The new Corrin Nature Reserve is designed to benefit wildlife and endangered species
After many delays the Nature Reserve, developed by the Rathcormac Game and Wildlife Club, officially opened to the public on Saturday 14th September 2019. The opening ceremony was performed by Rev Father Nelius O Donnell at 15.00. A beautiful Kilkenny limestone sculpture was donated by local lady Maggie Blackley who unveiled it on the day. The chosen day was glorious with temperatures reaching record highs for September and a huge crowd attended. By kind permission from Coillte we now have the use of the Corrin Cross car park and the 250 metre walkway through Coillte’s woods is also completed and open. The Fermoy branch of Cork county council have constructed a pedestrian crossing and associated safety features on the road between the car park and our entrance.
Former officers and executive members of the NARGC and the Federation of County Cork Gun Clubs at the official opening ceremony along with a future hopeful.
This bridge built by local builder Kevin Hogan links the reserve with the Corrin Cross car park and also with the Corrin Hill walk.
The scenic 6-acre reserve will be landscaped to include a natural meadow, wetlands, butterfly garden, wildflower meadows, wild bird cover crops, 1,000m of walkways, tables, seating, pond, pools and observation decks, as well as a natural stream, a protected island, and a partridge rearing enclosure. A Leave No Trace Policy is in operation and expected from all visitors. Leave No Trace is an outdoor ethics programme designed to promote and inspire responsible outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships. What it means in this instance is to take home your rubbish as we do not provide bins.
No Dogs Please; This is on the entrance signage a number of times so there are no excuses for not obeying the rules. If any visitors still insist on visiting with a dog please do not be afraid to ask them to leave. We have to be very strict with this because the birds on the reserve will sense the presence of dogs whether on a lead or not and this will cause the birds to take fright.
Club and school visits to the Corrin Nature Reserve can be arranged, and provide an excellent way to raise awareness about Ireland’s endangered species, and the role that responsible gun clubs play in managing the environment sustainability.
In the 2016 breeding season at least 3 of our 2015 released hen pheasants bred successfully in the wild on the reserve. One nested inside the large pen in the game crops and the other 2 nested in the untouched natural grasses and rushes that is absolutely overflowing with natural insect life.
In 2018 there was no less than 7 clutches of wild ducks hatched on the 6 acres of this amenity along with many other species. Our captive Grey Partridge rearing programme was a huge success with 150 chicks hatched by both bantams and partridge. Many of these are already released into the wild now.
Ongoing Fundraising
The nature reserve project has already received support from the Avondhu/Blackwater Partnership, the National Association of Regional Game Councils, the Federation of County Cork Gun Clubs, and the Rathcormac Parish Development Fund as well as from many other private supporters.
Fundraising for the Corrin Nature Reserve is ongoing, and donations will be most welcome. Any donation of €100 or more will be marked by the planting of a hardwood tree in the name of the donor, and donors and their families are invited to visit their adopted tree throughout its lifetime.
Donations to the club can be made online here on our website.
Alternatively, you can make a bank transfer to AIB, Fermoy:
BIC; AIBKIE2D.
IBAN; IE26 AIBK 9360 8113 1351 21.