preserve the canopy

Enhance for bat roosting

Preserve stands of bramble & snowberry

‘Welcome’ signage outlining the project & providing a key map of the Biodiversity Trail

Some escaped plants present

Kingfishers are present

Remove escaped plants

Provide perch on far bank overlooking water

Section 3: From By-Pass bridge to Sheriff’s BridgeAerial Photo Habitat types Present Condition &

challengesProposed Development Measures

Proposed Information Points

Improved Agricultural Grassland

Wide canal channel

Recently grazed, some poaching, species-poor

Reedmace beds dominate here

Re-instate hawthorn hedging

Project 1: Wildflower MeadowManage grassland as wildflower meadow

Preserve reedmace

Carry out study of water habitat

Point 1 on Trail:- Halfway along

the section

Info on habitat:- Grassland

Info on species:- Wildflowers- Bees

Point 2: Info on how to establish and manage a wildflower meadow

Info on what you can do to support your local bee population

Section 4: Sheriff’s Bridge to bridge at St Davnet’s farmyardAerial Photo Habitat types Present Condition &

challengesProposed Development Measures

Proposed Information Points

Mature Hedgerow – hawthorn, ash & Elder

Fast Flowing water

Relict & species poor

Kingfishers spotted June 2013

Abundant birdlife

Project 2: Create a Model HedgerowCarry out hedge laying & in-plant with blackthorn, holly & crab apple

Provide perching points on opposite bank to Greenway

Point 2 on Trail:

Info on Habitat:- Water

(fast and slow flowing)

Info on Species:- Birds - Invertebrates- Frogs

Point 3 on Trail:Information on how to establish a species-rich hedgerow

Section 5: St Davnet’s farmyard bridgeAerial Photo Habitat types Present Condition &

challengesProposed Development Measures

Proposed Information Points

Mature treeline

Stone arch bridge

Former gatehouse – bricked up

Excellent bat habitat Project 3: Bat HotelAdapt gate house to provide openings to allow bat colonisation

Carry out bat survey to establish which species are present

Preserve treeline & stone arch

Provide Outdoor Classroom on ‘island’ created by re-routing of Shambles.

Point 4 on Trail:

Info on Bats & their habitats

Info on urban water & wastewater management

Section 6: Sewerage Works to Rooskey ValeAerial Photo Habitat types Present Condition &

challengesProposed Development Measures

Proposed Information Points

Recolonising bare ground

Lowland depositing river

Some dumping of construction rubble

Otter holt in use April 2013

Remove rubble Point 5 on Trail:

Info on water mammals –otters

Info on how nature ‘recolonises’

Section 7: Old Cross Square & Ulster Canal ParkAerial Photo Habitat types Present Condition &

challengesProposed Development Measures

Proposed Information Points

This area is heavily urbanised

Flower beds & borders

Amenity grassland

‘greening’ the Greenway at this point – bringing the greenscape of the canal out into the urban space

Many plants & flowers here are non-native – risk of escaping into the neighbouring green areas

Mowed areas offer little

Engage with property owners to explore ways in which they can ‘green’ their premises

Develop native planting scheme

Manage the amenity

Point 6 on Trail:Ulster Canal ParkInfo on ‘grasscycling’ & measures you can take in your own garden to support local wildlife

for biodiversity grassland using ‘grasscycling’

Section 8: St Louis Convent to Horseshoe BridgeAerial Photo Habitat types Present Condition &

challengesProposed Development Measures

Proposed Information Points

Wetlands - a small area of wet grassland quickly gives way to reedswamp.

Tree plantation & mature treelines

Freshwater habitat

There are extensive areas of iris and thenreedmace.

Garden waste in evidence

A good range of tree species, including a single mature wych elm

Preserve

Work with residents to reduce dumping

Consider tree conservation order on the elm

Point 7 on Trail: Wetlands

Point 8 on Trail: Trees & the wildlife they support

Section 9: Horsehoe Bridge to Oriel WayDue to access issues at Tully lock house, the Greenway has to come up off the canal tow path at Horseshoe Bridge, and it will continue along amenity grassland between the edge of Canal View housing estate and the canal bank, which is at a much lower level to the greenway at this point. The area suffers from illegal dumping and littering. It is not proposed to carry out any enhancement works along this stretch at this point in time. Instead, the focus will be on keeping the canal and its banks free of litter.

