[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Burren Nature Sanctuary have been members of Botanic Gardens Conservation International since opening to the public in 2012. Their expertise and support have been invaluable in developing our collection of Burren Native Flora.
In 2019 we were chosen by BGCI to partner with Jardí Botanic de Sóller the National Botanic Garden of Mallorca. The project is described in greater detail below.
We were grant aided by BGCI to travel to each site. In July staff from Jardi Botanic de Sóller visited Burren Nature Sanctuary to progress the Joint Wild Orchid Project and learn about our education initiatives. We also visited the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin and presented Dr Noeleen Smyth, the conservation officer, with a Bee Orchid seed. This is the first seed in the soon to be established National Native Seed Bank that secured funding in February this year. In October members of staff from Burren Nature Sanctuary visited Sollér and received invaluable training in seed collection, banking, native plant collections and much more. Burren Nature Sanctuary will be a satellite resource for Burren Native plants for the National Seed Bank.
We would like to thank Botanic Gardens Conservation International, The National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, and Jardí Botanic de Sollér for supporting this conservation initiative.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Burren Nature Sanctuary (BNS)
The Burren is the most biodiverse place in Ireland. Wild flowers from different climates surprisingly bloom side by side! Mountain Avens from the Arctic, Maidenhair Ferns from the Sub Tropics, Spring Gentians from the Alps flower alongside a stunning selection of wild orchids. This is due to the particular landscape, geology and history of the Burren region.
Burren Nature Sanctuary was opened in 2013 to interpret the flora and fauna of the Burren for the domestic and international visitor. In 2014 the National Collection of Burren Flora was launched. We have an indoor, dome shaped, exhibit space, outdoor exhibits and 50 acres of organic farmland including a 6 acre managed wildflower meadow.
The Sóller Botanic Garden (SBG)
The SBG is a private foundation devoted to the conservation of Balearic Islands flora. It was founded in 1985 and opened to the public in 1992. The SBG holds the best collection of wild Balearic Islands plants and, in the seed bank, conserves more than 60% of the endemic, rare and endangered plants species from Balearic Islands populations. The living plant collection has been designed in a landscape of terraces with rocky garden feature. Plus to the main collection of Balearic Islands flora, there are as well other Islands plants collections: Canary Islands flora and other Mediterranean islands flora. They also keep a collection of medicinal plants and other small collections of cactuses, succulents, carnivorous, and other ornamental species which can live in the Mediterranean.
Partnership activities
- Between The Burren and Mallorca, there is a common list of wild orchids. In SBG most of the wild orchids of Balearic Islands are cultivated in the living plant collection. Within this partnership, a wild orchid’s collection for BNS will be started with the experience of SBG staff.
- Inventory and georeferencing of the orchids populations living in BNS
- Inventory of the other neighbour plants to define the habitat for orchids.
- Search for a good site to grow it for the visitors enjoy.
- Adapting the landscape for the orchids collection
- Collecting seeds to keep it in a seed bank
- Translocation of some orchids into the BNS garden place to start the collection and stablish the habitat.
- Labelling the plants for public visitor information.
In the table there is the list of Burren orchids and in yellow, the ones which are living in Balearic Islands as well. In red, the rare populations which will not be included in the gardening project because first may be some conservation action can be needed.
The proposed partnership activities support the goals of BCGI :
"To mobilise botanic gardens and engage partners in securing plant diversity for the well-being of people and the planet".
- The SBG will visit the BNS to learn about the education program and start in Sóller some new activities for visitors with the experience of Burren Nature Sanctuary.
- Adaptation of the Leave no trace school tour in Sóller town.
- Start a project for an audio guide app.
- Design a botanical walk like the ‘herb walk with Frisky the feral goat.’
BNS will visit SBG to learn about the management and development of botanic collections
- Improve the management of our outdoor displays
- Improve the management Indoor exhibits
- Learn methods for Seed banking with a view to collaborating with the National Botanic Gardens to preserve seeds from the Burren region.
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