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Community Bee Monitoring Workshop
Cavan Town Library, Co Cavan
This workshop will provide training in bee identification, surveying and recording techniques. It will consist of an indoor presentation and an outdoor practical session at a nearby wildflower habitat. This is a beginner’s level workshop. It will introduce you to the fascinating world of bees and the importance of bee monitoring in Ireland. This workshop is ideal for community groups such as Tidy Towns.
Booking is essential contact us at conservation@iwt.ie for booking
This event is free of charge and supported by Cavan County Council
Green Drinks May – The Greater Spotted Woodpecker
This month, the IWT Dublin Branch will host Declan Murphy to give a talk about one of Ireland’s newest arrivals, the Greater Spotted Woodpecker. Many are praising Declan’s recent book A Life in the Trees – a personal account of the Great Spotted Woodpecker in County Wicklow.
Community Bee Monitoring Workshop
Adare Village Hall, Co Limerick
This workshop will provide training in bee identification, surveying and recording techniques. It will consist of an indoor presentation and an outdoor practical session at a nearby wildflower habitat. This is a beginner’s level workshop. It will introduce you to the fascinating world of bees and the importance of bee monitoring in Ireland. This workshop is ideal for community groups such as Tidy Towns.
Booking is essential contact us at conservation@iwt.ie for booking
This event is free of charge and supported by Limerick City and County Council
Join Marie Power for an event to highlight the biodiversity of the Copper Coast of Waterford. We will walk the beach at Garrarus Strand learning about the plant and animal life on the rocky shore. We will learn how to identify the edible seaweeds found here as well as learning about the rock pool animals and the interconnectedness of all life on the shore.
This event is free of charge but please book on at http://www.livingearth.ie/
This event is open to all ages. It involves walking off path on the beach and participants should wear suitable footwear for walking on the rocks and dress for coastal weather. Bearing in mind that conditions on the shore may be different to inland.
Join the Irish Wildlife Trust Kerry Branch for an early morning birdsong concert.
For details contact iwtkerry@gmail.com
TIME: 7am
MEETING POINT: South Pole Inn, Annascaul
Join the Irish Wildlife Trust for a guided biodiversity walk along the scenic Barrow Way Towpath. This will be a leisurely walking tour suitable to all ages. The river Barrow is rich in biodiversity and a home to otter, water birds and fish while the banks support beautiful wildflowers and insect life. At this event, we will walk the Barrow Towpath from St Mullins stopping to learn about the botanical biodiversity while looking out for signs of otter and other native mammals.
This walk is on grassy paths on level easy terrain. Walking boots and outdoor clothing are recommended. It’s led by Alan Walshe, an ecological with years of experience of leading groups.
MEETING POINT: The towpath at St Mullins at 1:30pm
CONTACT: iwtwaterfordbranch@gmail.com for details
Suitable for all ages.
Join the Irish Wildlife Trust for a guided biodiversity walk through some of Galway City’s best bee spying spots. Protecting our pollinators is an effective way to take action for biodiversity. At this event, we walk through some of Galway City’s bee habitat and learn how to identify and care for our Irish bumblebees. The walk will start opposite the Huntsmans Inn and follow the shore of Lough Aralia along hedgerows and over to Ballyboughane Beach where we will hopefully find plenty of bees on the shoreline wildflowers growing there such as clover and ox-eye daisy. Butterfly nets and viewing jars will be available so everyone can enjoy the fun of netting a bee to have a closer look before letting them go on the merry way. It is great fun for all the family.
The event is suitable for all and participant should wear comfortable walking clothes and footwear.
MEETING POINT: Car park opposite Huntsman Inn, Galway City
Contact: conservation@iwt.ie
The Irish Wildlife Trust discusses the importance of pollinators with the DCU campus community. How can the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan be applied to universities and what can you do to help wild bees? Learn how to identify bumblebees and about the bumblebee monitoring scheme. After a start talk, the group will be taken on a walk across campus to the DCU community, discussing the potential habitats and food for bees on campus, and attempt to observe bees in the garden.
All welcome.
Wildlife Gardening Talk
Presented by The Irish Wildlife Trust
Get practical advice on how we can all do our bit to protect our native biodiversity with some simple changes to how we garden. From window boxes to big gardens we can help our native biodiversity. This is a free Biodiversity Week event being delivered by the Irish Wildlife Trust and Kildare County Council.
