‘Behind the Beach’ Biodiversity for Brittas Bay

A biodiversity awareness programme called ‘Behind the Beach’ has been announced by the Heritage Office of Wicklow County Council.

This is a series of free outdoor public workshops and activities over the coming months to increase awareness and appreciation of the rich ecology of our coastal areas and to highlight the vital role that  healthy dune systems play as a tool to address climate change.

Focussing on the Council owned lands at Brittas Bay, this programme complements the ongoing conservation work underway by Wicklow County Council at this important coastal location, and will be an opportunity to delve behind the popular beaches, explore wildlife, pick up some new field ecology skills and participate in hands-on conservation work.

The first event will take place on  Wednesday, 31st August @ 4pm  on the theme of  ‘Butterfly Identification’ – a guide to butterfly monitoring techniques, equipment and identification (this is a follow up to a popular Butterfly Walk held last month).

Other events and themes are as follows:

  • Sunday 25th September – Migrant Bird field outing and workshop

  • Saturday, 1st October – Hands on clean-up of the dunes with a conservation focus

  • Thursday, 13th October – Nature discovery Day walk and talk

  • Thursday, 27th Oct0ber –h Dynamic Dunes workshop

  • Saturday, 12th November – Sea Buckthorn management day

All activities are being co-ordinated by ALC Nature in association with Wicklow County Council and co-funded by National Parks and Wildlife Service through the National Biodiversity Action Plan fund.

Details of events may change depending on weather conditions so interested participants are advised to register by email to wicklowheritage@wicklowcoco.ie giving dates of events that they are interested in participating in.  

For more information see www.wicklow.ie and www.heritage.wicklowheritage.org or  contact Deirdre Burns, Heritage Officer, Wicklow County Council Tel: 0404 20100.

McKenna Creative