Section 10: Oriel Way to KillyconniganAerial Photo Habitat types Present Condition

& challengesProposed Development Measures

Proposed Information Points

Woodland Good wildfowl habitat

Tom Young’s Wood has recently been enhanced for biodiversity

Already completed Already provided in Tom Young’s Wood

Provide at Killyconnigan:‘Welcome’ signage outlining the project & providing a key map of the Biodiversity Trail

Section 11: Killyconnigan to Threemilehouse RoadFunding does not allow for the development of this section at present. It will be revisited in 2014.

Management Plan

We have organised the tasks ahead of us into a Management Plan. The Plan covers the initial construction phase of the project, plus the subsequent three years. At the end of this period, the development phase will be complete, and we will be moving into a management phase, where all that is to be done in maintain what is there and make repairs etc.

Each year is presented in its seasons, with tasks arranged accordingly.

Year Spring Summer Autumn Winter2013 Plan the project

elements Survey for species

Seek funding Prepare list of elements

to be protected during construction

Prepare a Construction Environmental Management Plan

Survey for spawning amphibians

Investigate possible sewerage contamination at Sections 10 & 11

Oversee construction to ensure important habitats are undisturbed

Focus on birdlife & improving nesting & feeding habitats

Set aside felled wood for use in constructing insect hotels

Install information boards

Develop support materials

Plant hedges in Sections 3 & 4

Develop a chain of insect hotels

2014 Launch website & educational resource pack

Carry out Baseline Survey

Identify nesting areas & protect

Produce plan for control of invasive species

Conduct bat survey & use to plan for enhancement & protection measures

Survey wildflowers in Section 2, then mow

Invasive Species actions Focus on bats:

Identify bat hibernation sites & review quality. Carry out enhancement if necessary

Renovate gate house at St Davnet’s as bat hotel

Invasive Species actions Carry out hedgelaying

where necessary Plant infill species into

hedgerows in Sections 6, 8 & 10

Cut back tree canopies, ivy at bridges etc to

wildflower meadow after seeding & remove cuttings

Conduct water quality survey

Provide roosting boxes in Tom Young’s Wood

improve flight paths for bats

Devise native planting scheme for urban stretch (Section 7) & promote to property owners

2015 Invasive Species actions

Review Baseline Survey

Carry out native planting as per Scheme launched in Winter 2014

Invasive Species actions Survey wildflowers in

Section 2, then mow wildflower meadow after seeding & remove cuttings

Carry out dragonfly & butterfly surveys

Invasive Species actions Focus on invertebrates &

improving their habitats

Invasive Species actions Hedgerow inspection.

Infill & lay where necessary

2016 Invasive Species actions

Review Baseline Survey

Carry out native planting as per 2014 scheme

Revisit Baseline Survey

Invasive Species actions Survey wildflowers in

Section 2, then mow wildflower meadow after seeding & remove cuttings.

Produce a report on how wildflower species are changing after 3 years of management. Prepare a plan for next 3 years

Invasive Species actions Focus on amphibians &

improving their habitats, particularly spawning grounds

Invasive Species actions Hedgerow inspection.

Infill & lay where necessary

Review the extent to which the habitats are now linked into a continuous linear habitat

Prepare a plan for the next 3 years

Appendix A: Bird Survey Spring 2013

Ulster Canal Bird Count

For Stretch of Canal through Monaghan Town

Carried out by Joe Shannon, Birdwatch Ireland

Survey dates: 2nd April and 10th June 2013

Grey Heron 2 Blackbird 5Mallard 6 Blackcap 3Teal 2 Willow Warbler 3Buzzard 1 Chiffchaff 2Sparrowhawk 1 Goldcrest 2Moorhen 5 Great Tit 3Snipe 1 Coal Tit 2Woodpigeon 5 Blue Tit 5Collared Dove 2 Long-tailed Tit 2Swift 8 Magpie 4Kingfisher 2 Jackdaw 5

Swallow 6 Rook10

House Martin 5 Hooded Crow 4Meadow Pipit 2 Starling 6Pied Wagtail 2 House Sparrow 4Grey Wagtail 4 Chaffinch 7Wren 5 Lesser Redpoll 2Dunnock 2 Goldfinch 2Robin 3 Siskin 1Songthrush 2 Bullfinch 2Mistle Thrush 2 Reed Bunting 2

Appendix B: Ecological Impact Assessment for Greenway – Flynn Furney 2012