Booking required – contact naaslib@kildarecoco.ie
THIS EVENT IS BOOKED OUT
Join the Irish Wildlife Trust on a nocturnal tour of Dublin’s National Botanic Gardens. The event will allow visitors a glimpse at what goes on in the gardens after the gates close and darkness falls. Find out which creatures roam this beautiful garden by night. At this event, you will learn about Ireland’s nocturnal biodiversity in this historic site. We will use bat detectors to hopefully hear the calls of our native bats as they forage over the garden pond and between the majestic trees. Event participant will get a chance to use our bat detector devices to try out finding bats using their echolocation calls. While on the tour, we will keep our eyes and ear open for other creatures such as badgers, foxes and owls. The IWT’s conservation officer Kieran Flood will be leading the walk.
The event will be taking place at nightfall. Participant should dress for evening weather and bring a small torch for their own use. Booking is essential for this event please contact botanicscentre@opw.ie to book.
This event is open to all and will take place on wheelchair accessible footpaths. It is a family friendly event.
This event will combine an informative talk on Irish bats with walk in the beautiful Balllyseedy Wood. Join the Irish Wildlife Trust Kerry Branch at the Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre at 8pm to hear the background on Irish bats, their little quirks and how they live, given by Dr David Mc Cormick, ecologist at Tralee Bay Wetlands and Chairperson of IWT. We will then leave the centre after the talk heading to the south entrance of Ballyseedy Woods. At the woods, participants will walk the woodland paths with our IWT guides in search of nocturnal biodiversity. We will use bat detectors to hear the bats amazing echolocation calls and discover which species of bat are foraging in these woods. Participants will be able to try out the bat detectors for themselves and experience listening to sound of bat calls.
Participants are advised to wear appropriate outdoor clothing, good walking shoes and to bring a small torch.
This event is open to all and is family friendly.
Once a site of local industry, the Commons North Woodland is now a beautiful example of a local biodiversity site. The former lime quarry in now an accessible wildlife walking area, with bats inhabiting the old quarry sites.
On this walk, we will explore the biodiversity of the woodland, which is home to badgers, bats, birds and rare butterflies. This site contains woodland, limestone pavement and quarry ponds. Our Irish Wildlife Trust guide will help you explore the plants and animals present in all these habitat. The use of butterfly nets and pond dipping equipment will help us see the resident butterflies, bumblebees and pond life up close. This is great fun for kids and adults alike, and an excellent way to celebrate 25 year of action for Ireland biodiversity.
MEETING POINT: At the walk entrance, Lanesborough, Co Longford
Contact: conservation@iwt.ie for details
Participants should wear outdoor walking clothes and footwear.
These are short 20 minute workshops looking at simple ways to turn home gardens into wildlife havens. Contact iwtkerry@gmail.com for details/
LOCATION: Tralee Bay Wetland Centre
TIME: 2:00pm, 2:20pm, 2:40pm
On Saturday, May 26th, the Dublin Branch of the IWT will hold a Biodiversity walk on the Grand Canal, as part of Ireland’s Biodiversity week. Larry Gordon, of the Grand Canal group, will lead us on a walk along the canal, lasting about 90 minutes and starting at 4 p.m. at Dolphin’s Barn Bridge. The Canal is a wonderful artery of wildlife from central Ireland right into our capital city, and Larry will explore and explain this flow of biodiversity traffic. For Decades bats, birds, otter and fish all use the Grand Canal to find food and navigate within our urban landscape. It is still and essential biodiversity habitat for Dublin City and well worth exploring this Biodiversity Week.
MEETING POINT: Dolphin’s Barn Bridge, Dublin TIME: 16:00 – 17:00
Contact: dublinbranch@iwt.ie for details
The walk is suitable for the entire family. Remember, even though it has late May, the afternoons can get a little chilly, so make sure the little ones are wrapped up.
Join Dublin Branch member Niall Mac Coitir for the annual wildflower walk on Bull Island where you will see an amazing variety of flowers that rival anything in the burren, including up to six species of orchid!
Not suitable for children under twelve. Wear sensible shoes and appropriate outdoor gear.
