Bees at Aughnagun Project Wins LGC Award

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s Bees at Aughnagun project is celebrating a prestigious win at the LGC Awards.

The Council was recognised for its work in reclaiming a former landfill site to improve biodiversity and helping to boost the population of the once endangered Irish black bee.

The annual LGC (Local Government Chronicle) Awards recognise the achievements of officers and politicians in local government. The 27^th annual event took place in London on 9 June 2023. The LGC Awards see entries from council teams across the UK judged by other councils’ senior officers, with the aim being to promote innovation in improving services.

Louth Beekeepers Association, along with others, are working to increase the population of our native bee. A total of five hives have been installed at Aughnagun since June 2022 with up to 50,000 bees per hive. The first extraction of honey was sold to raise money for charity or donated to local foodbanks and there are similar plans for a further upcoming extraction in July.

Cllr Terry Andrews, Chair of the Council’s Sustainability and Environment Committee, attended the ceremony on behalf of Chairperson Cllr Valerie Harte where he was delighted to receive the LGC Environmental Services award. Cllr Andrews said, “I am very pleased that the Bees at Aughnagun project captured the hearts and minds of the judges of such a prestigious organisation. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council faced stiff competition from projects across England and Scotland but showed what could be achieved with a small but impactful project.

“Work has also been undertaken to share the importance of bees and pollination to a national audience and I extend my congratulations to the project team involved.”

Louth Beekeepers Association member, Billy Campbell said, “Former landfills can be complicated sites and we are delighted with how the Council has worked to make this accessible to us. Brownfield sites such as these are usually covered in flowering plants, which provide plenty of food for pollinators.  We’re particularly pleased to have taken part in an education programme with the Council in local schools, where we were able to explain the importance of vital pollinators such as bees, and the children were able to design the Aughnagun honey label. The honey also achieved second place in its category in the London Honey Awards and we look forward to improving further.”

LGC editor Sarah Calkin said, “With shortlisted entries from councils in Cornwall, Aberdeen, Northern Ireland and everywhere in between, the LGC Awards is a truly national celebration of local government and its many remarkable achievements. From children’s services to climate change, housing to health and social care, the commitment of officers and politicians to their communities, passion for their places, and the impulse to continually improve is undeniable.’’