Hi IEN,

The days are growing longer and events have kicked off strong for 2025. In Wicklow, 150 people attended a local talk on biodiversity with Éanna Ní Lámhna. She kept the room rapt with her ability to deliver difficult topics with great humour. West Wicklow Environmental Network kindly sent in an article covering the event, which you can read below.

There are more events coming up this month, starting tomorrow in Meath where you can experience the wildlife of the wetlands at Sonairte to celebrate World Wetlands Day and the coming of Spring on St. Brigid's Day.

This is also the time of year when you might start seeing frogs! You can help these wonderful little creatures by reporting any sightings through the IPCC's Hop To It Frog Survey. Take action to attract frogs by creating habitat in your garden.

Wetlands are a fascinating ecosystem. After listening to Elaine McGoff speaking about them in our biodiversity webinar I gained a whole new understanding of the range of freshwater habitats, and the importance that they play. Her full presentation can be watched here. She mentions that making a pond is one of the most impactful things you can do for wildlife. What better way to celebrate World Wetlands Day than adding to this important habitat type. Here are some great resources for building your own pond.

Finally for this month I want to draw your attention to an important call to government for supporting farmers and growers who have lost polytunnels during storm Éowyn. The loss of these structures has a massive impact on small scale food producers, many of whom will be struggling to cover the cost of repair in time for Spring planting. Read Talamh Beo's call for support below.

Lá fhéile Bríde sona duit,

Catherine.

West Wicklow Environmental Network

Our Natural Environment, the effects of Biodiversity and Climate Change

A Talk with Éanna Ní Lámhna

Article written by Emma Smith, WWEN PRO

WWEN were delighted to host Éanna Ní Lámhna on 15th January in Blessington Community College. Éanna gave a wonderful talk on ‘Our Natural Environment, the effects of Biodiversity and Climate Change’. She is so full of knowledge but is an expert at getting across a vast amount of information in a hugely entertaining and straightforward way. The large crowd of more than 150 people hung on her every word.

Helen Lawless, Chairperson of WWEN, welcomed everyone to the first WWEN event of the year and thanked Blessington Community College for their support and the wonderful students from the Climate Action Team in the college who helped on the night. Helen noted how wonderful it was to see these, and other young people attend the event and she said it was important ‘as it’s their future even more than ours that we speak about this evening’.

Éanna needed little introduction as she is a well-known broadcaster. However, Helen did mention that Éanna was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate by NUI Galway for her contribution to science and science communication. This was notable for being the first Hon Doc awarded to an Irish woman by the university in Galway (and only the second overall). There was an enthusiastic applause for this announcement! Éanna said for those reasons ‘it was doubly sweet to get the Honorary Doctorate’.

It would be impossible to summarise the talk. I will simply mention some highlights.

Biodiversity encompasses many different species, habitats and genetic variations. We have a lot of different habitats in this country such as our temperate forests, our raised and blanket bogs which are some of the last remaining special habitats of this kind in the world, our hedgerows, which are what’s left of our woodland and are in effect ‘linear’ woodland, providing cover and shelter, particularly important for birds. Each habitat has its own range of plants and animals. Éanna said ‘lots of different habitats mean we have the potential for lots of biodiversity’ (if the habitats are intact).

Sadly since 1970 Ireland’s biodiversity has decreased by 50% largely due to change of land use, simply put the change from hay meadows to silage has had one of the most detrimental effects on biodiversity. Another negative effect is the removal of hedgerows - many of these initiatives because of pressure from the EU at the time. Éanna said pressure now needs to be brought to bear on the grants that farmers receive so at least 10% of their land can be set aside as space for nature without reducing the farmer’s income.

Éanna spoke about invasive species that are a threat to Ireland’s biodiversity such as the Sika deer which are an introduced species (thanks to Lord Powerscourt who introduced them in 1860). Now they are everywhere. They eat and destroy a lot of native plants and trees as we have no wolves (their natural predator) to control their number.

What can we do? Éanna says there are three things we all can do. Learn about biodiversity, support government and community efforts to increase biodiversity and take steps yourself. For example, Éanna thinks lawns are a waste of time! ‘You can’t even graze a cow on them!’ Éanna also believes legislation has a place and for that reason she is currently running for the Seanad to try to have an impact in that way.

And in terms of climate change - this has an impact on our biodiversity because it fundamentally changes the habitats that our land supports. The last 200 years have seen huge changes, she says. We need to plant more and more trees as they absorb carbon. In Ireland too we need to protect our bogs as they hold a lot of carbon. It’s important Éanna says ‘that we know that we want to fix it’ and to try to mitigate the impacts of climate change. And while we might all might know the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Éanna has another ‘R’ - Refuse. She say, for example, refuse to use plastic bottles!

