Learn all about Ireland fascinating wild bees
Join the Irish Wildlife Trust for a free Heritage Week event hosted at the National Botanic Gardens. The event is all about Ireland’s wild bees and will combine an informative talk with a bee identification walk around the Gardens. No prior knowledge of bees is needed.
The event will begin at the Visitors Centre with a talk on the bees of Ireland and how we can help protect them. We will then take a walk around the National Botanic Gardens where we will demonstrate how to find and identify bees with a focus on bumblebees. The skills and knowledge gained from this event will allow you to begin monitoring bees in your own garden or community.
Children are welcome to attend but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
Booking is compulsory for this event please register with the link below if you wish to attend.
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/iwt-people-for-bees-at-the-national-botanic-gardens-tickets-395934780587
Date: 13th August 2022
Time: 11:00
Location: National Botanic Gardens Dublin
Hosted by: Irish Wildlife Trust Monaghan Branch & Local Authority Waters Programme
Join the Irish Wildlife Trust Monaghan Branch & Local Authority Waters Programme for an event to explore some of the many ways the sound of nature has influenced Irish creative culture. Attendees will follow the journey of an Irish sound recordist Dean McDonnell, who is documenting Ireland’s different habitats & rich array of wildlife across the north-east through the medium of sound recording. Writer and medieval Irish scholar, Fearghal Duffy, will share his learnings on the ecology of early Irish literature, examining the influence of sounds from nature on Irish medieval poetry, whilst local musicians Tara & Rossa Gilsenan will play a few tunes inspired by the Irish countryside. Particular focus will be given to our immense wealth of wetland habitats, so synonymous with the inter-drumlin landscape of counties Cavan & Monaghan and coastal environment of County Louth.
Booking is essential for this event. Please book using this link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creative-heritage-inspired-by-nature-and-its-music-tickets-390366736417
Date: 18th August
Time: 19:30 – 21:00
Location: Doohamlet Community Centre, Doohamlet, A75 Y798 Castleblayney
Hosted by: IWT Dublin Branch
Join the IWT Dublin Branch on this IWT Heritage Week Event where we will learn all about Irelands bat’s.
We will explore a section of St Anne’s Park at dusk to any hopefully see and hear some of these fascinating native flying mammals. This event is free of charge and family friendly.
Space is limited on this event and booking is essential. To request a place on the event please email dublinbranch@iwt.ie
Date: 18th August
Time: 20:30
Location: St Anne’s Park, Raheny, Co Dublin
Space is limited on this event and booking is essential. To request a place on the event please email dublinbranch@iwt.ie
Learn all about Ireland fascinating wild bees
The Irish Wildlife Trust works with the National Biodiversity Data Centre to support the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan and the Bumblebee Monitoring Scheme. With the new skills learnt through our People for Bees programme, participants have the knowledge and confidence to start carrying out bee population monitoring and habitat creation in their communities, thus completing two of the objectives of the All Ireland Pollinator Plan – “Making Ireland more pollinator friendly” and “Bee population monitoring”.
Children are welcome to attend but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
Booking is compulsory for this event please register with the link below if you wish to attend.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/iwt-people-for-bees-monaghan-tickets-394331735837
Date and Time: 6th September, 19:00
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 11:30. 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: 11:30 am start, Sunday 18th September.
Location: Martello Tower, Portmarnock.
More info: dublinbranch@iwt.ie
Date and Time: 4th October, 19:00
Hosted by Waterford Branch.
This walk will take place on Sunday 16th October. Meet at 1.00 at Centra, Knocktopher, Co. Kilkenny.
Hosted by Limerick IWT Branch
Hosted by Waterford Branch.
This walk will take place on Sunday 13th November.
Meet at Passage East at 13.00 for possible car-pooling.
Tintern Abbey carpark at 13.40.
Leader: Denis Cullen
Join us for another free and fantastic webinar. The Secret Life of Crows talk takes a look at the corvid family, its members, ecology, complex societies and outstanding intelligence. It explores the crows place in a human dominated world both now and historically. The talk has recently been updated to include the summary findings of the Laois Rookery Survey 2022 which Identified 173 unique rookery sites in the county through a combination of fieldwork and citizen science.
This fun but factual exploration of the crow family is certainly for the crow fan but it may even convert a few of those more dubious of the corvids.
Date: 17th November
Time: 19:00
Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GC1PT2HWRSeOAjDHB3rVBQ
Join us to learn more about the Eu Nature Restoration Law and what it will mean for Ireland.
Date: 25th November
Time: 1pm to 2pm
Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uTdVIkVJR_SEZnRNfCPjkw
Hosted by Irish Wildlife Trust Dublin
Join us this November for an outing to explore the fabulous fossil bank at Portmarnock with Aodhan our brilliant paleontologist.
