When it comes to conservation there is nothing more important than reconnecting our children with the natural world around them.Young children are fascinated by living things and have an innate curiosity about the animals, plants and other organisms they share the world with. I see it all the time when I visit primary schools under Ireland's fabulous Heritage in Schools … [Read more...] about Book Review: The Great Big Book of Irish Wildlife Through the Seasons
seasons
Ireland’s Wildlife Calendar: May
Watching Wildlife in MayMay is a month when spring should be well under way -- although it's still unpredictable. We're on the cusp of summer, and days are lengthening, but they can also be unseasonably cold and wet. Resident birds and animals are getting on with the business of breeding and rearing young, spring migration continues as later arrivals join the vanguard … [Read more...] about Ireland’s Wildlife Calendar: May
Ireland’s Wildlife Calendar: April
In this first of a new series we'll be exploring Ireland's Wildlife Calendar... looking at the wildlife events and milestones that occur each month on and around the Island of Ireland. Over time we hope they'll grow into a valuable monthly reference to Ireland's wildlife year. Enjoy... and let us know what you think in the comments below. Watching Wildlife in April Weather … [Read more...] about Ireland’s Wildlife Calendar: April
Unseasonal shenanigans
This column was first published in the Weekend Magazine of the Irish Independent on Saturday 04 February 2012.One of the things I like most about living in Ireland is the changing seasons.The tropics are over rated. Don’t get me wrong, a bit of predictable sunshine now and again certainly wouldn’t go amiss, but you’d soon grow tired of the sameness of it all. … [Read more...] about Unseasonal shenanigans
Autumn is on the way… no really!
I’m not sure what the collective noun is for a congregation of tits… but a “clamouring” would be a particularly apt one. A mixed flock of the tiny birds descended on a friend’s garden yesterday, causing an almighty commotion in a young ash tree. There were blue tits, great tits, coal tits and several long tailed tits in the mix. They were all jostling for prime spots as they … [Read more...] about Autumn is on the way… no really!