Meeting Point: Meet at Interpretive Centre at end of causeway
Photo Credit: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/465053
25th July, Meeting 11:00 at Ballyfermot Library
This family friendly event will feature a brief wildlife talk in the library followed by a walk to Markievicz Park to explore the wildlife found there. At this event, you will learn about the trees and wildlife of Markievicz Park, such as bees, butterflies and birds.
The event is free of charge – booking is essential on ballyfermotlibrary@dublincity.ie or 01 6269324
This event is funded by Dublin City Council
This workshop will provide training in bee habitat creation – bee friendly planting and nest site creation. It will consist of an indoor presentation and an outdoor walk to see local bee habitat. It is a beginner’s level workshop. It will introduce you to the fascinating world of bees and the importance of bee conservation in Ireland. The workshop is ideal for community groups such as Tidy Towns.
Venue:
Time 11:00-14:30
This workshop is free of charge. Booking is essential on conservation@iwt.ie
This IWT project aims to empower community groups and the public around the country to take action in essential monitoring of wild bee populations and the creation of wild bee habitat.
Find project details at iwt.ie/people-for-bees/
This workshop was funded by Limerick City & County Council
Kieran Flood, Conservation Officer for the Irish Wildlife Trust will be giving a talk on our Irish lizards and the work the Irish Wildlife Trust has been doing to map the distribution of our little know Irish reptiles. Ireland is not known for its reptile diversity but our own native reptile, the viviparous lizard, is widespread and a fascinating creature. We are also home to the slow worm, an introduced legless lizard. So come along to this Green Drinks talk to find out more.
Location: JW Sweetman on Burgh Quay beside O’Connell Bridge.
Date: 07th August
Time: 19:00
08th August, Meeting 14:00 at Marino Library, 14 – 20 Marino Mart, Fairview, Dublin 3. D03 VW10
This family friendly event will feature a brief wildlife talk in the library followed by a walk to Fairview Park to explore the wildlife found there. At this event, you will learn about the trees and wildlife of Fairview Park, such as bees, butterflies and birds.
The event is free of charge – booking is essential on marinolibrary@dublincity.ie or 01 8336297
This workshop will provide training in bee habitat creation – bee friendly planting and nest site creation. It will consist of an indoor presentation and a short outdoor walk to see local bee habitat. It is a beginner’s level workshop. It will introduce you to the fascinating world of bees and the importance of bee conservation in Ireland. The workshop is ideal for community groups such as Tidy Towns.
Venue: Blessington Library, Co Wicklow
Date: 09th August
Time 18:00-20:00
This workshop is free of charge. Booking is essential on conservation@iwt.ie
This IWT project aims to empower community groups and the public around the country to take action in essential monitoring of wild bee populations and the creation of wild bee habitat.
Find project details at iwt.ie/people-for-bees/
15th August, Meeting at 14:00 at Raheny Library
This family friendly event will feature a brief wildlife talk in the library followed by a walk to St Anne’s Park to explore the wildlife found there. At this event, you will learn about the trees and wildlife of your local park such as bees, butterflies and birds.
Booking is essential on rahenylibrary@dublincity.ie
Meeting Point: Raheny Library
This event is funded by Dublin City Council and delivered by the Irish Wildlife Trust
Irish Wildlife Trust – Phibsboro Library Wildlife Walk
16th August, Meeting at 11:00 at Phibsboro Library
This family friendly event will feature a brief wildlife talk in the library followed by a walk to the Blessington Basin to explore the wildlife found there. At this event, you will learn about the trees and wildlife of the Blessington Basin such as bees, butterflies and birds.
The event is free of charge – booking is essential on phibsborolibrary@dublincity.ie or 01 8304341
Explore the wildlife of the Grand Canal Barrow Line. Combining an indoor presentation and canal side fieldtrip, you will learn how to identify and record the biodiversity found along the canal.
This event will provide training in bee and butterfly identification and canal natural heritage recording. It will consist of an indoor presentation followed by an outdoor fieldtrip. We will survey a section of the canal for native trees, aquatic life, pollinators, and other wildlife. Dress for the outdoors and wear comfortable footwear.
Contact us at conservation@iwt.ie for booking.
