treesontheland

treesontheland supported EirGrid’s biodiversity enhancement project at the East West Interconnector (EWIC) Portan converter station site in County Meath, Ireland. The engagement formed part of a wider set of actions implemented at the operational interconnector site to improve habitat quality and ecological value across the Portan landholding, which includes unmanaged grassland meadow, amenity grassland, and an area of native woodland plantation. Under this collaboration, EirGrid partnered with the charity treesontheland to plant up to 1,000 native and Irish-grown trees at the Portan converter station. The tree planting initiative was described as one of several practical biodiversity measures delivered at the site since 2019, alongside changes to mowing regimes to increase wildflower abundance, cessation of herbicide use in parkland areas, creation of fenced scrapes for nesting bees, retention of deadwood habitat for insects, fungi and bats, and installation of a monitored nesting bird box. The work contributed to EirGrid’s ongoing environmental management of the EWIC infrastructure footprint and its biodiversity outcomes, complementing monitoring activities and reporting associated with the site’s biodiversity programme.