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Milltown River Restoration

Over the past number of years Milltownpass Tidy Towns have been heavily invested in the restoration and preservation of our local rivers through the use of citizen science investigation to assess the water quality and likely pressures, and through awareness raising activity such as our now annual Milltown River Family Fun Day. In 2023 we won the Waters and Communities National Tidy Towns Award for our efforts in this space!

Driven by the necessity to preserve our local rivers, a Water Biodiversity Action Plan for Milltownpass Rivers and Feeder Streams was put together by members of the Milltownpass Tidy Towns committee who udertook training in water biodiversity which was delivered on behalf of Westmeath Community Development Association between 2021 and 2022.


A very large element of the Water Biodiversity Action Plan, is the awareness raising of our current water quality status and potential remedial actions through CSSI kick sampling, outfall safaris and river clean ups with our most important event being the Milltown River Family Fun Day.



CSSI Kick Sampling

The discovery phase of the plan which has already been completed involved a large scale Citizen Science Stream Index (CSSI) investigation where we completed kick sampling for “good” and “bad” indicator invertebrates at 5 strategic points along the river in an attempt to uncover problem areas where the water quality was poorest and potential reasons for this.  As a result we have identified a single major black spot along the river where the water quality is poorest and have secured funding from LAWPRO in 2023 to clean up that spot which we trust will have a positive impact on the water quality. We have also completed chemical testing at this spot and will continue to monitor the water once our clean up work is complete.


Note: Our Water Biodiversity Action is seperate though complementary to our overall Community Biodiversity Action Plan (CABP) which was funded via the Community Foundation of Ireland and completed in early 2023.


Milltown River Family Fun Day

The Milltown River Family Fun Day, now in its 2nd year, takes place annually on Water Heritage Day with 100's in attendance and the numbers increasing year on year. This event has provided us with a perfect opportunity to engage the community on the importance of our local water bodies, to share our project findings, and to look for feedback from the community on planned remedial actions in a fun and informal way.

Aspects of of the event are as follows:

  • Biodiversityinschools.com hosting biodiversity workshops including seed bombs and clay feeders.

  • Ecologist led displays of live freshwater invertebrates for transferring identification skills and raising awareness of the importance of underwater life and discussion on local water quality with participants.

  • Practical origami frogs and frog mask making workshops with open discussion on the different types of Amphibian in Ireland and their role as biological indicators to pollution.  

  • Local NPWS Ranger Therese Kelly with information sharing workshops about Milltownpass Bog (NHA ) rewetting project and soon to be opened bog walk on our NHA in Milltownpass along with a host of taxidermied birds and fresh water wildlife. 

  • Representation and information sharing workshops from LAWPRO.  

  • Fun ID swatches for children to identify all sorts of butterflies, dragonflies, ladybirds and a whole host of other critters on the day.  

  • Childrens sustainable build your own fish themed workshops

  • Childrens Face Painting.

  • Children's Competitions, biodiversity scavenger hunt and Prizes.

  • Inflatables, food Trucks and more!


We always endeavor to involve other local community groups such as Milltownpass Scouts and Milltownpass Community Centre Comittee. If you'd like to learn more about our Water Biodiversity Action Plan you can check it out here.







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087 9386969

Milltownpass,

Co. Westmeath

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© 2023 by Milltownpass Tidy Towns.  Sponsored by the Rise Community Fund.

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