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This webinar will look at new research into lynx and wolves in Ireland, both their history and their future. We’ll be talking to Dara Sands and Colin Guilfoyle.
Dara Sands
Dara Sands is a PhD researcher from County Down who now lives in Norway and works at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. His background is in conservation biology, but his current research project is focused on the social and political sides of conservation and rewilding. His talk examines the possibility of reintroducing and coexisting with wolves in Ireland.
Colin Guilfoyle
Col an ecologist from Newport, Co. Mayo who recently completed a masters with a research focus on using baseline biodiversity data to inform restoration and management in the Nephin Forest of Wild Nephin National Park. He recently published research which focussed on assessing the current ecological suitability of Ireland for the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), one of Ireland’s extinct carnivores.
Date & Time: Wednesday 12th April, 2023, 07:00 PM
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qfnRacdSTc2raAQmChmOqQ
The first of our outdoor events is coming up on Saturday 15th April 2023.
No booking required. It is open to the public so feel free to bring along family and friends!
Meet at the Courthouse at Merchant’s Quay, Limerick city at 10.30am.
Merchant’s Quay, Limerick
V94EH90
More info: limerickbranch@iwt.ie
This event is hosted by Waterford Branch
The next outing of the Waterford branch of the IWT is next Sunday, 16th April.
The April walk will take place on the Minaun hill.
More details: iwtwaterfordbranch@gmail.com
Join Fair Seas and the Irish Wildlife Trust on April 19th at 7 for a webinar on Ireland’s first ever Hope Spot – The Greater Skellig Coast.
Hope Spots are special places that are scientifically identified as critical to the health of the ocean. Existing spots include the Galápagos Islands and the Great Barrier Reef.
The Greater Skellig Coast Hope Spot is an area that stretches along the Wild Atlantic Way from Loop Head in Co. Clare to Kenmare Bay in Co. Kerry and incorporates the famous UNESCO Heritage site of Skellig Michael. This area was identified as an ‘Area of Interest’ in Fair Seas ‘Revitalising our Seas’ report that could be explored as a potential MPA. Fair Seas is a coalition of eNGOs and networks dedicated to increasing Ireland’s MPA’s to 30% by 2030, to give our species, habitats and coastal communities the opportunity to thrive.
At this event we will be hearing from the Fair Seas Team, Lucy Hunt, founder of SeaSynergy and one of the Hope Spot Champions, and Professor Dan Laffoley, Chair of the Hope Spot Council.
Hosted by IWT Dublin Branch
Join Dublin Branch member Niall Mac Coitir on a guided walk to see some of the trees, wild flowers and birds to be found in St. Anne’s Park.
Meeting at the Red Stables at 11:00 on Sunday, April 23rd.
See you there!
Hosted by IWT Monaghan Branch
Join the Monaghan Branch to explore what lives in the local streams, and learn what this tells us about the quality of our watercourses.
This event takes place alongside open water. Children must be supervised at all times.
Meeting at Doohamlet Community Centre, Co. Monaghan at 11:00 on Sunday, April 23rd.
This talk looks at Ireland’s brief shore-based whaling industry that came to an end one century ago. Although depressing, the results highlight the potential for Irish waters to once again support a richer variety of large whale species, if given the chance.
Conor Ryan is Irish zoologist based in the Hebrides in Scotland, whale researcher and guide for National Geographic.
Date & Time: Tuesday 2nd May, 2023, 07:00 PM
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_178_ZIokSlG3YsEoFvo5lw
The bumblebee ID outing on Saturday 6th May 23 consists of two parts:
An introduction to bumblebees in the morning and a bumblebee walk in the afternoon. The leader is Liz Gabbett.
No booking required. It is open to the public so feel free to bring along family and friends!
