National Museum of Ireland hosting special biodiversity day in Mayo

The National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, is hosting a special day-long event featuring nature demonstrations, walks and talks on Saturday, May 20, to celebrate National Biodiversity Week 2023.

National Biodiversity Week takes place across Ireland from May 19 to 28 and to mark the initiative, the museum is teaming up with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), ecologist Dr Karina Dingerkus, educator Ceila Graebner, and other special guests to deliver a host of activities providing an insight into the birds, bees, fish and trees that live in the wonderful grounds of Turlough Park.

Guides from the NPWS will start the day at 11 a.m. with a moth trapping survey. They are inviting the public to help discover the results of an overnight moth trapping on the grounds. Surveys like these are an important marker for biodiversity health in a given area.

This will be followed by a pond and river dipping demonstration. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about some of the many and varied small creatures that live in our local ponds and streams, and how the presence and diversity of these creatures acts as a good measure for water quality.

At 1 p.m. Mayo bee-watchers Dave Suddaby, Micheal O’Briain and Celia Graebner will be giving a talk on rare bees of Mayo, looking at the discovery of new colonies of three threatened bee species in the county.

Members of the public are also invited to participate in a spring wildflower spotting activity from 1 to 4 p.m. To take part, simply collect your spotting sheet from museum reception and see how many species you can find from the National Spring Wildflower Project hit list.

Other afternoon activities include a bumblebee monitoring demonstration with Celia Graebner at 2.30 p.m. and a pollinator walk with Dr. Karina Dingerkus at 4 p.m.

Tom Doyle, education officer at the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, commented: “We are delighted to partner with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, educators and biodiversity experts to deliver this special programme. It is a great way for people of all ages to celebrate National Biodiversity Week and is part of our ongoing efforts to deliver informative and engaging events that motivate citizens with relevant knowledge to become advocates for a more sustainable future.”

This day of demonstrations, talks and walks takes place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 20. Admission is free and no booking is required. Visit www.museum.ie/country-life or follow the National Museum of Ireland on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to find out more about the full programme.