Date: 18th August Time 11:00 – 14:00
Venue: Vicarstown Old Community Hall
This project is funded by Waterways Ireland and Laois County Council.
A family nature walk & talk in Garryhinch Woods between Portarlington and Mountmellick. Led by the volunteers of the Badger Club of the Irish Wildlife Trust (Laois/Offaly).
All welcome. No booking required.
Meet in car park at 11am sharp. Wear suitable clothing and footwear please.
This is a Laois/Offaly branch event. For queries contact barbara.iwtlaoisoffaly@gmail.com
Location: Garryhinch Woods
Date: 19th August 2018
Time: 11:00 am
Explore the wildlife of the Grand Canal Barrow Line. Combining an indoor presentation and canal side fieldtrip, you will learn how to identify and record the biodiversity of the canal.
This event will provide training in bee and butterfly identification and canal natural heritage recording. It will consist of an indoor presentation followed by an outdoor fieldtrip. We will survey a section of the canal for native trees, aquatic life, pollinators, and other wildlife. Dress for the outdoors and wear comfortable footwear.
Booking is essential contact us at conservation@iwt.ie for booking.
Date: 19th August Time 11:00 – 14:00
Venue: Athy Heritage Centre Museum & Canal Fieldtrip
Admission Fee: Free
This project is funded by Waterways Ireland and Kildare County Council.
Join the IWT Kerry branch for a heritage stall as part of Heritage Week.
All free. All welcome.
Location: Annascaul Community Care Centre
Date: 19th August 2018
Time: 1-4pm
Bat Walk – St Enda’s Rathfarnham – THIS EVENT IS BOOKED OUT
On the evening of Wednesday 22nd we meet in St Enda’s Park in Rathfarnham for our annual Bat Walk. St Enda’s include mature trees and historic building so should be a great bat spotting spot.
Children are welcome, but being an evening event be sure to dress for the cold.
THIS EVENT IS BOOKED OUT
Location: St Enda’s Rathfarnham
Date: 22nd August
This workshop will provide training in bee habitat creation activities such as bee friendly planting and nest site creation. It will consist of an indoor presentation and a short outdoor walk to see local bee habitat. It is a beginner’s level workshop. It will introduce you to the fascinating world of bees and the importance of bee conservation in Ireland. The workshop is ideal for community groups such as Tidy Towns. All are welcome.
Venue: Pairc Mac Finn, Maghera, Co Cavan
Date: 01st September
Time 11:00-13:30
This workshop is free of charge. Booking and info at conservation@iwt.ie
This IWT project aims to empower community groups and the public around the country to take action in essential monitoring of wild bee populations and the creation of wild bee habitat.
Find project details at iwt.ie/people-for-bees/
This workshop will provide training in bee habitat creation activities such as bee friendly planting and nest site creation. It will consist of an indoor presentation and a short outdoor walk to see local bee habitat. It is a beginner’s level workshop. It will introduce you to the fascinating world of bees and the importance of bee conservation in Ireland. The workshop is ideal for community groups such as Tidy Towns.
Venue: Adare Village Hall, Adare, Co Limerick
Date: 02nd September
Time 11:00-13:30
This workshop is free of charge. Booking is essential on conservation@iwt.ie
This IWT project aims to empower community groups and the public around the country to take action in essential monitoring of wild bee populations and the creation of wild bee habitat.
Find project details at iwt.ie/people-for-bees/
Rockpooling at Portmarnock beach, Co. Dublin
The Dublin branch of the IWT invite you to join them for a rockpool event on Portmarnock beach. Ever popular with younger (and older) ecologists! All welcome to attend – children need adult supervision. Contact dublinbranch@iwt.ie for queries.
By public transport: 32 and 42 busses
Location: On Portmarnock beach by the Martello Tower
Date: 2nd September 2018
Time: 11am
Green Drinks: Bees and Pollinators – a vital role
Orla ni Dhuill of the IWT and DCU will give a talk about the role bees play in maintaining a healthy environment for us. The declining number of bees internationally and nationally has started to break into mainstream news, but many people do not know much about the different species of bees and pollinators in decline and what is causing their decline. Orla will give a talk around these issues.