More info: limerickbranch@iwt.ie
This World Bee Day, join the Irish Wildlife Trust for a biodiversity week event at the National Botanic Gardens exploring Ireland’s bees. This event is part of the IWT’s People for Bees programme, and will consist of a short talk and a walk around the beautiful National Botanic Gardens where we will learn about the biology of wild Irish bees, what we can do to protect them as well as how to identify and record Ireland’s common bumblebees. This free event is run in collaboration between the Irish Wildlife Trust and the National Botanic Gardens.
This event is supported by the Irish Environmental Network and the Heritage Council.
Date: 20th May
Time: 11:00 – 13:00
Location: National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin. Meet at the Visitor Centre
Booking essential – https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/iwt-people-for-bees-at-the-bots-tickets-620677000617
The Limerick Branch of IWT are hosting two events in Curraghchase Forest Park on Saturday 20th May 2023 from 11.30-13.00 in association with Kilcornan Tidy Towns.
At this event you can choose to attend a Dragonflies and Butterflies walk at the Lake or a Woodland Plants walk in the Woods.
This event is supported by the Irish Environmental Network and the Heritage Council.
Date: 20th May
Time: 11.30-13.00
Location: Curraghchase Forest Park, County Limerick
Booking is essential please email limerickevents@iwt.ie to book onto either the Dragonfly or the Woodland Walk
![Glengarriff Atlantic Rainforest Walk with Eoghan Daltun - National Biodiversity Week [Fully Booked]](https://iwt.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Biodiversity-Week-2023-1-300x300.png)
Join the IWT for a guided walk to explore the NPWS Glengarriff Nature Reserve where we will learn about Atlantic rainforest ecosystems and visions for rewilding with Eoghan Daltun.
Booking is essential email events@iwt.ie to to book on listing the number of people attending with you. ***This Event is now Fully Booked***
Meet at the Glengarriff Nature Reserve Carpark at 10:30. Parking spaces are limited so carpooling is suggested.
This event is supported by the Irish Environmental Network and the Heritage Council.
Date: 21st May
Time: 10:30 – 12:30
Location: Glengarriff Nature Reserve
Booking is essential email events@iwt.ie to to book on listing the number of people attending with you.
Join the IWT Waterford Branch for a biodiversity week nature walk. The route is on a way-marked trail, 4 kilometres in total along the coast from Arthurstown towards Duncannon, some of it through woodland so coastal and woodland species may be encountered.
We will meet at Passage East, Waterford at 1pm to take the ferry across to Ballyhack, Wexford where the walk will start from the carpark at Arthurstown at 13:20.
Date: 21st May
Time: 13:00
Location: Meet at Passage East, Waterford at 13:00 or Arthurstown. Wexford at 13:20
For event details contact deniscullen212@gmail.com
NATIVE TREE WORKSHOP – with John McKeon
Do you want to learn how to collect native tree seeds in your locality and use them to grow trees? Come along to the Castleblayney Community Gardens & Allotments where John McKeon will be hosting a native tree workshop. All the trees growing in John’s nursery are from seeds collected in and around County Monaghan, and he will be sharing his experience in (1) identifying and collecting seeds; (2) seed bed preparation, which is particularly relevant in heavy clay soils like we have in our county; and (3) seed storage, stratification and sowing, as required by the different seeds for successful propagation. John will also highlight good tree nursery management and problems that can arise. The species he has growing are Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Buckthorn, Wild Cherry, Bird Cherry, Crab Apple, Alder, Elm, Hazel, Holly, Oak, Rowan, Spindle, Guelder Rose, and Willow.
Date: 21st May
Time: 2pm
Limited spaces
Location: Castleblayney Community Gardens and Allotments (Eircode A75W773)
Booking is essential please email monaghanbranch@iwt.ie to book your place
Join the Irish Wildlife Trust for this National Biodiversity Week event on the potential to reintroduce sturgeon to Ireland and help rewild our waters. We have teamed up with Blue Marine Foundation and commissioned new research exploring the potential to reintroduce this endangered species to our waters. This fascinating fish uses rivers, estuaries and the sea in its lifecycle. Join us to find out more about this amazing Irish creature, the work going on to save it from extinction and the potential to reintroduce it to Irish waters.
