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08 Jan: Waterford: Carrigavantry and Ballyscanlan Lake Walk
IWT Waterford Branch will be leading a visit to Carrigavantry and Ballyscanlan Lake, Co. Waterford (Carraig an Bhruinnteora agus Loch Bhaile Uí Scanláin). The Walk will be led by Denis Cullen.
Location: Meet at the carpark opposite the Applegreen garage in Tramore
Date: Sunday 8th January.
Time: 13:00
Event contact: iwtwaterfordbranch@gmail.com
10 Jan: IWT Webinar: Rights of Nature
The Citizens’ Assembly has recommended that Ireland’s Constitution be changed to include reference to biodiversity, perhaps to allow for recognition of Rights of Nature. This webinar will explore the ideas behind Rights of Nature and what it might mean for Ireland. We will talk to James Orr and Katie Holden about the campaign for the Rights of Nature to be recognised in Ireland.
Register for this free webinar using this registration link
22 Jan: Dublin: Bull Island Birding Outing
IWT Dublin Branch loves to start the year with an annual January outing to Bull Island to see the birds, especially the Brent Geese. We are fortunate this year to be led by two volunteers from Birdwatch Ireland. It promises to be a great morning. Bring binoculars and telescopes if you have them, but we should have some to share. And remember – wrap up well.
Location: Meet at the end of the Causeway, opposite the wonderful carved tree.
Date: Sunday 22nd January
Time: 11:00
Event contact: dublinbranch@iwt.ie
This webinar will look at the Lesser Horseshoe Bat and the recent action plan that was published for it’s conservation in Ireland. To learn about this fascinating native mammal we will be chatting with Dr Kate McAney.
Kate McAney is Ireland Mammal Programme Manager at the Vincent Wildlife Trust. Kate McAney obtained a PhD from University College Galway in 1987 for her research on the summer activity and diet of the lesser horseshoe bat in County Clare. Since 1991 she has been working in Ireland for the Vincent Wildlife Trust, a UK-based wildlife charity, and has spent most of that time working on practical conservation actions for the lesser horseshoe bat. In 2022 she co-authored the Lesser Horseshoe Bat Species Action Plan with Dr Ferdia Marnell, National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Date & Time: Feb 9, 2023, 07:00 PM
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bft3gzqHQ6abCBXVai_5Xg
February Foraging with Samuel Arnold Keane
This is a Dublin Branch event
We are going to have an absolutely marvellous outing on Sunday, February 12th when Samuel Arnold Keane will take us foraging!
With foraging edible ‘weeds’ we end up taking care and protecting wild pieces of land. We form a relationship with land that is otherwise labelled as ‘neglected’ or disused. It is this type of ‘wild’ land that we so desperately need to allow insect life- and therefore bird life, and indeed human life to become sustainable. In an urban setting, foraging can be a strong practice in community building, while gathering, preparing, preserving wild foods and materials into many various uses. It is an activity than can include all ages and abilities.
The Sunday low tides for 2023 are seriously low, so we are meeting at Dalkey Dart Station at 9:30 to walk to Whiterock Beach in Killiney. Wear sensible shoes, and bring a small container or two for your ‘forage’
Samuel has a wonderful new book on foraging, and he will have copies to sell. They are €10 each, and you will need CASH.
Date & Time: 12th February, 09:30
Meeting Point: Dalkey Dart Station
Contact: dublinbranch@iwt.ie
This event is hosted by Waterford Branch
The next outing of the Waterford branch of the IWT is next Sunday, 12th February to Marlfield Pond, Clonmel with a look at the Greylag Geese and Whooper Swans on the way.
They can best be seen at Darrigal on the Portlaw to Carrick road (R680) or at Tibberaghny ( best viewed from the high road at Brownswood)
We therefore plan to meet at Kilmeaden railway station at 1pm. S 51497 10762
We will stop briefly at the Tesco carpark on the ring road, Clonmel at 2pm for anyone who prefers to join us there. S 20964 23363
More details: iwtwaterfordbranch@gmail.com
This webinar will talk with Richard Nairn, an ecologist and writer based in County Wicklow. In this webinar he will talk about Ireland’s native woodland including its wildlife, management and policies for its protection.
Date & Time: Mar 7, 2023, 07:00 PM
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_C7mtHS2VQA6l2vPysl516w
Limerick Climbing Club are holding an environmental awareness talk on Tuesday March 21st, at 7.30 in Mary I, room T.1.17.
The topic is ‘Birds of the Irish Uplands’, which covers the birds of our local hills and mountains that we are likely to see or hear, and wonder how they live their lives in places that we are happy to visit briefly. Our speaker, Tom Tarpey, is a local birdwatcher, a member of BirdWatch Limerick and consultant, with many years of experience, from the Shannon estuary to the Galtees, with all habitats in between. We have invited members of the Limerick branch of the Irish Wildlife Trust, and we hope to see many of you there too. Incidentally, identification swatches for many groups of insects will be on sale. (€5 each).
Rewilding is recognised as among the quickest, easiest and cheapest ways of addressing the climate and biodiversity crisis. It is exciting and hopeful but has also made some nervous. This event will look at how we can make rewilding work for people as well as nature at a landscape scale.
Date and time: March 25th from 10am to 1pm
Location: Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre, Co. Longford, Keenagh, Co. Longford, N39 XT18
Speakers:
Alan McDonnell – Programme Development Manager, Trees For Life and Affric Highlands Rewilding Project
Sue Moles – Conservation Ranger for County Longford NPWS
Padraic Fogarty – Irish Wildlife Trust Campaign Officer
Hosted by IWT Dublin Branch
Once again our March outing is along the River Liffey in Springtime, and once again it’s led
by the wonderful Tim Clabon.
It’s on March 26 th , at 10:30, Remember – that’s the day the clocks go FORWARD – one hour less sleep!
Meet: Sluice Carpark, Lucan. Opposite McDonald’s
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