Lunchtime birdwatching with Birdwatch Sligo and launch of Sligo Wetland Storymap!

To commemorate World Wetlands Day 2024 Sligo County Council will be launching ‘Wetlands in County Sligo – A story map showcasing wetland habitats and biodiversity found in the county’.

We will join members of the Birdwatch Ireland Sligo Branch for lunchtime birdwatching over Sligo bay from Cartron! Expert guidance, field guides, telescope and binoculars will be available.

This event is weather dependent, follow the Sligo Heritage Office Facebook page for updates (https://www.facebook.com/sligoheritageoffice/)

Date: 2^nd Feb

Time 12:30 – 13:30

Where: Cartron Village car park

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mqmGuKJMfsudMY5E7

Join Cork City's Biodiversity Officers to explore nature around the heart of Cork City!

On February 2nd a guided walk of the Lough will take place. Please wear suitable clothing/footwear for the conditions and meet at Glendalough Park at 14:00 (the walk will last approximately 1 hr).

This is a free event but booking is required https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/walk-and-talk-around-the-lough-in-cork-city-for-world-wetlands-day-tickets-807589872047?aff=oddtdtcreator

On February 18th (11:00) Tralee Bay Eco & Activity Park are running a Nature Walk at Ballseedy Woods.

Ballyseedy is an ancient woodland meaning it has been continuously covered with trees since the mid-1600. Along with this it is a Wet Woodland which is an Annex habitat meaning that there is precious few of these ecosystems still left in Ireland. Explore these ancient habitats with your ecologists from the Wetlands.
Meet at 11am at Ballyseedy Woods Killarney Entrance.

Please wear appropriate outdoor footwear and clothing.

€5 Adult (Children Free)

A Nature Bay Walk is being run by Tralee Bay Eco & Activity Park on February 11th.

This will allow an opportunity to see our migratory birds in their natural habitat. These birds have been coming to Tralee Bay since before it was called Tralee Bay and this time of year is the best time to see these waterbirds in huge flocks.

Meet at 11am at Lock Gates Car Park

€5 for adults Adult (Children Free)

Tralee Bay Wetlands Eco and Activity Park are running a number of events celebrating World Wetlands Day in 2024.

On Feb 2nd, Alan Balfe, Senior Ecologist at Tralee Bay Wetlands Ecology Park will run to first of  a series of Guided Walks in an around Tralee wetland sites.

The 2nd Feb event in a paid event (€5 for adults, kids free).

All events are part-supported by Kerry County Council.

On Saturday morning, 3rd February, the Local Authority Waters Programme will host an outdoor event to explore the importance of the wetlands (rivers, streams, lakes, bogs, turloughs, wet woodlands, etc.) of East Clare. This family event will demonstrate how wetlands sustains biodiversity and helps connect us to nature.

The event will be led by Ruairi Ö Conchüir (LAWPRO) together with local community groups and will be family friendly and suitable for people of all ages.

Please bring suitable footwear and outdoor clothing.

Meet at the Car Park, White Sands, Lough Graney, Cahermurphy at 11:00. A free event and all welcome.

World Wetlands Day occurs on 2nd February and to mark this global event you are invited to celebrate the importance of wetlands with an illustrated talk in Shannon Town Public Library (with light lunch) followed by a site visit to the Shannon Town Community Wetlands (STCW).

This year's theme is 'Wetlands and Human Wellbeing'. The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) and the STCW will host a very special lunchtime event to explore the importance of wetlands and human wellbeing followed by a site visit to explore the biodiversity value of this urban wetlands site.

The event will be led by Ruairi 0 Conchüir (LAWPRO) and voluntary members of the STCW, Olive Carey and John O' Brien. A major focus of the event
will be "Wetlands and Human Wellbeing' and the key role the STCW has played in connecting the local community and schools with nature in & around the wetlands. Please bring suitable footwear for the site visit.

The talk will commence at 12:30 and the walk at 14:30. This is a free event and all are welcome!

In advance of World Wetlands Day, the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) will host a special evening event exploring the importance of wetlands (rivers, streams, lakes, bogs, turloughs, fens, wet woodlands, etc.) in Co. Clare and showing how wetlands help sustain biodiversity, address climate change, and support human wellbeing.

The illustrated talk (followed by an open discussion) will be delivered by LAWPRO's Ruairi O Conchüir. It will focus on wetland habitat type, wetland biodiversity, the ecosystem services provided by wetlands, and how wetlands help address climate change and support human wellbeing (with local case studies). The event, suitable for people of all ages, is designed to help us better understand why wetlands are so important.

The talk will be at the Temple Gate Hotel (Ennis; V95 HOXK), is free and all are welcome.

Co-incident with World Wetlands Day,  join LAWPRO and Milltown Malby Tidy Towns to celebrate the creation of the new wetlands pond and the unveiling of a new illustrated sign highlighting the importance of wetlands for both biodiversity and people.

Please join Milton Malay Tidy Towns, LAWPRO, local Councillors and others to celebrate this event which will be immediately followed by a reception in the Miltown Malbay Community Centre (Church Street). Please bring suitable footwear for the site visit. This is a free event and all are welcome!

Join the Farm Peat team  at Ballydangan Bog on World Wetlands Day, February 2nd from 2 – 4pm, to hear from local farmers and community groups protecting nature in South Roscommon.

The Farm Peat Team will be joined on the day by  Ballydangan Bog Red Grouse Project, and the Uí Máine Kingdom Project. You will have a chance to learn about farming on peat soils, red grouse conservation, the lowland karst landscape, and the sharing of folklore through art.

It will be an opportunity to get some fresh air, spend time on the bog, and build new connections with the landscape and each other. All are welcome, farmers especially!

Where: Ballydangan Bog, Lower Kilcashel, Co. Roscommon