River Suir Heritage Audits

There was no previous comprehensive study available for the River Suir that included habitat mapping and monument inventories. Following project brief and appointment of consultants at beginning of each year between 2012 and 2016, baseline data is gathered about natural and built heritage along the river corridor. This information will inform future development and identify potential for recreation and river-based activities. Beneficiaries from the practice will be local communities, recreational river users and Inland Fisheries Ireland. The focus of these audits is to engage with local communities and gather local knowledge about the river and to get communities activated in relation to the River Suir. Consultants monitor and evaluate these audits throughout the year.
The main feature of the audit on an annual basis is a desktop study on the survey area by the appointed consultants and fieldwork. The study area is generally a 50m corridor/catchment on each side of the river bank although significant features that lie outside of this area can be included if the consultants deem them of importance to the overall landscape assessment. The fieldwork is ideally carried out during May and June, which allows the opportunity to revisit the area if necessary during the final reporting stages.