Join us for fun-filled interactive children activities at National Botanic Gardens, Dublin

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is delighted to announce a series of fun, child centred activities taking place at the National Botanic Gardens, Dublin this summer. Children and parents alike can get in touch with nature and learn about bugs, birds and plants.

The Wild Garden Adventure Series includes a variety of activities which include Pond Dipping, Plant Partners, Biodiversity, Bugs and Beasties, Budding Botanist and Bird Safaris taking place during July and August.

Pond Dipping explores the weird and wonderful diversity of insects and mini-beasts living in and around the ponds at the National Botanic Gardens. Suitable for children age 8 and upwards.

Come and join our Head Guide and bird author Glynn Anderson for a guided bird walk of the gardens for the Bird Safari. Bring your binoculars if you have them! Suitable for children age 8 and upwards.

Find out how plants and animals interact with each other from pollination to seed dispersal at the investigative Plant Partners tour of the gardens. Then take part in a real-time pollinator count and record your results. Suitable for children age 8 and upwards. Booking essential though Eventbrite.

Discover the bugs and creatures hiding in our various garden habitats at the Biodiversity, Bugs and Beasties tour. Suitable for children age 8 and upwards.

For the Budding Botanist, become a plant hunter with our guides on an expedition through the Botanic Gardens, identifying and collecting suitable plants for pressing before constructing your very own flower press. Suitable for children age 8 and upwards. Booking essential though Eventbrite.

Children also can drop in to our Children’s Erasmus Education Garden where they can learn how to sow their own seeds, play some nature games, or create a piece of eco-art. Suitable for children aged 4 and upwards.

Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, said ‘It is great to see such a diverse range of fun filled, educational activities on offer at the National Botanic Gardens this summer to occupy the children. Parents and children alike can learn all about nature in a fun and engaging way’.

Join us this summer for fun-filled activities at the National Botanic Gardens, Dublin. For more information and a full list of activities see links below or visit www.heritageireland.ie

For more information about the events please see links below:

Plant Partners – link

16 July 2025

Biodiversity, Bugs and Beasties – link

23 July and 20 August 2025

Budding Botanist - link

30 July and 27 August 2025

Pond Dipping – link

6 August 2025

Bird Safari – link

13 August 2025

Children’s Erasmus Education Garden

OPW spokespersons are available for interview upon request. Please contact pressoffice@opw.ie for more information and to arrange an interview.
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Office of Public Works (OPW)

The OPW provides accommodation for government services and manages much of the State’s property portfolio.
It cares for 780 heritage sites, including national monuments, historic parks, gardens and buildings. It is the government’s principal engineering agency, providing an engineering service to the Flood Risk Management and Estate Portfolio Management functions of the OPW as well as to other government departments.