This event is kindly hosted by Patagonia.
Our National Biodiversity Week programme is supported by the Irish Environmental Network and the Heritage Council.
Date: 25th May
Time: 19:30
Location: Patagonia Store, Wicklow Street, Dublin 2
No booking required, contact events@iwt.ie for details
For our final webinar of this season join us next Tuesday, June 6th at 7pm, for a look at efforts to restore sturgeon to Irish and British waters. With speakers from the Irish Wildlife Trust and the Blue Marine Foundation. This webinar will discuss the recent report entitled ‘Restoring the Sturgeon to Irish Waters’ and which is available on our website.
Register at this link https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4aDcU84uT2GVl6LIX-2tOQ
Date & Time: Tuesday 6th June, 2023, 07:00 PM
Fair Seas Ireland will host its inaugural conference in Cork next June on World Ocean Day 8th June 2023. Fair Seas will bring ocean advocates, government, industry and key stakeholders together to map out the next steps for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Irish waters. Sessions will focus on the designation and management of Marine Protected Areas and learning from best practices across the world. National and international experts and stakeholders will convene to share their experiences in developing Marine Protected Areas.
A list of speakers, visiting experts and the day’s events can be found on the conference website, here. More detail to come soon.
Early bird tickets are available until the 26th of January
Guided Nature Walk with IWT Waterford Branch
Join the IWT Waterford Branch for June nature walk.
The next outing of the Waterford branch of the IWT is on Sunday 11th June. The destination will be Kilcash, Slievenamon, Co.Tipperary (Cill Cais). The leader will be Emma Verling.
Date: 11th June
Time: 13:00
Location: Meet at Kilsheelan at 1.00 on the R706 (north of village) outside the primary school. 52°21’46.7″N 7°34’49.7″W
Hosted by IWT Dublin Branch
Join Dublin Branch for a marvelous guided tour of the park on Sunday, June 18th, and led by a Green expert on all the biodiversity of the Green. Meet at the Fusiliers’ Arch (top of Grafton Street) at 12 noon for an insight to a part of Dublin you may not recognise.
See you there!
The Limerick Branch of IWT are hosting the next outing to the Grageen bog and fen, Co. Limerick
Date: Saturday 15th July 23 at 11.30 am.
Limited numbers, please book in by Thurs 15thJuly 23 at limerickevents@iwt.ie
Booking is essential please email limerickevents@iwt.ie to book
Hosted by IWT Dublin Branch
Join Dublin Branch for the ever popular Wild Flower walk on Bull Island.
It’s on Sunday 16th July at 11am .
Come along with Niall Mac Coitir of IWT Dublin Branch, to see some of the amazing variety of wildflowers on Bull Island at this time of year, including several species of orchid! The display rivals anything that can be seen in the Burren.
Meet at the Interpretative Centre, next to the Causeway at 11am.
The event will last about two hours. Wear sensible shoes and, this being Ireland, sunscreen AND rain gear.
Please be advised the terrain we’ll be covering is slightly rough so would not be suitable for buggies – and wear ‘sensible’ shoes!
See you there!
Hosted by IWT Waterford Branch
Join Waterford Branch for the Bat Walk this summer.
It’s on Thursday 3rd August at 9:30pm .
Meet at Killotteran carpark at 9.30 p.m. We will head along the Greenway at the back of Mount Congreve.
See you there!
A Nature walk on West Limerick Greenway, including Barnagh Tunnel. The leader is Paul Murphy, a local botanist. There are around 100 species of wild plants in the area, with a particular abundance of liverworts, mosses, and ferns.
This tunnel is one of the more evocative features of the now closed Limerick-Tralee Railway. It was opened in 1880 and is 115m long. It is situated at nearly 170m above sea level and was excavated with explosives and pickaxes. The rock cuttings on either side of the tunnel have reverted to nature and are an impressive sight.
