Celebrate National Biodiversity Week in Laois
Biodiversity Week 2008 will be celebrated in style in County Laois with events for all the family.
Go Bats for Biodiversity!
The will be a batty theme to Biodiversity Week in Laois this year, with bat watching events, walks and talks for all the family.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service will be organising two special bat watching events at Emo Court, courtesy of the Office of Public Works. The Dower House at Emo contains a Soprano Pipistrelle roost of over 300 bats. Dawn and Dusk watches will be held, to show people the bats emerging from their roost to feed at dusk and swarm at dawn before re-entering the roost. This will be a unique opportunity for the public to experience this great wildlife spectacle. Bat experts from Scott Cawley and Associates and National Parks and Wildlife Service staff will be on hand to provide information and answer questions about bats and provide instruction on the use of Bat Detectors, a number of which will be available for use.
Dusk Watch: Thursday 22nd May, 2008 at 8.45pm
Dawn Watch: Friday 23rd May, 2008 at 4.30am
Meet at the Car Park, Emo Court. Warm, waterproof clothing and insect repellant advisable! Further information from Ciara Flynn of National Parks and Wildlife Service, Phone 045-521 713.
Discovering Laois Wildlife
Biodiversity Week will also see the launch of this year's "Discovering Laois Wildlife" series of workshops and practical sessions for anyone interested in finding out more about the wildlife and habitats of their local area. On Saturday 24th of May starting at 8pm in the Parish Centre Portlaoise, Tina Aughney of Bat Conservation Irleand will give a talk on Surveying Irish Bats, followed by a walk to the People's Park, Portlaoise, to try out the techniques in the field. Bring warm, waterproof clothing, stout footwear and a torch.
Enjoying a bat walk in Portlaoise in 2007
Further workshops will follow through the summer, and details will be available during Biodiversity Week. There will be an informal atmosphere to the workshop with a focus on enjoyment and participation. “Discovering Laois Wildlife”, organised by Laois County Council with the support of the Heritage Council, aims to introduce people to the richness of the wildlife to be found quite literally on our doorsteps, and will be of interest to parents, teachers, community groups and anyone with a curiosity about the natural world and enthusiasm to learn more about it.
There is no charge for the workshops, but spaces will be limited, so advance booking is recommended. Further details are available from Catherine Casey, Heritage Officer, Laois County Council, Portlaoise, Ph 057-867 4348
Other Events
As part of the Durrow Tri-Centenary Year, Durrow Development Forum are holding several events during Biodiversity Week:
22nd May 2008 at 11am,Pearl Mussel Rescue, Dunmore Wood, Durrow
With ecologist Evelyn Moorkens. Bring stout footwear.
24th May 2008 at 2pm, Organic Farm Walk, Castlewood House, Durrow
Courtesy of Dominic Leonard
25th May 2008 at 2pm, Wildflower Walk, Dunmore Wood, Durrow
Guided walk by Ann Lannigan
Further Information on all events: Ann Lannigan, Ph 057-873 6453
Leaflet Biodiversity Week 2008.
Biodiversity - the Spice of Wildlife
The Irish Peatland Conservation Council¹s are holding a Biodiversity Show at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare on Sunday the 25th May between 12 noon and 5pm.
Throughout the day there will be talks, walks, demonstrations and nature activities for children. Talks will include an introduction to Kildare¹s wildlife by Caroline Hurley. Guided walks on the day will include a visit to Lodge Bog and its Birch woodland lead by IPCC and Crann representatives.
There will be a guided tour of the Bog of Allen Nature Centre Gardens which will highlight the Irish Peatland Conservation Council¹s top 10 tips to becoming a greener gardener. Nature crafts, pond dipping and frog hunts are all on the cards for the younger visitors on the day, The Biodiversity Show will be attended by a dozen organisations to promote aspects of enjoying biodiversity e.g. food, art, music, photography, live species, green schools and crafts. The Irish Peatland Conservation Council nature shop and peatland exhibition centre will be open all day for visitors to browse through.
Buses will be organised from Jury¹s Hotel Christ Church in Dublin, Devoy Park, Naas in Co. Kildare and the railway station in Tullamore in Co. Offaly leaving at 11am to bring visitors to and from the Bog of Allen Nature Centre on the day. Booking is essential for the buses by contacting 045-860133. Tea and Coffee and light snacks will be available all day for event participants and visitors.
The biodiversity show will bring together painters, photographers, musicians, basket weavers, farmers, school children and environmentalists all inspired by wildlife to celebrate Ireland¹s biodiversity.
For more information, contact Irish Peatland Conservation Council, Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore, Rathangan, phone 045-860133
Events during Biodiversity Week have been organised in conjunction with the Government’s “Notice Nature” project, a campaign to raise awareness of biodiversity and its importance in all our lives. Events will be organised nationwide, and further details are available at www.noticenature.ie
