IWT Wild Watch Walks happening near you!

Join Irish Wildlife Trust’s Wild Watch Walks and discover the secrets of nature’s treasures. To coincide with heritage week at the end of August the IWT is celebrating our national biodiveristy with our second annual Wild Watch Walk. Nature walks and talks will be taking place in every county in Ireland over the weekends of August 21/22 and 28/29. There will be bat walks, a visit to the Burren, the Slieve Blooms and Carlingford lough, Conemeara National Park and much much more. Attendance is free but must be booked in advance by emailing enqu...@iwt.ie . See our website for further details of what’s happening in your area www.iwt.ie.

These events are part of the International Year of Biodiversity. The IWT would like to thank Notice Nature (www.noticenature.ie), National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government for supporting Irish Wildlife Trust’s Wild Watch Walks.

CAVAN:

29th of August. Exploring Innishmore at the centre of Lough Oughter. Meet at Carratraw Canoe centre (near Butlers Bridge) at 2pm.

Led by Heather Bothwell.

CLARE:

22nd of August. Exporing limestone landscapes in the Burren.

Meet at he large layby at Murroughtoohy,which is about 2 kms south of Black Head

on the R 477 coast road between Ballyvaughan and Fanore. From 2pm to 5pm.

Strong footwear recommended as the terrain is rocky. Led by Dr Stephen Ward.

CORK:

22nd of August. Wildfood walk. Meet at 11.30am in Innisleena Recreation Area.

This is on the R619 Cork to Macroom road before Dripsey. Led by Nikki Darrell

DUBLIN (North):

29th of August. Experience the habitat of otters, kingfishers and badgers

right in the heart of Dublin city in Ashtown.

Meet at 11am in the car park of the Halfway House on the Navan Road.

Led by Padraic Fogarty.

DUBLIN (South):

29th August. Exploring  Carrickgolloghan Hill & Woods, Shankill, Dub 18. From 2pm for 4pm.

Meeting Place: Carrickgolloghan Woods car park.

Climb Carrickgollaghan Hill (927ft) in South Dublin with spectacular views.

Led by Sarah Rubalcava.

GALWAY:

29th August. Beautiful Bog walk, exploring flora and fauna and local history.

Walk is in conjunction with National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Meeting at Visitor Centre in Connemara National Park, Letterfrack.

Led by Carole Reynolds.

KILDARE:

29th August. Castletown House, Celbridge. Woodland & River Walk.

Led by Dr. Declan Doogue. Meet at 3pm.

LAOIS:

21st August. Slieve Bloom mountain walk exploring, fens, fungi and trees at Midday. Meeting at Clonaslee Community Hall. Led by Mary Bulfin.

LEITRIM:

Sunday 29th August. Ballinamore urban wildlife walk. Meeting at the Library at 4pm.

Walk is in conjunction with Ballinamore Tidy Towns and Leitrim Development Company Rural Social Scheme.

Led by Neil Foulkes.

LIMERICK (East/Slieve Felim):

Saturday 28th. Exploring pine marten and hen harrier habitat.

Meeting at the entrance to Glenstal Forest (not Glenstal Abbey!) at 10.30am.

A woodland and upland walk of about 2 hours. Led by Mike Quirke.

LONGFORD:

Date TBC. Exploring river and woodland biodiversity in Newcastle Woods, near Ballymahon.

Led by Noreen Mc Loughlin.

LOUTH:

21st August. Carlingford Lough wild watch adventure looking at nesting fulmars in the castle ruins,

we’ll see herons, cormorants, probably some ducks and returning waders.

We should also see seal and go down onto the beach to look at marsh samphire.

Starting at 2.30pm at King John’s Castle Carlingford. Led by Brendan Mc Sherry.

MAYO:

Date TBC. Led by Chris Huxley at Lough Carra.

MONAGHAN:

Date TBC ‘’Hen Harrier spotting in the Bragan mountains’’.

Led by Billy Flynn

OFFALY:

29th August. “Canal Critters’’ dipping for insects and identification in Tullamore. Meeting at Whitehall Bridge at 2pm. Led by Joanne Pender

ROSCOMMON:

28th August. Mountplunkett Nature Reserve Walk. Guided walk along hedgerows with birdbox viewing and canal walk in wetlands and wildlife pond for viewing.

Led by Padraic Corcoran.

SLIGO:

August 21st. Evening wildlife and bat walk at Owenmore River, Collooney.

Meeting on the road outside the Teeling Centre at 8.45pm.

We will walk down to the river, discuss issues such as invasive species,

then as it gets dark we will look / listen for bats using bat detectors.

Bring stout footwear, appropriate clothing, torch. Led by Will Woodrow.

TIPPERARY (North):

22nd of August.

Exploring hedgerows and fresh water ecology in Toomevara, Cloncannon.

Led by Sean O’Farrell.

WESTMEATH

Date TBC. Royal canal trip. Led by Veronica Lynam

WEXFORD

29th August. Examining seaside and coastal plants and animals and rocks that are 600 million years old! Meeting at 2pm at the entrance gate to the marina in Kilmore Quay. Led by Jim Hurley

WICKLOW

28th August. Wildlife of Knocksink nature reserve. Time TBC Led by Sean Meehan

These events celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity 2010 and are support by Notice Nature (www.noticenature.ie), National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government.