Bring raingear and take care of children as it is an active cycleway.
Numbers are limited to 25 and places must be booked at limerickevents@iwt.ie.
Date: 12th August
Time: 11:00
Location: West Limerick Greenway, including Barnagh Tunnel, Co. Limerick
Join the Irish Wildlife Trust for a free Heritage Week event hosted by the National Botanic Gardens.
At this exciting evening bat walk you will have the opportunity to walk the National Botanic Gardens at dusk with an Irish Wildlife Trust in search of beautiful bats. We will learn about the life-cycle of these fascinating creatures and hopefully get to see and hear some of the bats of the Bots.
Please bring warm clothes and a torch as this event takes place after sunset. Children are welcome to attend but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
Booking essential – please book on or join the event waiting list using this link https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/heritage-week-bat-walk-with-the-irish-wildlife-trust-tickets-689892786897?aff=oddtdtcreator
Date: 15th August
Time: 20:45 – 22:45 IST
Location: National Botanic Gardens of Ireland Botanic Road Glasnevin Dublin 9
Hosted by IWT Waterford Branch
Join Waterford Branch for the September Walk.
It’s on Sunday 10th September.
Bill Shepherd will lead a walk to the Suir estuary to Duncannon Fort, Co.Wexford, on September 10th.
He will introduce us to the geological heritage and landscape found within the fort stone walls. We willl also learn about the history of the fort itself with a local tour guide. Low tide is at 10 so we plan to meet at the Passage car ferry at 10 to carpool or at 10.30 at Duncannon. The duration will be 2 .5 hours.
Please sign up the form here if you are interested in the IWT walk led by Bill Shepherd.
An Environmental Walk in the Sliabh Felim’s in association with Limerick Climbing Club. The leader is our chairperson Mike Quirke.
Rock, plant and animals of Slieve Felim’s. See different plants from our Spring walk and also the same plants as last time, but in fruit. An easy climb for about 3.5 hours.
For IWT members:
The meeting place is in Murroe, Co. Limerick. Participants must book in with IWTLB at limerickevents@iwt.ie. by Thursday 14th September. Final details will be emailed to participants.
Hosted by Irish Wildlife Trust Dublin
The September outing is the popular rockpool event – loved by with younger ecologists and their parents.
Meet at the Martello Tower, beside the White Sands Hotel at 11:00. There’s a bus stop next to it, and the DART is within walking.
Bring nets and containers – as will we.
No falling in – not even by accident. And that includes the young ones too.
Wear sensible, sensible, sensible footwear – no flip-flops.
Date & Time: 11:00 am start, Sunday 24th September.
Location: Martello Tower, Portmarnock.
More info: dublinbranch@iwt.ie
We’re back with our first webinar after the summer break. The Irish Wildlife Trust, Fair Seas and Dr.Emma McKinley will be on to speak about Ireland’s Ocean Literacy Survey
Join us on 3rd October at 7pm to learn about the LIFE Machair project with Project Manager Dr Catherine Farrell.
LIFE on Machair a six year project developed to work with farmers, landowners and local communities in a bid to protect and restore Ireland’s network of Machair systems and associated breeding wader and pollinator communities.
Join Limerick Branch for a captivating Fungi Foray in Curraghchase Forest Park on October 14th, 2023, at 10:00 AM. Discover the fascinating world of mushrooms in this enchanting natural setting. Hurry, as spots are limited!!
Numbers are limited and booking is required. Please book your place at limerickevents@iwt.ie by Thursday 12th October 2023. Final details will be emailed to participants.
Hosted by IWT Waterford Branch
Join Waterford Branch for the October Walk in Coillte na Leacan.
Meet at Carpark at 13.30 or An Ché, Ros Mhic Threoin ar a 1.00 a chlog.
See you there!
Theme: Autumn Woodland Wonders.
There are four age categories with a prize for the winner in each category. The age categories are 6 and under; 7 to 9; 10 to 12 and 13 to 16 years.
