The National Museum of Ireland has made its recent talk on hedgehogs available to access for free (see video hereunder) to celebrate Biodiversity Week 2021.
In this talk, Ms Elaine O’Riordan from the Irish Hedgehog Survey team at NUI Galway, teaches us all about hedgehogs and dispels some of the myths that exist around how hedgehogs live and what they eat.
Later in the talk, craftsman Pat Broderick demonstrates how to make a hedgehog feeder and hedgehog highway or tunnel from everyday items lying around homes and gardens. Hedgehogs are a must loved member of our natural community and this talk will be a fascinating reference for children, adults and schools.
The National Museum of Ireland are encouraging children to learn more about biodiversity in Ireland through their My Secret Garden activity. Available by clicking HERE, the My Secret Garden activity invites children to learn more about Irish flora and fauna and then apply what they have learned to imagine and create their own dream secret garden.
Biodiversity Week officially ends today, but our care and commitment to Irish biodiversity lasts all year round.
In a week that celebrates the richness and beauty of Irish biodiversity (see HERE), it is important to raise awareness of potential environmental threats and take appropriate action to safeguard their future.
In the video hereunder, watch Galway based ecologist and Tidy Towns adjudicator, Ms Janice Fuller, talk about the invaluable role played by rivers, streams and wetlands in terms of flooding prevention and ecological biodiversity.
Ms Fuller also discusses the serious and damaging effect that even minor pollution events can have on river and wetland habitats. As Ms Fuller warns, the cumulative impact of various pollutants can be devastating on plants, animals and water quality.
Here at Thurles.info we have regularly celebrated the beauty of the River Suir and Riverside walkway. We have also highlighted pollution events occurring along the River Suir, which range from once-off to ongoing instances of environmental concern.
The latest major pollution event can be viewed along the River Suir on the Riverside Walk area. Same originates from a ground water pipe, governed by Tipperary Co. Council, which has had connected, a domestic, foul smelling, waste water system, thus polluting the river water.
Current pollution of the River Suir, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
As part of efforts to safeguard against threats to our rich biodiversity, instances of pollution such as this need to be reported, so they can be assessed and investigated. The Environmental Protection Agency, who were highly critical of Irish Water’s urban wastewater plan in a 2019 report, host the National Environmental Complaints line (telephone 1850 365 121). Open 24 hours a day, members of the public can report instances of water pollution and other pollution events, including illegal dumping, littering, backyard burning, noise and smells.
For further information on making an environmental complaint visit EPA.ie (Environmental Protection Agency) by clicking HERE.
As part of ongoing events to celebrate Biodiversity Week, the Irish Community Archive Network(iCAN), in association with the National Museum of Ireland, will present an online talk with ecologist Ms Janice Fuller on Saturday afternoon, May 22nd at 2:00p.m.
Ms Fuller’s talk will explore a number of ideas for protecting and enhancing nature and wildlife in Irish towns, villages and urban areas.
Ms Fuller is an experienced ecologist, facilitates training on biodiversity and she is a Tidy Towns adjudicator.
Drawing on her many years of research and experience, Ms Fuller will share her wealth of knowledge on Irish flora, habitats and ideas for successful community initiatives.
Note: This is a free event but booking is required. For more information click HERE.
Today, May 20th, is World Bee Day and, in conjunction with Biodiversity Week and the National Biodiversity Data Centre, the Irish Examiner has published a booklet entitled Working Together for Biodiversity.
The booklet, which is free today with the Irish Examiner newspaper, aims to raise awareness about the incredibly important role that bees play as pollinators, as well as the alarming decline in bee numbers across Ireland and the world.
Believe it or not, wild bees are actually facing extinction and even our beloved bumblebees are in danger. It is essential that society reverses this worrying trend because bees are vital to agriculture, plant life and biodiversity. The problem is so serious that scientists both nationally and internationally are calling on individuals, businesses and governments to take action as a matter of urgency.
Positively, two Irish scientists have already begun to work to fight against this grave situation. In 2015, Dr. Úna Fitzpatrick from the National Biodiversity Centre and Professor Jane Stout from Trinity College Dublin, developed the All Ireland Pollinator Plan (AIPP) and it is already helping to reverse the decline in Ireland. The aim of the AIPP is to encourage as much of Irish society as possible to take action to protect bees and develop habitats and food sources for them.
If you would like to know more about what you can do to help protect bees, pick up a copy of today’s Irish Examinar and the free Working Together for Biodiversity booklet.
In addition, you can find out more about the inspiring work of Dr. Úna Fitzpatrick and Professor Jane Stout tonight on TG4 at 9:00 p.m. The programme Plean Bee introduces viewers to Ireland’s honeybees, bumblebees and 77 species of solitary bees. It also showcases some of the initiatives underway across the county that are helping to save our bees. One successful initiative in Derry City has been simply to reduce grass cutting in summer months to support the growth of wild flowers.
Locally, our own Cabragh Wetlands in Thurles, provides a valuable safe haven for endangered bees, but there is so much more we can do. So why not get involved?
For more information on the All Ireland Pollinator Plan visit Pollinators.ie (click HERE). It has detailed suggestions on how every person, school, business and County Council can play their part in this most worthy of causes.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking proposals from the research community to help address climate change and other emerging and complex environmental problems. With up to €10.5 million available for new research projects, the funding will be provided under four themes: –
Addressing climate change evidence needs
Facilitating a green and circular economy
Delivering a healthy environment
Protecting and restoring our natural environment.
Ms Laura Burke, (EPA Director General) said:
“EPA-funded Research is essential to improving national understanding of our environment, the challenges it faces and responses to these challenges. The EPA Research Programme funds research that addresses knowledge gaps and provides the evidence base to inform policy as well as supporting the implementation of environmental policies in Ireland.”
The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. This Research Call highlights the importance of a clean, healthy and well-protected environment for our health, wellbeing and quality of life. It is designed to support the development and implementation of environmental policies in Ireland.
Dr. Alice Wemaere, (EPA Research Manager), said,
“Innovative research proposals are invited in response to 46 research topics. The new research projects are expected to start in late 2021/early 2022 and will range from 12-month to multi-annual research projects. This Research Call is competitive, and we expect to be assessing many high-quality submissions from the research community. We are delighted to be working in partnership with a number of organisations, including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; the Department of Transport; the Geological Survey of Ireland and the Office of the Planning Regulator, to address key environmental challenges.”
As part of its wide range of functions the EPA manages an environmental research programme that delivers essential scientific support for environmental policy development, implementation and broader decision making. The EPA has been funding research in Ireland since 1994 and is currently funding more than 200 on-going research projects. Further details about the 2021 EPA Research Call are available on the EPA website.
Further information: Contact Emily Williamson, EPA Media Relations Office: 053-91 70770(24 hours) and media@epa.ie
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