The Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC), in conjunction with Clare County Council, led a study trip around bogland near Kilrush this week, as part of the inaugural Kilrush Biodiversity Week.
Students from Kilrush participated in the educational trip, which is one a number of events taking place as part of Biodiversity Week.
The Week, which concludes on Sunday (29 April), is celebrating the many aspects of Biodiversity in Kilrush and its environs from family days out in beautiful natural amenities to information and discussions about threats to biodiversity.
Commenting on the field trip to the bog, Shane Casey, Clare Biodiversity Officer, Clare County Council stated: “It’s fantastic to see children, who would normally just drive past the bog in a car, get out into the middle of it and really discover just how much biodiversity is here. It might look like a barren landscape at times, but this is a haven for some really unique creatures, and seeing the reaction of the students is something special.”
He continued: “Led by Nuala Madigan of IPCC, the students discovered how a bog is like a giant water mattress which shakes beneath them when they jump up and down. The phenomenon is thanks to the unique plants which are found there, and the intrinsic links with water in the bog’s formation. Indeed, the students had the opportunity to create their own ‘bog in a bottle’ showing the different stages of a bog formation, from nearly 10,000 years ago right up to the present day.”
Commenting on Kilrush Biodiversity Week, Mr. Casey said: “The take home message for Kilrush Biodiversity Weekend is that Biodiversity is not some incomprehensible scientific discipline, but rather the ordinary plants and animals we see outside our windows and on our doorsteps every day. The Week also comes at an opportune time with the preparation of the Kilrush Development Plan 2014-2020 underway, which will have a significant focus on amenity, biodiversity and green infrastructure.”
Mr. Casey explained that a full programme of public events will be held on the weekend of April 28-29. There will be an early start on Saturday morning with a Dawn Chorus Walk in Vandeleur Woods at 5:30 AM. A Moth Exhibition and Bug Hunt for children takes place in the Vandeleur Woods from 10:00 AM, followed by a composting demonstration at 1pm and a guided tour of the beautiful Vandeleur Walled Gardens. At 2:30 PM, Kilrush Secondary School will host a Wildlife Gardening Exhibition, while the day will concluded with a late night bat walk in Vandeleur Woods at 9:30 PM.
On Sunday 29 April, the focus will turn to the Shannon Estuary when a discounted price for Dolphin Watching Boat Trips will be available to members of the public (To avail of the offer contact Geraldine on 065 9051327, quoting Kilrush Biodiversity Week). Meanwhile, Inland Fisheries Ireland will be inviting people to enjoy the marine touch pools at on Cappa Pier at 12:00 PM, and participate in a seashore walk from 4pm to discover the abundance of nature along the estuary from seaweed to waders.
Students from Kilrush participated in the educational trip, which is one a number of events taking place as part of Biodiversity Week.
The Week, which concludes on Sunday (29 April), is celebrating the many aspects of Biodiversity in Kilrush and its environs from family days out in beautiful natural amenities to information and discussions about threats to biodiversity.
Commenting on the field trip to the bog, Shane Casey, Clare Biodiversity Officer, Clare County Council stated: “It’s fantastic to see children, who would normally just drive past the bog in a car, get out into the middle of it and really discover just how much biodiversity is here. It might look like a barren landscape at times, but this is a haven for some really unique creatures, and seeing the reaction of the students is something special.”
He continued: “Led by Nuala Madigan of IPCC, the students discovered how a bog is like a giant water mattress which shakes beneath them when they jump up and down. The phenomenon is thanks to the unique plants which are found there, and the intrinsic links with water in the bog’s formation. Indeed, the students had the opportunity to create their own ‘bog in a bottle’ showing the different stages of a bog formation, from nearly 10,000 years ago right up to the present day.”
Commenting on Kilrush Biodiversity Week, Mr. Casey said: “The take home message for Kilrush Biodiversity Weekend is that Biodiversity is not some incomprehensible scientific discipline, but rather the ordinary plants and animals we see outside our windows and on our doorsteps every day. The Week also comes at an opportune time with the preparation of the Kilrush Development Plan 2014-2020 underway, which will have a significant focus on amenity, biodiversity and green infrastructure.”
Mr. Casey explained that a full programme of public events will be held on the weekend of April 28-29. There will be an early start on Saturday morning with a Dawn Chorus Walk in Vandeleur Woods at 5:30 AM. A Moth Exhibition and Bug Hunt for children takes place in the Vandeleur Woods from 10:00 AM, followed by a composting demonstration at 1pm and a guided tour of the beautiful Vandeleur Walled Gardens. At 2:30 PM, Kilrush Secondary School will host a Wildlife Gardening Exhibition, while the day will concluded with a late night bat walk in Vandeleur Woods at 9:30 PM.
On Sunday 29 April, the focus will turn to the Shannon Estuary when a discounted price for Dolphin Watching Boat Trips will be available to members of the public (To avail of the offer contact Geraldine on 065 9051327, quoting Kilrush Biodiversity Week). Meanwhile, Inland Fisheries Ireland will be inviting people to enjoy the marine touch pools at on Cappa Pier at 12:00 PM, and participate in a seashore walk from 4pm to discover the abundance of nature along the estuary from seaweed to waders.
