Spring activity

The walks Calendar for spring and summer is now posted.
Regular Sunday walks:
March 15th (was 8th) : Dunhill
April 12th: Licketstown/Carrigeen
May 10th: East Munster way: Carrick to Kilsheelan

Evening walks
May 19th: Kilbarry walkway/St John's river
June 9th: Dunmore woods
July 7th: Doneraile/Newtown woods
August 11th: Fornaght/Creaden

The Annual General Meeting will take place on  Monday, April 13th (was 20th). More details to follow.

Tramore in the New Year 2015

Marching it out

Over 60 wildlife enthusiasts braved the biting cold winter winds to take a stroll in the salt marshes and sand dunes at Tramore, County Waterford. 

Birds of a feather, huddle together

The walk was led by the intrepid master of ceremonies, Ray McGrath with insightful commentary from locals, Alan Walsh and Grace O'Sullivan.

Our own bird man

Ray reading a poem from the Book on the Backstrand by Ollie Breslin and Paddy Dwan

Ray explaining the work of the local branch of IWT, cap in hand!

Grace explaining her aero bar theory of the soft sand in the Backstrand

Recent walks and walks to come

The December walk takes place on Sunday December 14th .  Starting at Cheekpoint Quay at 1.30 pm the route takes in the river road along to Cheekpoint  Marsh and up and over the Minaun to finish back in Cheekpoint.   The Godwit have returned from Iceland, the red squirrels are gathering winter stores in the Glazing Woods, the evergreens are lustrous in the sun,  and the mince pies await at journey’s end.  We will seek dry terrain and even surface,  but it is winter,  so wear waterproof boots or walking shoes and be prepared for a gentle climb over the Minaun.   All welcome. 

Grid reference S 685 138

Click here for a picture from Street View.

 

The November walk was held on Sunday November 9th from the Saratoga Pub, Woodstown The focus was on the Suir Estuary life and the walk went along Dromina Strand and Crooke Strand to Passage.   

 

The October walk took place at Ballyduff house near Inistioge on October 12th. The Ballyduff estate borders the river Nore and the walk along a stretch of the river and through stands of native hardwoods. 

Portlaw September walk

Waterford IWT holds its first walk of the new season on Sunday 14th September at 2.30 pm.  Venue is Portlaw and the route includes the Clodiagh  River, Kilbunny Woods and Kilbunny Church and back to Portlaw.  About 2.5 hours.  Meeting point is the Square Portlaw near the Heritage Centre. We are delighted to have John Crotty, woodsman,  with us  to talk to us about the area.   All welcome.  Looking forward to seeing you there.

Kilbarry evening walk

Waterford IWT concludes its programme of summer evening walks with a ramble along the old Tramore Railway through Kilbarry Bog on Tuesday August 5^th.   The walk starts from the car park at Supervalue, Tramore Road.  The start time is 7.30 pm sharp  and the walk takes about 1 hour 45 minutes.   Kilbarry Bog is a wonderful wetland habitat and our resident ecologist Denis Cullen will be on hand to tell us about its ecology and other points of interest.

Japanese Knotweed

I am sure by now you have all seen the invasive Japanese Knotweed by the side of the road.
We can all submit records to the National Biodiversity Centre Data bank by logging  in here to submit records.
I have logged in 4 locations: 3 on the Dunmore to Waterford road (on the entrance to Dunmore village, beside the new roundabout; at Belle Lake; and opposite Harneys pub); and in a couple of places on the restored landfill in Tramore.
I have been informed that a new app for your phone will soon be available along the lines of the Butterfly app so that you can record in the field.

Tramore Backstrand walk

Waterford IWT continued its programme of summer evening walks with a ramble along the Backstrand in Tramore. Thanks to Denis for the picture.