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.
Wear appropriate footwear such as boots or wellies and bring paper and crayons for making rubbings. Ordinary A4 paper and twistable crayons will do fine.
Date & Time: 11:00 am start, Sunday 27th November.
Location: Martello Tower, Portmarnock.
More info: Dublin Branch
Join us this Tuesday 13th December at 19:00 for a webinar from the UN Biodiversity Conference in Montreal. Our guest speaker will be our very own campaign officer Padraic Fogarty. We’ll be discussing the news from the conference and what it can do to help save nature on our planet.
To attend this free webinar register using the link below;
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZSxJEorIQEKj0y29f6XBxA
Hosted by Waterford Branch.
Cuan Dhún Garbháin agus Dún na Mainistreach.
Meet at the car park by the Shandon Roundabout in Dungarvan next to Waterford Council’s offices at 1.00.
We will head down to the seawall at the harbour by the town park, walk to Abbeyside and on to Killongford Bridge and back to Dungarvan via the Greenway.
The main focus will be on birds. Bring your binoculars!
Hosted by Irish Wildlife Trust Dublin
Join us this December for an outing to the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin.
Our December outings BC (Before Covid!) were to the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin
where a brilliant guide showed us that “The Bots in Winter” were not simply dormant but
were waiting to spring (the obvious word) into life in the following months. We will be back this year!
Date & Time: 11:00 am start, Sunday 18th December.
Location: the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin.
More info: Dublin Branch
Join us for a webinar on the importance of the EU Nature Restoration Law and what it means agriculture and nature. After a quick overview of the law and what has happened so far, we will hear from Dr. Guy Pe’er, who specialises in agroecology and conservation biology. He has a particular interest in agriculture, the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and how it affects both people and nature.
For more details on Dr. Pe’er’s work, visit his page on iDiv or find him on X.
This event require registration. Please register here.
Bring binoculars and telescopes if you have them, but the branch should have some to share.
And there will be some clambering – so sensible footwear is required.
And remember to wrap up well.
Join us for an in person screening of Fair Seas latest film ‘The Atlantic Northwest.’ The film recently won the award of Exceptional Merit at the Documentaries Without Borders International Film Festival and has been selected as a finalist for the Big Blue Film Festival in Oregon USA. The film spoke to different stakeholders including anglers, divers, tourism operators and seafood producers on what the ocean means to them and how they think Marine Protected Areas will affect their local area.
After the screening we will have a panel discussion focused around Marine Protected Areas in Ireland and the chance to discuss ideas with a number of experts from different fields.
Event requires registration. Please register here.
Location: Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny. Port Road, F92 C8HD, Letterkenny, Ireland.
Join us at Tralee Wetland centre on Saturday the 17th February at 3.30pm for an event exploring some of the ecosystems and species found in Kerry and across Ireland. We will also discuss the importance of national and EU legislation, such as the Nature Restoration Law and the new Irish Marine Protected Area bill, in protecting and restoring these areas and the species that rely on them.
Gerard Skollard from the IWT Kerry branch will speak about some of the work being done in Kerry by IWT and other environmental groups. Sean Kelly, Member of the European Parliament will join us to talk about his ‘Bee Better’ campaign and the need for healthy pollinator populations. We will also hear from Louise Overy on some of the work being done in the community around seagrass, oysters and elasmobranchs. Grace Carr, Marine Advocacy Officer with the IWT will give an overview of the Nature Restoration Law and it’s importance to marine ecosystems. Fair Seas will also give an update on the national Marine Protected Area legislation and where we are in the process
More speakers are to be confirmed so keep an eye on our social media and future newsletters for more details.
This event requires registration, so please register here: REGISTRATION LINK
Date: Saturday the 17th February
Time: 3.30pm
Location: Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre, Ballyard Rd, Ballyard, Tralee, Co. Kerry.
Once again our March outing is led by the wonderful Tim Clabon, and, once again it’s along a river – this time the Dodder.
It’s on March 24th, at 10:30, Meet at the Dodder Waterfall. It’s beside bus stops for S6, S8, 49, 65B and right beside Old Bawn Shopping Centre.
Just a stroll along the bank of the River Dodder, looking at some of the wildlife that occurs around this area in what used to be called Spring!
Bring rainwear and good walking shoes or boots.
For more info or enquiries on this event please contact Dublin Branch on dublinbranch@iwt.ie.
Join Dublin Branch member Niall Mac Coitir on a guided walk to see some of the trees, wild flowers and birds indeed all the biodiversity to be found in St. Anne’s Park in Clontarf. Niall Mac Coitir is the author of Ireland’s Trees: Myths, Legends and Folklore.
Location: St. Anne’s Park in Clontarf.