And lastly no evening with Éanna Ní Lámhna is complete without hearing some funny and weird things:

●     A spider’s legs grow out of its head!

●     Frogs survive the winter in the bottom of a pond - but how? ‘Sure if it was us,’ says Éanna, ‘we’d wake up drowned!’ (A frog can breathe through its skin, that’s how it survives.)

●     Rabbits eat their own poo. But why we might ask? Because they don’t have multiple stomachs like a cow to digest the grass so they need to poop it out and reingest instead!

Thank you to all who attended the fantastic evening. Please have a look at WWEN’s new website www.westwicklowen.ie and we hope to see you at more of our events during the year.

FEBRUARY EVENTS

World Wetlands Day walk & talk at Eco-centre Sonairte

Feb 1st - 2.30pm

Meath

Join us to celebrate World Wetlands Day on Saturday February 1st with interesting talks on the River Nanny and the efforts to protect it against invasive spartina species.

After the talks we will walk to the saltmarsh and riverbank and on return attendees have the chance to make St. Brigid's crosses.

Location: Sonairte - the National Ecology Centre

The Ninch A92 D9XH Laytown

Housing Ourselves in the Wellbeing Economy

Feb 14th, 10am - 5pm

Tipperary

COMMUNITY-LED HOUSING, CREATIVE PLACE MAKING, BUILDING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

Blended Conference for In-Person and Online Participation

Location:

In-person - WeCreate Centre, Cloughjordan Ecovillage, Co. Tipperary - E53 VP86. 

Places are limited - Registration essential.

On-line - Three sessions of the event will be held on zoom for on-line participation. - Registration essential.

Cost: Online: Free of Charge.

In-person: Sliding Scale Payment €15.00 to €50.00 (Includes Lunch)

Full Details - https://cloughjordancohousing.coop/making-neighbourhoods/housing-ourselves-2025/ 

Inquiries - info@cloughjordancohousing.coop

Register here: https://forms.gle/HsbWhUMBsYPVjp9JA

New Home Mechanic Training Courses

Start off 2025 with Cytech's Home Mechanic Course—a two-day hands-on workshop to master bike maintenance like a pro.

 Whether you’re a commuter eager to keep your bike in top shape, a weekend mountain biker or roadie, or a parent looking after your family’s bikes, this course is perfect for you!

Over two days, you’ll dive into the essentials of bike maintenance, including:

- Straightening buckled wheels

- Fine-tuning gears and maintaining the drivetrain.

- Servicing brakes, wheel hubs, tyres, and tubes.

Running on 2 Saturdays, 15th & 22nd February.

Limited spots per workshop book now to reserve your space.

Workshop: Make Your Own Tote Bag!

Feb 15th, 10.30am - 3pm

Dublin

Join us at the Rediscover Fashion Workshop to create your very own tote bag using repurposed fabrics.

Whether you're a sewing novice or more experienced, this hands-on workshop will guide you through the process from start to finish.

Sewing machines are available if needed, but we encourage participants to bring their own for a more personalised experience.

Get tickets here

Beaumont Quarry Clean-Up

Feb 15th, 11am - 1pm

Cork City

Cork Nature Network needs you to make a real impact at Beaumont Quarry on Saturday, 15th February at 11:00 am. This hidden gem in Cork City is not just a disused quarry - it’s a vital sanctuary for native plants, animals, and insects - but it needs your help to thrive!

More information here

MARCH EVENTS

Whale Tales 2025: Shared Stories from the Sea

March 7th - 9th

Down

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group invites you to Whale Tales, the biennial meeting of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, where members and people interested in whales, dolphins and porpoises in Ireland are invited to join us in our shared appreciation and admiration of these charismatic animals.

This year, we’re thrilled to host Whale Tales across the border in Northern Ireland, embracing our all-island approach to marine conservation. The event will take place at YWAM An Cuan (The Harbour) in Rostrevor, a stunning venue aligned with values of peacebuilding, unity, and collaboration.

Event Highlights

- Friday, March 7: Kick off the weekend with a screening of The Secret Lives of the Humpbacks by Andrew Stevenson, followed by a Q&A with IWDG Sightings Officer Pádraig Whooley. Free event and Open to All

- Saturday, March 8 (Members Only): A full day of engaging talks, panel discussions, and networking, ending with an AGM and a lively quiz night at the Whistledown Hotel.

- Sunday, March 9: Experience the launch of The Shifting Tides podcast, celebrate Carlingford Lough through photography and storytelling, and enjoy a scenic walk in Kilbroney Park before we depart.

