‘Pristine environment’ to net windfall for farmers

Seven hundred Burren farmers are seeking a multimillion-euro annual windfall to create a pristine environment containing rare and wild flowers.

Arising from the success of the targeted Burren Farming for Conservation Programme, the project has made an application with the Department of Agriculture to roll out the programme across the Burren in north Clare and south Galway.

Programme director Brendan Dunford said the rollout would involve 700 farmers participating across 30,000 hectares. The estimated annual cost of the scheme is €4.5m.