Location: Top floor in J.W. Sweetman’s, Burgh Quay
Date: 4th September 2018
Time: 7pm
THIS EVENT IS BOOKED OUT
As part of our Waterways for Wildlife project on the Barrow Line of the Grand Canal we will be visiting Lowtown in Co Kildare where the Barrow Line leave the Grand Canal and heads south to join the Barrow River. At this evening event, we will be looking at the mammal life found along this canal. Meeting at Lowtown we will walk the canal bank at sunset looking out for our native bat species as well as signs of other canal loving mammals such as the otter. We will have bat detectors with us and will be able to listen to the echolocation calls of any bats present.
As this is a nocturnal event we need to limit numbers for health and safety reason, so booking is essential. Contact us at conservation@iwt.ie to book on.
Location: Lowtown, Co Kildare
Meeting point: Confirmed upon booking
Date: 13th September
This event is sponsored by Waterways Ireland and Kildare County Council
Knowing Nature in Kerry: Killarney House and Gardens
Killarney House & Gardens are holding a day of free informative talks and activities called ‘Knowing Nature’ on 29th September.
The day will bring together various environmental groups who will offer a variety of talks and activities. The talks will focus on the rich natural heritage of Kerry, highlighting the extraordinary work being done in the locality. There will also be family fun activities run by the Education Centre for the National Park. See https://www.killarneynationalpark.ie/knowingnature/ for full details.
Join the Kerry branch at 12pm for a talk on the work that they do in the area and some of the specific projects that they are involved in.
Date: 29th September 2018
Time: 12pm
Location: Killarney House and Gardens
The Aliens in your Garden at J.W. Sweetman’s Burgh Quay
Join the Dublin branch of the IWT on 2nd October on the top floor of J.W. Sweetman’s, Burgh Quay. Rory O’Hanlon’s talk will be a mix of science and gardening with the focus on some introduced invertebrates you may encounter in your garden, from the insect, Asian Red Lily beetle, to a crustacean landhopper first described from specimens collected on the Scilly Isles. How did they arrive here, and what is their impact?
All welcome.
Date: 2nd October 2018
Time: 7pm
Location: Top floor J.W. Sweetman’s, Burgh Quay
The AGM of the Irish Wildlife Trust will be held on Saturday 20th October at 3pm, upstairs in Doyle’s Bar, 9 College Street, Dublin 2. Signed up members of the Irish Wildlife Trust are invited to attend.
The by now annual IWT Dublin Branch outing to see the Deer Rut in the Phoenix Park will be at 11:00 on Sunday, October 21st. We meet, as usual, at the Papal Cross. The leader is once again Dr Favel Naulty, and nobody knows more about these deer than she – her PhD was entitled ” Frequency of fighting by fallow bucks”. If you have binoculars or a small telescope with a tripod, bring it. Although we will have a very clear view of the animals, we will not, repeat not, approach them.
See you there – and children are, as always, most welcome – although at the end of October warm clothing might be a good idea.
For event info contact DublinBranch@iwt.ie
The Galway branch of the Irish Wildlife Trust will host a guided walk at Derryclare Wood in Connemara at 2pm on Sunday October 21st. The walk will be led by local National Parks and Wildlife Service ranger Dermot Breen.
Derryclare Nature Reserve is a 19-hectare protected area on the shores of Derryclare Lough, best known for its old oak woodland. In 2005, 19 red squirrels were introduced to the wood as part of a translocation project, and they have been doing well ever since.
The walk is expected to last between 2-3 hours and features stunning woodland with deciduous and coniferous trees, lakes and great views of the 12 Bens. The terrain is a mix of forest track, rough woodland and wet open hill so those attending are advised to bring rain gear and comfortable walking footwear with strong ankle support.
The wood is located about 20 km (12 mi) east of Clifden, Connemara, on the shores of Derryclare Lough in the Inagh Valley, near Recess on the N59 Galway Road. Leaving Galway, take the N59 towards Clifden. After Recess turn right towards Letterfrack on to the R344. The entrance to the wood is about 2.5km up on the left-hand side.
The event is free, and all IWT members and the general-public are welcome to attend, however booking is essential as numbers may be restricted due to availability of parking spaces and general health & safety, so we ask that you please email us in advance to add your name to the attendee list.
Special Notice – Because red deer and sheep can be found in the wood, it is advised that dogs be tightly leashed at all times or left at home.
