Trees, butterflies, bees, bats; it's National Biodiversity Week
National Biodiversity Week 2024
A large variety of free events is planned across County Westmeath for National Biodiversity Week 2024, which runs from May 17 to May 26.
The events will be of interest if you would like to know the different species of native trees, butterflies, bees, or bats, or you are wondering what biodiversity means?
Whatever your level of knowledge, there is something to grab everyone’s interest in Biodiversity Week.
Biodiversity is the term used to describe the variety of life on Earth. It is essential for sustaining the ecosystems that provide us with food, clean water, fuel, health, and other services we take for granted in everyday life.
The aim of Biodiversity Week is to engage the public in a range of nature-related activities, from bat walks to nature trails, tree identification events and much.
The week kicks begins on Friday evening, May 17, with a Tree Trail Walk in the grounds of Tullynally Castle, led by Octavia Tulloch, horticulturist (booking is required for this event).
On Saturday, May 18, an exhibition of wildlife photography opens at the visitor centre at Belvedere. It shows a selection of photographs taken by John McCauley around the county, and it remains on display until Sunday May 26.
The Midlands Bat Group will lead two nocturnal Bat Walks during the week; one on the grounds of Belvedere House Gardens and Park on Tuesday May 21, and the other at Dun na Sí on Friday May 24.
A workshop on barn owl conservation by Alan McCarthy of Birdwatch Ireland also take place in Moate, on Tuesday May 21 (booking required for this event).
On Sunday May 26, NPWS ranger Triona Finnen will lead a biodiversity nature trail in an area of council land at Coolure Demense looking at the diversity of species including butterflies, bees, and moths.
These initiatives are coordinated by the Irish Environmental Network, funded by the Local Biodiversity Action Fund from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, supported by Westmeath County Council and the Heritage Council’s Biodiversity Officer Network.
For full details of what’s on across the County during Biodiversity Week, check out https://biodiversityweek.ie/events-calendar/ or follow Westmeath Heritage on social media here and here.