Patricia McCreesh has been appointed Biodiversity Officer for Co Monaghan. She will be responsible for ensuring that the natural environment is to the fore of all local authority policies going forward.
Patricia has lots of exciting ideas and initiatives that will focus on climate change and she is also at the helm of a new Swift Survey being carried out in the county. Her background includes aquatic ecology as well as working in the area across the UK and in the US.
Patricia added that "biodiversity incorporates every living thing and everything in between". "I'm only in the role a month at this point. And, I've already been on the ground meeting as many groups and individuals as I can. That includes tidy towns representatives from all across Monaghan, community groups and river trusts.
"The one thing that has struck me is how committed people are and how interested they are. I really can't wait to get out there and meet more people; find out what their ideas are; and what they are up to. It really is amazing and it's so refreshing," she said.