Dublin City Council is calling on you, Dublin’s young and not so old, to come out and explore your local wildlife, flora and fauna in a week long biodiversity event programme between Monday 19th – Sunday 25th May 2008.
“We launched the Dublin City Biodiversity Action Plan in February this year which outlines an ambitious series of actions to save Priority plants and animals. By hosting events around International Biodiversity Day, Thursday 22nd May,we can bring the public up close to wildlife and show how easy it is to get involved in local wildlife activities”, said Mairéad Stack, Dublin City Council’s Biodiversity Officer.
You can cycle along the River Dodder and explore its ecology or perhaps find out about bats in Bushy Park, or you can discover what wildlife lurks in our local city streets and gardens, these are just a few of the events organised. Check out the full guide of activities listed on the Dublin City Council website www.dublincity.ie . All events are free. Bring along the family.
ENDS
Notes To The Editor
Biodiversity Week Event Schedule
| Monday 19th May |
Wildlife Photography The tricks, tips, pitfalls and good places to spy on City wildlife.
|
Anthony Woods Photographer –Wild Dublin Publication as seen on Late Late Show. |
6pm |
Central Library, Ilac Centre off Henry street |
|
Tuesday 20th May
|
River Dodder Walk |
Dr. Mary Tubridy Ecologist |
7pm |
Dropping Well Pub, Miltown Road
|
|
Wednesday 21st May |
Tolka Valley Park Pond dipping and lake/river exploration |
Pádraic Fogarty Freshwater ecologist |
6.30pm |
Meet on Stonebridge linking Ballyboggan Road to Tolka Valley Park
|
| Thursday 22nd May |
Wildlife in Dublin City;A Conservation anger’s perspective |
Terry Doherty Conservation Ranger National Parks and Wildlife Service
|
7pm |
Terenure Enterprise Centre 17 Rathfarnham Rd., Terenure
|
| Thursday 22nd May |
Bat Walk in Bushy Park |
Mairead Stack Biodiversity Officer Dublin City Council
|
9pm approx |
Entrance gate at Kiosk at Rathdown Ave
|
| Friday 23rd May |
Bird Talk & Walk Irishtown Nature Reserve
|
Brian Gormley Bird Watch Ireland |
7pm |
Sean Moore Park leading off Beach Road |
| Saturday 24th May |
River Dodder Cycle |
Dr. Mary Tubridy Ecologist |
3pm |
Bridge over Dodder at Bridge St./Ringsend Rd
|
|
Saturday 24th May
|
Bat box – building workshop
|
Colum Fitzgerald |
11-3.30 |
Airfield House, Dundrum |
|
Sat 24th & Sun 25th May
|
Biodiversity Programme of events |
Talks, Guided Walks, Workshops, Children’s events
|
Daily |
Airfield House Dundrum |
| Sat 24th May |
Exploration of Nature in The Liberties |
Tom Cooney |
11am |
St James Graveyard, in old church in James Street (No.121-122) |
Dublin City Council’s Biodiversity Action Plan 2008 - 2012
The Action Plan was produced by Dublin City Council’s Biodiversity Officer, with input from across the entire Council, as well as from members of the public, statutory bodies, academic and other biodiversity experts and Environmental NGOs. It earmarks hundreds of initiatives for delivery, over the next five years, including
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Provide information programmes and training for relevant professionals to ensure best practice design and management of public parks, urban framework areas, graveyards, industrial areas to facilitate wildlife conservation
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Conduct surveys to identify the status of the Biodiversity Action Plan species and habitats and monitor these over time to see trends and changes in their distribution.
- Engage business in Dublin city in biodiversity programmes and strategies
- Link biodiversity initiatives to climate change mitigation
- Produce a biodiversity strategy for management of DCC Parks and include biodiversity requirements into Park Maintenance Contracts; carry out habitat creation and enhancement works; create and interpreting ‘wild zones’, maintain existing biodiversity areas
- Survey urban trees and develop a tree strategy for the city
- Identify and protect ‘resting places’ for animals in the city e.g. bat roosts, badger sets, fox dens, birds’ nests.
- Use best practice to manage the highly protected sand and mud flat areas along South and North Dublin Bays
- Introduce a programme to manage invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed, Giant Hogweed and the Grey Squirrel
- Create a demonstration wildlife-friendly garden for public education
- Develop policy to design and include wild areas into open green spaces, roadsides, etc
- Develop a policy to reduce hard landscaping in the city