The prize for each winner is one wildlife book from our online shop, plus one year of Irish Wildlife Trust membership and a t-shirt from our online shop or organic range.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR THE COMPETITION IS 17:00 on the 3rd November.
More details click here
Public Talk by Sinéad McDonnell, Environment Awareness Officer, Limerick City and County Council.
Hosted by Irish Wildlife Trust – Dublin branch
Once again, thanks to the marvellous OPW, we have an outing to see the fascinating annual deer rut in the Phoenix Park.
In late Autumn each year the Fallow Deer bucks mate, with a spectacular display of ‘maleness’.
We meet at the steps at the foot of the Papal Cross on Sunday, October 22nd, at 11:00 am. The paths are (hopefully) OK, but not, unfortunately, suitable for wheelchairs or buggies.
Bring binoculars (or even a scope!) if you have them!
Date & Time: 11:00 am start – 13:00 pm finish, Sunday 22nd October
Location: Phoenix Park, meeting point at the Papal Cross car park
When: 12ú Samhain/12th November
Where: Inis Tíog/ Inistioge: River Barrow walk
Meet at: the village at 13.00 (NB NOT 13.30 due to shortening daytime)
What to bring: suitable footwear for gravelly tracks with wet leaves
For details and booking: iwtwaterfordbranch@gmail.com
Hosted by Irish Wildlife Trust – Dublin branch
Join IWT Dublin Branch on fascinating fossil outing with Aodhán, our brilliant paleontologist, you will explore the fabulous fossil bank at Portmarnock.
Meet at the Martello Tower, beside the White Sands Hotel at 11:00. Wear appropriate footwear – good boots or wellies. And bring paper for rubbings – ordinary A4 sheets and crayons such as Twistables Crayons. And it’s now WINTER! Dress up well.
Date & Time: 11:00 am start, November 19th 2023.
Location: Martello Tower, beside the White Sands Hotel.
Join us online at 7.30pm on the 21st of November for an online screening of ‘Fair Seas’ latest film ‘The Atlantic Northwest.’ The film recently won the award of Exceptional Merit at the Documentaries Without Borders Film International Festival.
We will have Dr. Easkey Britton speaking on what the beautiful North West coast of Ireland means to her as well as hearing a short extract from her new book ‘Ebb and Flow’. The film spoke to several different stakeholders about Marine Protected Areas, including anglers, divers, tourism operators and seafood producers. We will have several participants from the film on a panel following the screening to answer questions.
Register here https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ye5nSFO8RS6QBAefVTIZ2g
Hosted by Irish Wildlife Trust – Limerick Branch
Join IWT Limerick Branch for Public Talk on the EU Nature Restoration Law with Oonagh Duggan from BirdWatch Ireland in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.
Date: Wed 22 November 2023
Time: 7.45pm
Location: Room T1.17 (Tara building), Mary Immaculate College, Limerick
Hosted by IWT Dublin Branch
Before COVID we had brilliant December outings to the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, where the marvellous people in the Gardens very kindly agreed to lead the IWT Dublin branch on a mid-Winter tour – “The Bots in Winter”.
While the gardens were absolutely gorgeous all year round, the “hidden bits” at this time were fascinating
Now again we’re back there. We meet at the Bots at 11:00 on Sunday, December 10th for what we suspect will again be a much different ‘Winter’, since climate change seems to have had a huge effect on the growth. As with all our outings, enthusiasts of all ages are welcome, but be prepared for Irish weather – and, in particular, make sure younger enthusiasts are well wrapped up.
And parking at the Bots can be problematic. Your best bet might be to find somewhere safe and legal within walking distance – and walk!
And, again, we need committee members. There’s not much involved, but we’d LOVE to get our Green Drinks back again. Could you please help – approach anyone in an IWT Hi-Viz at the Bots.
Date & Time: December 10th @ 11am
Location: the Bots, National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin