DESIGN AND PRINT: BROSNA PRESS

The Offaly Naturalists’

Field Club Programme

is an initiative of the

Offaly Heritage Forum.

www.offaly.ie/heritage

Offaly County CouncilComhairle Chontae Uíbh FhailíIndividuals and fam

ilies are welcom

e.

No experience required. Please dress

appropriately for outdoor activities

and bring your own refreshm

ents.

For further details contact the

Heritage O

ffice in Offaly County

Council on 057 9346839or em

ail

heritage@

offalycoco.ie

Please email heritage@

offalycoco.ie

if you would like rem

inders about

events or if you would like to be notified

about other Offaly heritage events.

ww

w.offaly.ie/heritage

FRIDAY 4 APRILTALK Bumble Bees & the Monitoring Scheme8pm: Clara Bog Visitor Centre Speaker: Dr Úna Fitzpatrick, an ecologist with the NationalBiodiversity Data Centre will outline the monthly monitoringscheme and all potential volunteers are welcome.

SATURDAY 5 APRILWALK Bumble Bees & the Monitoring Scheme Bumble Bee Identification Walk11am – 12 noon: Meeting at Clara Bog Board Walk –weather permitting. Leader: Dr Úna Fitzpatrick, National Biodiversity Data Centre

SATURDAY 12 APRIL A Wonderful Wildlife Wander on the CutawaysExploring opportunities for conservation, education andrecreation on the cutaways.(In conjunction with the Offaly Local Development Company and Bord na Móna). 11am – 3pm: Meet at Turraun car park. Bring lunch & binoculars.Leader: Alex Copland, BirdWatch Ireland

WEDNESDAY 16 APRILBryophyte Identification Evening All attendees to have Mosses and Liverworts of Britain andIreland, a field guide by the British Bryological Society. Specieswill be identified through the field guide step by stepprocess. Prebooking for your microscope is essential withheritage@offalycoco.ie.7pm: Offaly Historical and Historical Society, Bury Quay.Leader: John Feehan

2nd HALF OF APRILTrip out to Inishee Island to see the breedingwaders and the summer snowflake Limited to 10 places. Email heritage@offalycoco.ie to book & get details.Leader: Stephen Heery & BirdWatch Ireland

SATURDAY 10 MAY Walking the Landscape of North West Offaly11am – 6pm: Meet at Luker’s Pub, Shannonbridge.All day joint event with Slieve Bloom Walking Club.Full walking clothing needed plus lunch/refreshments.Leader: John Feehan

FRIDAY 16 MAYDusk Chorus Walk8.30pm – 9.30pm: Meet at Red (Town) gates of Charleville Estate. Leader: Alex Copland, BirdWatch Ireland

SATURDAY 24 MAYSpring Flowers and Early Ferns 11am – 2/4pm: Meet at Cadamstown car park. Bring lunch.Option to end after lunch or to continue.Leader: Fiona Devery

SATURDAY 7 JUNEWalking the Pilgrims’ Road The Natural Heritage, Geology to Botany11am: Meet at Ballinahown car park. Bring lunch. Bus returnfrom ClonmacnoiseLeader: John Feehan

SATURDAY 28 JUNE Guided Eco Cycle Boora A joint event with Lough Boora Parklands – The route will follow thecycle track to Mesolithic site and take in the new cycle track to westBoora (5.4 km or 10.8 km return trip). There will be plenty of stopsalong the way to look at features of the cutaway including wildflowers and orchids. The Marsh Helleborine and Bee Orchids at theMesolithic Site should be in bloom. After lunch, cyclists can have theoption of continuing on the new cycle track to the Derries and back toBoora via Turraun (21km or 3 – 4 hours including breaks) or returningback to Boora Lake via the same path. The cycle will be suitable forfamilies. Please arrange your own bikes or pre-book bike hire at Boora.11am: Meet at cycle hire, Boora Lake Lough Boora Parklands.Bring plenty of refreshments.Leader: Mark McCorry, Bord na Móna ecologist

MONDAY 30 JUNE – FRIDAY 4 JULYOffaly Biodiversity Summer SchoolHabitats in the Making The habitat mosaic of Offaly is constantly evolving in response tochanging climate and human interaction. In this year’s SummerSchool we will look at what the future may hold (special gueststhis year: grasses and moths).9.30am – 3.30pm daily: Based in Teach Lea Community Centre. Leader: John Feehan. €100 for 5 days. Places limited.Booking essential with heritage@offalycoco.ie.

WEDNESDAY 2 JULYFamily Friendly Bat Walks in Clara 9:45pm: Meet at Clara Bog Visitor Centre. Bring a hat and torch.Leader: NPWS Education Guides

SATURDAY 5 JULYMoth Night, Evening Bird Chorus & Star Gazing9.30pm till very late: Meet at Visitor Centre, Birr Castle Demesne.Leader: Alex Copland, BirdWatch Ireland and MidlandsAstronomy members! (no late entry)

SATURDAY 12 JULYOrchids of Clara Bog and Eskers11am: Meet at Clara Bog Visitor Centre.Leader: NPWS Education Guides

SATURDAY 19 JULYOrchids and Sedges of Derryadd11am – 3pm: Meet at Lidl, Birr. Bring lunch.Leader: Fiona Devery

WEDNESDAY 23 JULYFamily Friendly Bat Walks in Clara 9:45pm: Meet at Clara Bog Visitor Centre. Bring a hat and torch.Leader: NPWS Education Guides

WEDNESDAY 13 AUGUSTFamily Friendly Bat Walks in Clara 9pm: Meet at Clara Bog Visitor Centre. Bring a hat and torch.Leader: NPWS Education Guides

SATURDAY 30 AUGUSTDragonfly Walk around Shannon Harbour 12 noon: Meet at canal carpark at Shannon HarbourLeader: Alex Copland, BirdWatch Ireland

SATURDAY 11 OCTOBERMosses & Liverworts of the Slieve Blooms11am – 4pm: Meet at Letter Cross Roads (Grid Ref N253045). Bring lunch, suitable footwear and weatherproof clothes.Microscope session afterwards in Kinnitty Community Centre.Leader: George Smith, County Bryophyte Recorder

SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBERWintering Birds Walk at Boora11am: Meet at the car park adjacent to the bird hide.Leader: Alex Copland, BirdWatch Ireland