National Biodiversity Week 19-28th May

National Biodiversity Week is all about connecting people with nature. It’s about communicating the importance of biodiversity and motivating people to play their part in protecting it. It’s also about entertaining them; showing the fun and wonder that can be found in nature; and inspiring people to learn more, see more, do more.

Over the course of nine days, from 19th – 28th May 2017, up to 50 FREE, family friendly events will be taking place all over Ireland celebrating our diverse species and habitats.

Check out the following events happening in County Wicklow or go to www.biodiversityweek.ie to find out more.

 

 

 

Sunday 21st May  Dawn Chorus Walk

BirdWatch Ireland’s own Niall Hatch will lead a special Dawn Chorus walk around East Coast Nature Reserve this coming Sunday 21st May, meeting at the reserve main entrance along Newcastle Sea Road at 04:30am.

The event will be filmed as part of an upcoming series of programmes about the Irish countryside by Crossing the Line, an Irish TV production company which have produced excellent documentaries such as “Wild Journeys” and “Secret Life of The Shannon“.

Niall Hatch is a Dawn Chorus veteran, having been involved with many of the well-known RTÉ Radio One Mooney Goes Wild programmes. No better person to lead the outing! This promises to be a great event and if you fancy making a TV appearance as part of the group in the background then be sure to attend!

e-mail: birdwatchwicklow@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/birdwatchwicklow

Friday 26th May: Family Shore Ecology Walk Wicklow Town 4-6 pm

All are welcome to attend this special biodiversity outing to explore the seaweed, plants and animals along the tideline and splashzone at Wicklow Harbour. Meet at the Rowing Club @ 4 pm and join Coastwatch on a walk to discover birds and botany along the banks of the Leitrim River Special Protection Area (SPA) to the Murrough. This will be a great opportunity to find out more about Nature on Your Doorstep, with a Mini beast  treasure hunt and activities for kids.  Finishing at 6 pm with refreshments hosted by Wicklow Tidy Towns in celebration of the launch of the Wicklow Town Local  Biodiversity Plan.  This is a FREE event hosted by  Coastwatch,  Wicklow Tidy Towns and the Heritage Office of Wicklow County Council to celebrate National Biodiversity Week.

For more information contact: Karin Dubsky Coastwatch kdubsky@coastwatch.org  086 8111 684. Wicklow Tidy Towns Committee 086 2293126 or Deirdre Burns, Heritage Officer Wicklow County Council dburns@wicklowcoco.ie

 

Saturday 27th May. Celebrate Biodiversity Week in Tomnafinnoge Woods.

Join Sarah (Rubalcava Heritage Services) and Maeve (Maeve Dec-Art), to learn, discover and draw the local woodland biodiversity in this Special Area of Conservation near Tinahely, Wicklow, and to meet the Bubbles of the River Derry.  Booking essential & costs cover artists’ materials. For more info: Sarah @ 087 4199417

Meet 10.30 am in Tomnafinoge Woods Car Park. Cost €5. Wear Suitable clothing and shoes for the outdoors.

More at http://biodiversityweek.ie/event/celebrate-biodiversity-week-in-tomnafinnoge-woods-near-tinahely-co-wicklow/

 

Sunday 28th May Coastal Biodiversity Walk at the Murrough, Wicklow Town  11.30am-2pm

Join  the Irish Wildlife Trust in exploring the coastal biodiversity of Broad Lough and the Murrough wetlands. Broad Lough is an intertidal Lough fed by the Vartry River and draining to sea at Wicklow Harbour. A walk along the shore will provide the visitor with views of a great variety of waterbirds and the chance to see Otters fishing and playing in the Lough.

This coastal walk is dominated by an extensive ridge of shingle which forms a natural barrier from the sea and carries the main Dublin to Rosslare railway line. Inland of this ridge we will enjoy wild habitats such as salt marshes, mudflats, freshwater and brackish marshes, reed beds, wet grasslands, wet woodland, and alkaline fen. Adequate rain gear and suitable footwear is advisable. The walk is on a coastal path with rough terrain at times.

Meeting place: Wicklow Train Station 11.30 am . Contact: dublinbranch@iwt.ie

More at http://biodiversityweek.ie/event/coastal-biodiversity-walk-at-the-wicklow-murrough/

Biodiversity Photography Competition

Are you are a keen amateur photographer that loves to capture striking landscapes, migration spectacles or dramatic close-up images of birds and mammals? Would you like to win up to €500 in cash prizes? Then we have the competition for you.

Nothing captures Ireland’s beautiful natural environment better than photograph, so as part of Ireland’s Biodiversity Week 2017 we have 2 photo competitions underway. Our ‘Biodiversity Photographer of the Year’ competition is open to the general public and our ‘Young Biodiversity Photographer of the Year’ competition is open to secondary school students. For more see www.biodiversityweek.ie

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