Ballymun goes Wild during Biodiversity Week!

Published by Dave Brooks on May 19, 2016

May 19th, 2016

To celebrate National Biodiversity Week, which runs every year in May, Dublin-based NGO Global Action Plan (GAP) invited classes from Ballymun schools to take part in Nature Trail experience celebrating our local heritage. On the 16^th of May students from Scoil an tSeachtar Laoch, Our Lady of Victories Boys National School and Our Lady of Victories Girls National School all went a little Wild in Poppintree Park!

National Biodiversity Week is all about connecting people with nature and in this nature trail, schools learnt all about the trees, bugs and birds that live in Poppintree Park, right on our doorstep.

Firstly, students learnt how to identify some of the trees in the park, the importance of native trees and discovered fascinating facts about the history, myths and legends of Irish trees. Students then explored the woodlands to discover all the different insects that can be found there, how to catch them and then identify them. Finally, the trail ended at the pond and wetland areas in the park with a spot of bird watching, where Coots, Moorhens, Mallards and the resident Heron put on a great show.

Padraic Creedon, Education Officer with Global Action Plan, said: “Biodiversity week highlights the range of animals and plants accessible on our doorstep, it also highlights how important trees, birds and insects were to Irish people throughout history. They have been intertwined in our customs, laws and legends for as long as people have lived on this island. This is the perfect week to celebrate that fact”.

National Biodiversity Week is about communicating the importance of biodiversity and motivating people to play their part in protecting it. It’s also about entertaining them; showing the fun and wonder that can be found in nature; and inspiring people to learn more, see more, do more.

[x_button shape=”square” size=”regular” float=”none” href=”http://biodiversityweek.ie/whats-on/calendar/” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover”]Click here to find Biodiversity week events near you![/x_button]

-Aoife Flynn, GAP Programme Manager