The December talk of the Dublin Branch of Green Drinks will be about the new book by well known ecologist Richard Nairn on the nature and history of Dublin. The talk will highlight the interdependence of people and nature in Dublin Bay, illustrated by the historical ecology of this rich coastal ecosystem. It will also look to the future with the threats of climate change and the challenges for the recently established Dublin Bay Biosphere.”
Richard Nairn is an ecologist and writer who grew up on the shores of the bay and still sails regularly there. He was previously a nature reserve warden and the first Director of IWC BirdWatch Ireland. “Dublin Bay: Nature and History” is his fifth book.
**NOTE: Event venue is Basement Blue Room, not top floor.
The December talk of the Dublin Branch of Green Drinks will be about the new book by well known ecologist Richard Nairn on the nature and history of Dublin. The talk will highlight the interdependence of people and nature in Dublin Bay, illustrated by the historical ecology of this rich coastal ecosystem. It will also look to the future with the threats of climate change and the challenges for the recently established Dublin Bay Biosphere.”
Richard Nairn is an ecologist and writer who grew up on the shores of the bay and still sails regularly there. He was previously a nature reserve warden and the first Director of IWC BirdWatch Ireland. “Dublin Bay: Nature and History” is his fifth book.
**NOTE: Event venue is Basement Blue Room, not top floor.
[caption id="attachment_2935" align="alignleft" width="400"] Grey Heron by Martin Mc[/caption]
IWT Dublin Branch’s January outing occurs on Sunday January 7th. We are most fortunate to have a birdwatch outing led by John Fox. Those of you who bought the book on Dublin Bay by, among others, Richard Nairn, who gave our December talk will know that John is the main photographer of that volume, so the outing should be spectacular. We meet on the causeway at 12 noon. Remember – dress warmly.
Maria McGrail will give a presentation on wildlife photography. “Green Drinks”, hosted by IWT Dublin branch, occurs the first Tuesday of each month at JW Sweetman’s pub on Burgh Quay right beside O’Connell Bridge. Top floor. See IWT Dublin Branch Facebook page or their Meetup page for further details closer to the date.
Free Wildlife Photography workshop with Maria McGrail. The workshop is limited to 10 participants who should bring whatever camera they have and a tripod if they have one. Tea and coffee are available so participants will just have to bring their lunch. Booking necessary at dublinbranch@iwt.ie Places are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
The Waterford branch are running a nature walk along the Glenshhelane. We’ll be meeting near Barron’s Bakery, Cappoquin at 1.30 pm. All are welcome.
On Sunday 15th April, the Laois/Offaly branch of the IWT is inviting the public to meet Zoologist and Amphibian Expert Collie Ennis at 12 noon in Abbeyleix Heritage House before heading to Abbeyleix Bog in search of frogs and newts. This event is suitable for young & old alike and is family friendly. Its a free event but donations to the branches conservation work always welcome.
Contact the Laois/Offaly Branch for any further information.
Hosted by IWT Dublin Branch.
Join IWT Dublin Branch for bird watching at Bull Island this January. Our guide will be the excellent John Fox and there will be lots of wintering birds to see. We are meeting on the causeway. If coming from town, take the Clontarf Road (R807), pass St Anne’s Park (on the left) and at the Tree Sculpture turn right onto Causeway Road. After a few hundred metres you will see us gathering on the left hand side of the road. Bring your binoculars and remember to dress warmly!
Please wear appropriate foot wear and clothing. All Are Welcome to join us on the day. For more details please feel free to contact dublinbranch@iwt.ie
This webinar will look at the meaning of rewilding, its scientific underpinning and how it can be used to address the biodiversity crisis
Registration is free on this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PwfcZ1PvSbuFPIuFcVnsRA
Grand Canal Biodiversity Walk, Dolphins Barn
Hosted by IWT Dublin Branch.
Now that covid restrictions are finally easing, IWT Dublin Branch are resuming our monthly outings. Our first outing will be a Biodiversity Walk along the Grand Canal in Dolphin’s Barn, led by Larry Gordon of the Grand Canal Biodiversity and clean-up Group. The walk will last about 1½ hours
Meet at Dolphin’s Barn at 11:30am.
Please wear appropriate foot wear and clothing. All Are Welcome to join us on the day. For more details please feel free to contact dublinbranch@iwt.ie
Description: The Water Framework Directive is the most important piece of legislation in Ireland for achieving good status for all of our water bodies – that includes rivers, lakes and coastal waters. A public consultation on the forthcoming River Basin Management Plan is underway and to highlight the importance of the WFD the Irish Wildlife Trust is holding a series of lunchtime (1-2pm) webinars in association with our colleagues in the Sustainable Water Network (SWAN).
Description: The Water Framework Directive is the most important piece of legislation in Ireland for achieving good status for all of our water bodies – that includes rivers, lakes and coastal waters. A public consultation on the forthcoming River Basin Management Plan is underway and to highlight the importance of the WFD the Irish Wildlife Trust is holding a series of lunchtime (1-2pm) webinars in association with our colleagues in the Sustainable Water Network (SWAN).
