OPW Celebrates National Biodiversity Week with Over 40 Events across Heritage Sites

The OPW has announced a calendar of events over 12 of its heritage sites to celebrate National Biodiversity Week. More than 40 events will take place across the historic houses, estates, castles, gardens, parks and prehistoric monuments the OPW holds in trust for the nation.

Welcoming National Biodiversity Week, Kieran O’Donnell T.D., Minister of State with Responsibility for the Office of Public Works, said:

“I am delighted to welcome the arrival of National Biodiversity Week- celebrated by the OPW with over 40 events taking place at more than 12 of our heritage sites nationwide from 17 May to 26 May. Families around the country are spoiled for choice this National Biodiversity Week – there’s truly something for everyone, young and old. We are proud to be able to showcase our rich natural heritage across these sites, which are maintained by OPW staff to the highest standards of excellence. I wish to commend them for the hard work they undertake year-round and for organising such engaging and creative events across our magnificent historic houses, estates, castles, gardens, parks and prehistoric monuments.”

Families will find plenty to enjoy across the week, with a range of workshops, tours, trails and other fun activities on offer. Other events include in depth talks on biodiversity and conservation by leading experts. A full day of family-friendly fun is on offer at Céide Fields, Co. Mayo, where cliff-side telescope viewings, guided tours of the blanket bog and a wildlife scavenger hunt are open to the public free of charge.

Lorcán Scott, Biodiversity Officer at the Office of Public Works, said:

“It is great to see such a diverse range of events across OPW sites, celebrating our rich biodiversity that exists throughout the country. Under the OPW’s stewardship, these sites support a myriad of habitats and species that we want to ensure are there for future generations to cherish. The theme for International Day for Biodiversity 2024 is ‘Be part of the Plan,’ with the implementation of our Biodiversity Action Strategy, the OPW is demonstrating we can play our part in addressing the global biodiversity crisis, and the expert work of our gardeners and guides play no small part in this mission.”

In the John F. Kennedy Arboretum, Co. Wexford, children can learn through play about the wonders of our natural world by crafting a ‘mandala’, a circular design that radiates out symmetrically from its centre, in the heart of the woodland environment. In this interactive workshop, children can use plant materials sourced around the Arboretum, including rhododendron petals, fallen camellia flowers and palm leaves, to create their own unique, natural creations.

At Parkes Castle, Co. Leitrim, botanist and ecologist Dr. Dolores Byrne will lead a hands-on, family friendly exploration of the biodiversity around the castle and along the lakeshore at Lough Gill. At the lake, the whole family will learn about the steps we can take to preserve the biodiversity of this essential natural resource. Children will get the opportunity to collect invertebrates on the lakeshore, as well as a chance to meet and get to know Lough Gill’s bugs and fish.

Visitors to Glendalough Monastic Site, Co. Wicklow, can uncover hidden worlds in the biodiversity treasure hunt and be in with a chance to win an OPW Heritage Card. This card provides 12 months of unlimited access to over 50 OPW sites and visitor attractions with guided tours. While at Glendalough, visitors can hear first-hand from OPW guides about the importance of biodiversity in our built and cultural heritage.

These are just a few of the great events that the OPW is running for National Biodiversity Week 2024. This calendar of events is sure to engage and educate young children about the ever-growing importance of biodiversity, and the magical range of plant- and wildlife alongside which we all coexist. There’s a lot for grown-ups to learn as well, with talks and guided tours on offer from key specialists at the ‘International Conifer Conservation Programme’ at the National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh, Co. Wicklow.

You can read the full list of National Biodiversity Week events at OPW heritage sites at https://heritageireland.ie/whats-on/

For more information:

OPW Press Office | pressoffice@opw.ie

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Notes

About National Biodiversity Week

National Biodiversity Week is organised by the Irish Environmental Network (IEN), with support funding from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Events are run by IEN member groups, as well as by Heritage & Biodiversity Officers and other local groups.

Biodiversity at the OPW

Figures for National Botanic Gardens, Kimacurragh and JFK Arboretum

• A total of 43,500 plants, representing 11,600 plant species or in other words 1 in 30 of the world’s plants.

• 470 of these species are threatened with extinction in the wild, and of these almost 30 are on the cusp of extinction or have already become extinct in the wild.

• We grow 413 of the world’s 1,111 gymnosperm species, representing 37.2% of the total.

• We grow 368 Conifer species or in other words more than half of the world’s 632 Conifer species.

• Our sites contain 1,880 International Conifer Conservation Programme trees belonging to 93 species many of which are highly endangered; 1,200 of these trees were planted at the JFK Arboretum between 2021 and 2023; JFK now contains the largest single collection of International Conifer Conservation Programme trees in the world.

Figures for National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin:

• 29% of Ireland’s Bumblebee species and 41% of the butterfly species are seen foraging on the site.

• Nearly 1 in 5 (19%) of the native vascular plants grow here all by themselves

• Over 1 in 6 of (17%) of Ireland’s bird species regularly breed within the Gardens walls.

• Nearly half the species of worm in Ireland help the garden’s soils stay healthy.

National Botanic Gardens Herbarium figures:

• 600,000 herbarium specimens documenting plant and fungal collections from across the world.

• 100,000 Irish herbarium specimens documenting the dynamics of plant distributions in Ireland.

• 7,038 museum specimens showing the various uses of plants.

• 5,889 DNA bank samples used to investigate the genetic diversity of plants.

• 168 Native seed collections in the National Seed Bank