National Biodiversity Week is all about connecting people with nature. It’s 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.
This year, National Biodiversity Week runs from May 13th to 22nd 2022. With a whole host of family-friendly events taking place around the country, we’ve picked 10 unique choices that all ages will enjoy. From bees to bats, there’s lots to choose from!
For more information on all the events taking place this National Biodiversity Week, click here.
Family Events for National Biodiversity Week
Biodiversity Tour at Valentia Observatory
Date: May 13th at 3pm
Come and see the actions being taken for biodiversity at Valentia Meteorological Observatory in Cahersiveen and learn about how you too can support biodiversity. Learn how creating and maintaining meadows and hedgerows attracts many bird, insect and plant species.
For more information and to book a place, click here.
Family Biodiversity Treasure Hunt at Glendalough
Date: May 14th from 10am to 5.30pm
Free event available from the National Park Information Office, Upper Lake, Glendalough
Farmyard Bioblitz at Kerry UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
Date: May 14th and 21st
Come along and join in counting plants, animals and insects on a farm in the Kerry Biosphere.
A BioBlitz is an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time. At a BioBlitz, scientists, families, students, teachers, and other community members work together to get a snapshot of an area’s biodiversity.
For more information and to book tickets, click here for May 14th and here for May 21st.
Guided Bee Walk at Johnstown Castle
Dates: May 20th
Celebrate the wonderful world of bees for ‘World Bee Day’. Hosted during National Biodiversity Week, this guided walk and talk will be led by Property Curator Matt Wheeler and wildlife expert Harm Deenen. You will learn all about the Johnstown apiary and the wild honeybees that inhabit the Estate, as well as more unusual types of bee which are also important for pollination.
The walks take place at 11am and 2pm and places must be booked in advance.
For more information and to book a place, click here.
Bat Walk at National Botanic Gardens
Dates: May 20th at 9.15pm
Wander the Gardens at night in search of beautiful bats. Join the Irish Wildlife Trust for a free National Biodiversity Week event hosted by the National Botanic Gardens.
At this exciting evening bat walk you will have the opportunity to walk the National Botanic Gardens at dusk with an Irish Wildlife Trust guide in search of beautiful bats. Learn about the life cycle of these fascinating creatures and hopefully get to see and hear some of the bats of the Bots.
Booking is essential. For more information and to book tickets, click here.
Make Your Own Swift Box at Rediscovery Centre
Dates: May 21st at 10.30am and 2.30pm
Swift populations have declined in recent years and this is attributed to the loss of natural breeding sites. Swift boxes give the birds a safe place to breed. During this workshop, Nessa Doran O’Reilly, programme manager at Rediscover Furniture, will help you and your child assemble a Swift box.
Working as a team you will learn how to use a marking gauge, how to glue and pin, and also how to pilot drill and screw your nest boxes together ready to be brought home. All tools and materials will be supplied.
This event is taking place for Biodiversity Week and it is kindly supported by the Irish Environmental Network. Suitable for ages 8+
For more information and to book tickets, click here.
Don’t Miss…
Are you searching for what’s on for families in Ireland? Enjoy hours of family fun with our monthly round up of exciting events and things to do.
Nature Explorers Workshop for Kids at Rediscovery Centre
Dates: May 21st at 11am and 2.30pm
Explore urban wildlife in the Rediscover Centre pond and garden, doing a range of fun hands-on activities such as pond-dipping and bug hunting. Children will learn about food chains and food webs, Irish ecosystems and how small daily actions can help promote and conserve our natural environment. Suitable for children aged 6 to 12 years.
For more information and to book tickets, click here.
World Bee Day at Solas Eco Garden Centre
Date: May 21st
Solas Eco Garden Centre are celebrating World Bee Day with lots of buzzing events and workshops, including:
- Bee Friendly Planter Workshop at 12pm (€15, booking required)
- Bee children’s craft and face painting from 12pm
- All about Bees and Bee Keeping with expert Beekeepers Roger and Angela at 2pm (adults €5, children free, booking required)
- Buzzing tunes from the DJ from 2pm
For more information, click here.
Dark Skies for Kids: Storytelling and Stargazing
Date: May 21st at 7.30pm
Thus will be an event for children with storytelling, followed by stargazing for all. Tell your story, read a poem, and be otherwise enchanted by John Flannery and his trip through the world’s myths and legends of the sky.
Bring your inspiration! Space is the place…(also bring a blanket, cushion, etc to keep warm as the evening unfolds)
For more information, email darksky.cloughjordan@gmail.com
Biodiversity Workshop for Kids at Kilkenny Castle
Date: May 22nd
Dale Treadwell of Naturally Wild will be bringing his 5 B’s of Biodiversity workshops to Kilkenny Castle for Biodiversity Week on Sunday 22 May. Dale is well known for his stints on RTE jnr television and will bring with him stories of the Wild, fun filled games and activities, bug hunts, how to make a solitary Bee Hotel and more. Fun for young and the young at heart.
These are outdoor events and suitable for children age 5 to 12 years. Outdoor clothing and footwear required.
For more information and to book tickets, click here.
About the Author: Emily Manning