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jAo3mO35QRamvYaoajCs8w
Description: The Water Framework Directive is the most important piece of legislation in Ireland for achieving good status for all of our water bodies – that includes rivers, lakes and coastal waters. A public consultation on the forthcoming River Basin Management Plan is underway and to highlight the importance of the WFD the Irish Wildlife Trust is holding a series of lunchtime (1-2pm) webinars in association with our colleagues in the Sustainable Water Network (SWAN).
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_A4BV4tXdRremxAxr5Cw7Pg
Hosted by Limerick IWT Branch
A talk by Pádraic Fogarty of IWT on ‘Ireland’s Biodiversity Crisis’ in Kilcornan Community Centre.
Hosted by IWT Dublin Branch
Just a stroll along the bank of the River Liffey, looking at some of the wildlife that occurs around this area. Bring rainwear, good walking shoes or boots. Carpark may be full at this time.
Time: 10:30. Remember – that’s the day the clocks go FORWARD – one hour less sleep!
Meet: Sluice Carpark, Lucan. Opposite McDonald’s.
Description: The Water Framework Directive is the most important piece of legislation in Ireland for achieving good status for all of our water bodies – that includes rivers, lakes and coastal waters. A public consultation on the forthcoming River Basin Management Plan is underway and to highlight the importance of the WFD the Irish Wildlife Trust is holding a series of lunchtime (1-2pm) webinars in association with our colleagues in the Sustainable Water Network (SWAN).
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ePV4r7ubQiafhnOZjyrJ8A
Description: We will meet some of the farmers who are a part of the Farming for Nature initiative – Ailbhe Gerrard, Kate Egan and John McHugh. We will hear about their farms and how we can produce food while protecting nature.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mE1GH0UuTiSvQnbl3HA-EA
Hosted by IWT Limerick Branch
Our first outing next Saturday 16th April 22 is a guided walk by Paul Murphy to introduce us to the Summer Snowflake plant, often mistaken for a snowdrop. Although rare in the rest of the country it grows profusely in Limerick on the banks of the Shannon and is presently adding dashes of colour to the banks.
The walk is open to the public so no need to book. Bring along a friend!
Time: 11:00. Walk will be 1-1.5 hrs duration.
Meet: At the Old Courthouse, by the Potato Market
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.
The walk is open to the public so no need to book. Bring along a friend!
Time: 11:00.
Meet: At the Red Stables, St. Anne’s Park, Raheny.
The May walk of the Waterford branch of the IWT will take place at Forth mountain, County Wexford on May 8th.
We will meet at Pennylands carpark at 1.30. Grid reference S 97150 18086
Car sharing possible from Passage East ferry, by arrangement. Meet at 12.50
Please sign up to help us plan our stewarding arrangements
https://forms.gle/f23sNEoLa6g1ZfDJ6
There will be two parts:
The first section will include a visit to the lookout point at Skeater rock. Then we will drive on to Carrigfoyle carpark where we will visit the quarry lake. There are toilets at the second carpark and a coffee outlet with seats if the weather is good.
Place: Forth mountain, Co. Wexford (Pennylands carpark at 1.30pm)
Date & Time: Sunday, 8th May from 1:30pm
With war in Ukraine and a worsening ecological crisis that threatens food production, how can we best prepare ourselves for the changes that are coming?
We’ll be discussing this important topic with Bridgi Murphy from Talamh Beo and Olive Moore from UCC Centre for Cooperative Studies
Date and Time:9th May, 19:00
Ireland has some really exquisite butterflies, many of them rarely encountered without specialised knowledge of their habitat needs and distribution. In his presentation, butterfly expert Jesmond Harding will show every species, including its caterpillar and breeding plants, as well as highlight habitats and conservation. The talk will be followed by a walk to see if we can spot any local butterflies, and then tea/coffee will be served. Jesmond is the author of two books, ‘Discovering Irish Butterflies & their Habitats’ [2008] and ‘The Irish Butterfly Book’ [2021]. He was part of the expert group that drew up the red list for Irish butterflies in 2010 and is a member of the Irish Peatland Conservation Council, Burrenbeo Trust, and a founding member of Butterfly Conservation Ireland.
Place: Tyrone Guthrie Centre
Date & Time: Saturday, 14 May 10am-12.30pm
The event is all about Ireland’s bees and will combine an informative talk with a bee id 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.
Place: The National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin
Date & Time: 15th May, 11:00 to 13:00
At this exciting evening bat walk you will have the opportunity to walk the National Botanic Gardens at dusk with an Irish Wildlife Trust guide 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 as this event takes place after sunset. Children are welcome to attend but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
Place: The National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin
Date & Time: 20th May, 21:15 to 22:45
[Event image courtesy of Mike Brown]
Come along to the Castleblayney Community Gardens & Allotments where local tree aficionado, John McKeon, will be hosting a native tree workshop. John has 15 plots of native Irish trees growing in his nursery (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. Tea and coffee will be served afterwards.
Place: Castleblayney Community Gardens and Allotments (Eircode A75W773)
Date & Time: Sunday, 22 May from 3-5pm