IWT Christmas outing

The Irish Wildlife Trust’s Christmas  walk and social takes place next Sunday December 16th  starting at 2 pm from the main car park at Woodstown.  We will walk to Creadan ( Fornaught) Strand and from there to the Giant’s Grave ( the Neolithic Passage grave at Harristown) along a section of the legendary Bóthar na mBan Gorm and by road back to Woodstown.  The walk is about 2½ hours and will be energetic in places.  The Bóthar is badly rutted near the Grave  and uneven in other places so strollers are not recommended..   But there is an option of a shorter route suitable for strollers.   Otherwise it is a family friendly event full of interest for all ages.  Afterwards there will be an informal Christmas get -together in a local hostelry and we would love to meet and chat with  members and friends 
and the general public  there.   

Coastwatch 2012

Cliff slumping near Raheen bridge

Catching crabs using recyled tyres at Fornaght Bay

Worms that think they are Coral dwellers at Newtown head

Washed up...not the blogger, the oyster bed remnants

Oyster beds at Woodstown

Some pix from Curraghmore taken during Heritage week

well worth a visit when the open their gates to the public officially.

Saving our Wetlands

The Irish Wildlife Trust and Waterford County Council co-sponsor  two events this week.  On Wednesday September 26   at 8.15 pm,  the co-chairs of the  of the Irish Ramsar Wetlands Committee, Olivia Crowe and Tadhg O’Mahony,  will facilitate presentations by members of the Committee.  The  event is entitled Saving our Wetlands  – The Role of the  Irish  Ramsar Wetlands Committee.   This talk will take place at the Edmund  Rice Centre, Barrack St Waterford and starts at 8.15 pm.  Admission free and all are welcome. 

 The following day, Thursday September 27,  there will be a conference entitled The Value Of Wetlands.  The opening address wil be given by Eamon de Buitleir.  Venue for this is the Education Centre Dunhill   (Dunhill Enterprise Park near the GAA field).  Registration takes place at 8.45 am and the conference begins at 9 am.  Fee is €35/€25 concessions and lunch is included.  Field trips to Fenor Bog and the Dunhill Wetlands included.  All welcome to these major events in the story of Irish Wetlands.

September Outing to Cuffs Grange

Highbank Organic Farm at Cuffs Grange is our destination for the first outing of the new season on Sunday September 23rd. Meet at 3 p.m. This will be a two hour walk around and through this wonderful organic orchard and farm. The event will be led by the owners of the farm Rob and Julie and will be a real treat for all the family. Highbank Farm is just off the main Callan to Kilkenny road, about 4 miles south of Kilkenny. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn first hand about so many aspects of sustainable farming and land management. Telephone 051-382629 for further information and car pooling arrangements.

Dunmore East Walks Festival

The walks festival is on from May 18th to 20th. The pictures were taken today along part of the cliff walk.
For more information, check out www.dunmorewalks.com

Pictures from Cuffesgrange

Thanks to Rod for showing us around his Highbank farm...we look forward to drinking his alcohol free cider and putting apple syrup on our porridge. Look for them in Ardkeen stores in Waterford.