Last Friday, 12 of McAdam’s hardiest staff volunteered to roll up their sleeves for Copeland Bird Observatory and got stuck into hard manual labour on Lighthouse Island. Tasks including painting, scything and mowing were successfully completed under the watchful gaze of manx shearwater, arctic tern, gulls and puffins.
Over the past few months, McAdam have been working closely with CBO to support their ambitions to provide safe high tide access to Lighthouse Island, a designated Special Protection Area (SPA), Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) and one of the 3 Copeland Islands located 5.5km off the coast of Donaghadee.
The marine licence and planning application for the provision of a new jetty, robust enough to withstand the forces of the Irish Sea, are currently out to consultation and include a biodiversity checklist, HRA and oCEMP to ensure this beautiful island remains protected yet accessible to continue with CBO’s vital conservation works.
From all accounts, the team did a fantastic job – even receiving a “seal” of approval from the local residents!
