‘If we don’t look after what we have it won’t be around for our children’

An angry east Meath resident campaigning to save a designated EU conservation area in Mornington from decimation has warned that if action is not taken soon this area will not exist for future generations.

The damage to the dunes from unmanaged movements of vehicles and pedestrians leading to erosion of the dunes vegetation which threatens neighbouring wildlife is extremely serious according to Colin Blake who says more needs to be done to protect this significant environmental area. He added:

“People are saying biodiversity is in crisis, but this is happening in front of our eyes, these areas are being taken away and will cease to exist.

“If we don’t look after what we have it won’t be around for our children.

“This is a designated EU conservation area, it has been smashed down by cars and jeeps driving through the dunes killing the marram grass and everything gets blown away, the animals disappear, the whole area is disappearing in front of us into the sea.

“With the increase of traffic and with Covid everybody is heading to the coast but the area just can’t sustain it, it is basically a conservation area with no protection.

“It is critical that we address this. When the dune system is taken away the food chain is disrupted, the insects have no where to live because there is no grass there and the birds have nowhere to feed.”

The concerned Mornington resident has pointed out that this protected area will not be around for future generations if those in power do not work to save it now.

“I was with my six-year-old daughter on Saturday watching the land crumble into the river and she asked, “why do the people not want nature to be here?”

“That is the reason why I and other locals have been trying to get this area the protection it deserves. The land is protected under EU and Irish Law.

“The precedence has been set to look after it in Meath Council’s own development plan and in the work, they have already carried out. Is it really too much to ask to finish out the line of posts and install two boulders? This is what is required to fix this problem, a soft engineering method that could be completed in a day.”

“During the summer we looked down at the ground and counted nine or ten different insects on one plant, they are all part of this eco-system and when that is gone is gone.

“The Maiden’s tower has stood for over 400 years, but it won’t see another four at the current rate of erosion. Vehicles have already undermined its foundations.

“The high-water mark is now 15 meters from the tower which lies 1 meter below sea level.

“It is sad to see us disappear in front of us. “

Public awareness about this conservation are needs to increase according to Colin who said:

“People do not know this is a conservation area, there is one tiny sign from National Parks and Wildlife saying no mountain bikes, no quads, no scramblers yet cars and jeeps are thumping through it.

“There has been a disconnect between the agency responsible for protecting these areas and the public who want to protect them and the public who want to use them as an amenity, there is pressure coming from all sides and somewhere in the middle nature has been left out of the equation.

“It isn’t about blame everybody has to work together to fix it.

“I just received an email from the environmental officer with An Taisce saying that Meath County Council has responded to them for the first time to say they are looking to work with the stake holders to protect the area which Is very welcome.”