Successful biodiversity walk in Tullamore for National Tree Week
On Saturday last, March 14, more than 45 people from Offaly, other parts of Ireland, and other parts of the world attended a walking tour in Tullamore's Lloyd Town Park, entitled 'A look beyond the trees (to small features of biodiversity)'.
Richard Jack led the participants on their ramble through the park, which was organised as part of National Tree Week. His sense of wonder at nature made for an engaging talk and a friendly atmosphere.
Much knowledge was shared among all the participants, and all the questions were warmly welcomed. The beautiful sunshine in the fresh spring air made the walk even more enjoyable.
Richard encouraged people to take time out of their busy lives to stop and enjoy nature: the way the course of the sun across the sky changes with the seasons, the buds getting ready on the trees, the violets and the snowdrops coming out in spring.
He pointed out a rookery in the high trees alongside Cormac Street, where rooks are busy building nests in springtime. Rooks are members of the crow family, as are jackdaws and ravens.
Another sign that spring is coming is the song of the chiffchaff, a small olive-brown bird. The young and the young at heart greatly enjoyed learning that the woodpigeon has a very distinctive song that sounds like “your tea is made, Betty”.
He showed attendees lichens that grow on trees in the park; a lichen is an algae and a fungus living together. Their presence shows that the air is clean.
In the walls surrounding the Kilcruttin cemetery, he showed the gathering a very small purple flower that grows in the crevices of the walls: the ivy-leaved toadflax flower.
Going down into the park towards the Tullamore river, he explained that otters, and small birds called grey wagtails as well the flowers of the yellow iris can be seen there. There are also kingfishers, beautifully striking blue and orange birds, in the wetlands.
Biodiversity is about understanding connections between us, animals and plants. Deadwood in a forest is one of the most important places for biodiversity.
A participant mentioned that Irish trees produce beautiful instruments, one of the reasons that trees are so important to us.
Richard concluded his talk by quoting a Nature prescription calendar: "Get out in the weather / Seek out a Spring flower / Listen for the dawn chorus / Pick three good things in nature every day."
The committee of the Offaly Climate and Biodiversity Action Group said it would like to thank Richard Jack, the Tullamore Tidy Towns Association, and all the participants who made Saturday's event possible.
The group's next event is a climate café gathering which will be held in Tullamore Library on Thursday, March 26, from 6 to 7.30 pm.
At this informal event attendees can connect with others in the community who are interested in nature and sustainability. Refreshments will be provided.
Tickets are free; you can register ahead of time on the Eventbrite website. Contact the group at offalyclimateandbio@outlook.com with any enquiries.