Enjoy orienteering and biodiversity at Mayo museum this weekend

THE National Museum of Ireland - Country Life at Turlough Park, Castlebar, is inviting people to learn about nature and enjoy the outdoors together with a great programme of free events this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 25 and 26.

The museum is celebrating World Orienteering Day on Saturday, May 25, with a free open day for people to come and try this fun outdoor activity for themselves.

Experts from ATU Castlebar campus will be on-site to provide visitors with the resources and guidance they need to go on an orienteering course around the grounds of Turlough Park.

Orienteering is a fun and challenging outdoor activity that combines running, walking and navigation.

This is a free event taking place from 11 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. - suitable for all ages and fitness levels. No booking is required.

As this is an outdoor event, participants should wear suitable footwear and clothing.

The focus then shifts from orienteering to biodiversity on Sunday, May 26.

As part of National Biodiversity Week, the museum is holding a special Biodiversity Day all about bees from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The day of discovery and fun begins at 1 p.m. with a talk on ‘Gardening for Wild Bees’ by Celia Graebner followed by a family workshop at 1.30 p.m. exploring some bee-inspired crafts with Isolde Dingerkus.

Karina Dingerkus will deliver a talk at 2.30 p.m. on ‘Ireland’s Rarest Wild Bees’. There will then be a pollinator walk at 3 p.m. with Karina Dingerkus and Celia Graebner.

This event is suitable for all ages. No booking is required. The day has been organised in association with the museum’s popular new exhibition The Murmur of Bees, which explores the magic of Ireland’s bees through folklife material and natural history.

The museum also has a new activity for young visitors to enjoy this May in the biodiverse gardens and woodland. ‘Woodland Explorer’ is an activity sheet which encourages children to learn about nature, habitats, animals and trees, by exploring the grounds through three fun challenges.

The activity booklet is available free of charge from museum reception and is a great way for families and intergenerational audiences to spend time outdoors together this National Biodiversity Week, which runs from May 17 to 26.

Visit https://www.museum.ie/en-ie/home for further information on museum exhibitions, events and activities.