Meeting Point: Red Stables
Time & Date: 11:00, April 21st.
Please note: We’ll be mostly on paths – but wear sensible footwear. Car parking in St Anne’s Park can be problematical. You might be best parking nearby (don’t block driveways) and walking. Bus 130 leaves you at the gate. Raheny Dart station is 5ish minutes by bike – and you can bring the bike on the Dart.
If you have any queries, please contact the Dublin branch directly. Email: DublinBranch@iwt.ie
Location: King’s Island, Limerick City
Meeting Point: The Potato Market on Merchants Quay
Time & Date: 11:00, April 27th.
If you are interested in improving your plant identification skills, we recommend downloading the free app: Flora Incognito ahead of the vent.
This walk is open to all!
For any queries, please contact the IWT Limerick Branch directly, email: limerickbranch@iwt.ie
Location: Cappagh House, County Waterford. Meet for car pooling at Butlerstown retail centre at 13.30.
Time & Date: 14:00, May 12th
On World Bee Day, join the Irish Wildlife Trust and NPWS to discover the bumblebees and other bugs that make their home in Knocksink Wood Nature Reserve. The walk will explore the pollinating insects and flowering plants found in the Knocksink Wood Nature Reserve and surrounding area. You will learn about wild irish bee and wildflower identification as well as woodland ecology.
Date: 20.05.2024
Time: 15:00
Meeting point: Confirmed on booking
Price: Free
Booking info: All ages welcome, booking is essential, email knocksinkwood@npws.gov.ie. Dogs (excepting guide dogs) are not permitted.
Contact: knocksinkwood@npws.gov.ie
Location: Waterford Greenway.
Meeting point: Confirmed upon booking
Join the Irish Wildlife Trust for an educational event where you will discover the world of Ireland’s wild bees. You will learn how to identify and submit sightings of commonly encountered Irish bees as well as how you can help by creating bee friendly habitat. This event will consist of a short talk followed by a walk around the garden when we hopefully spot lots of bees and practice our identification skills.
This free event is part of National Biodiversity Week and is being run in collaboration between the Irish Wildlife Trust and the National Botanic Gardens.
Date: Sat 25th May
Time: 11:00 to 13:00.
Meeting point: Visitors Centre, The National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9
Price: Free of charge
Booking info: Link
Contact: botanicscentre@opw.ie
The Limerick Branch of IWT (IWTLB) are hosting two events in Curraghchase Forest Park on Sunday 26th May 2024 from 11.30-13.00 in association with Kilcornan Tidy Towns. Dragonflies and Butterflies at the Lake; Woodland Plants in the Woods.
Date: 26.05.2024
Time: 11:30 – 13:00
Meeting point: Confirmed after booking
Price: Free
Booking info: To book on please email requesting a place on either “Dragonflies” or “Woodland Plants” to limerickevents@iwt.ie
Event Contact: limerickbranch@iwt.ie
Date: 26th May
Time: 14:00 to 16:00
Description: Calling all nature enthusiasts and citizen scientists!
Are you interested in learning more about recording biodiversity and uploading records to the National Biodiversity Data Centre? Recording local species is vitally important for the management and conservation of wildlife and the more active citizen scientists we have, the more we can learn about our biodiversity.
This event will be an introduction to biological recording and will look at using the NBDC website and app to upload records. Kieran Flood will be our speaker, and the presentation / Q&A will be followed by a practical session – a walk through lovely Muckno Park where participants can put their recording skills to the test.
Monaghan is currently 28th in the County League of records, let’s see if we can make it to the top ten!
Meeting point: Confirmed upon booking
Booking info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/896140589627?aff=oddtdtcreator
Contact: monaghanbranch@iwt.ie
Price: Free
Time & Date: 10am , 23rd June 2024
Location: Meet at the Interpretive Centre, next to the Causeway
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 10am. 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!
If you’ve never done an outing like this, we recommend taking a look at Liz’s introductory course to learn about Irish bumblebees!
https://biodiversityireland.ie/identifying-irish-bumblebees/lesson.html
St Stephen’s Green Park is a historical park and garden, located in the centre of Dublin city. Cared for by the Office of Public Works, the park is an important public resource in the area, and provides an oasis of green calm in the middle of a bustling city. Many species of birds and plants also call the park their home.
We’re getting a marvelous guided tour of the park on Sunday, July 7th , and led by a Green gardener, expert on all the biodiversity of the Green. Meet at the Fusiliers’ Arch (top of Grafton Street) at 11 am for an insight to a part of Dublin you may not recognise.
Time: 11am
Date: July 7th 2024
Meeting Point: Fusilier’s Arch (top of Grafton Street)
If you have questions about the event, please contact: DublinBranch@iwt.ie