More information and booking available here

Workshop: Introduction to French Polishing

March 8th, 9.30am - 4.30pm

Dublin

Join us for an engaging workshop where we’ll delve into the art of French polishing, a time-honoured technique that has been breathing new life into antique furniture since the mid-1700s.

With over 70 years of combined experience, the Rediscovery Centre are excited to share valuable tips, tricks, and trade secrets to help you restore your antique pieces to their former glory.

Get tickets here

Workshop: Hand Stitching & Creative Clothing Repair

March 8th, 10am and 2pm

Dublin

Discover the art of hand sewing at the Rediscover Fashion Workshop, where you’ll learn techniques to repair clothing without a sewing machine.

Explore skills like patching holes, mending seams, covering stains, and practising Sashiko, a traditional Japanese repair method, alongside decorative embroidery stitches for visible mending.

Leave with a unique wall hanging that you've crafted during the day!

Morning & afternoon workshops available.

Get tickets for morning here

Get tickets for afternoon here

FREE Repair Cafe

March 22nd, 10am - 4pm

Dublin

Got something in need of repair? Bring your broken bikes, furniture or textiles to the Rediscovery Centre on 22nd March, and learn to fix them with experts!

Reserve your spot here

Call for support for farmers and growers affected by Storm Éowyn

The Irish farmers organisation Talamh Beo is calling for the government to support the many farmers and growers who have lost critical infrastructure due to storm Éowyn.

Many growers in particular have lost polytunnels filled with winter crops which will urgently need repair or replacement to prepare them for planting come spring. 

Often small scale and organic farmers and growers supplying local markets are left out of government schemes and supports.

Talamh Beo are calling for a simple, easily accessible grant to cover the cost of replacing damaged infrastructure and help ensure these farmers can continue to stay in business.

Farmers supplying local markets already suffer from unfair below-cost selling by supermarkets and an absence of state support. Talamh Beo is calling for urgent action to protect and strengthen this vital sector.

Many of these farmers are busy clearing up their land and counting the costs of the storm. Let’s help farmers and growers get back on their feet and give them the support they need at this critical time.

Farmers and growers need urgent support to recover—let’s ensure they get the help they deserve now.

Sign our petition here to show your support

Contact: info@talamhbeo.ie

The Bog Revealed: Essential Knowledge & Resource

StreamScapes is delighted to announce our newest resource booklet, published with support from the Peatlands and Natura Community Engagement Scheme 2024.

Discover the fascinating world of bogs, highlighting the critical role they play in carbon storage, biodiversity, water management, and climate regulation. Featuring the flora, fauna, and ecological importance of bogs, as well as conservation efforts and practical tips for engagement.

This resource is perfect for educators, community groups, and citizen scientists.

Contact info@streamscapes.ie for print or electronic copies.

StreamScapes also published three new place-based resource booklets for the communities of Tracton, Rosscarbery, and Clonakilty. These publications are the latest in our all-Ireland catchment series, created in collaboration with local artists, historians, and writers. Each booklet celebrates the unique art, culture, history, and environment of its community, fostering a deep sense of connection to local heritage. By engaging with these resources, residents and visitors alike can appreciate the beauty of their surroundings while gaining valuable insights into the rich traditions and natural wonders of these areas.

Join the Hop To It Frog Survey this World Wetlands Day

To mark World Wetlands Day 2025, the Irish Peatland Conservation Council are launching this year’s Hop To It Frog Survey. The Hop To It Frog Survey is a citizen science initiative that IPCC has been coordinating since 1997, where we ask members of the public to submit their sightings of the different stages of the frog life cycle.

World Wetlands Day is celebrated each year on the 2nd February. It aims to raise awareness about wetlands and also marks the anniversary of the Convention on Wetlands (known as the Ramsar Convention) of which Ireland is a contracting party. Wetlands include both freshwater and marine habitats such as lakes, rivers, peatlands, marshes, estuaries, tidal flats and mangroves. They are vital ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation, freshwater availability and more. However, since the 1700s, nearly 90% of the world’s wetlands have been degraded.

This World Wetlands Day, IPCC encourage you to become a citizen scientist and join the Hop To It Frog Survey. Ireland has one native frog species, the Common Frog (Rana temporaria), which like other amphibians requires freshwater habitat to complete its life cycle. It is widespread in Ireland, found in habitats such as woodlands, bogs, fens and gardens, and has smooth, moist skin which it can make lighter or darker to match its surroundings. You can submit your records of any stage of the frog life cycle on IPCC’s website (www.ipcc.ie).

Frogs have a fascinating life cycle and undergo dramatic changes in their transition from tadpole to adult frog (known as metamorphosis). Adult frogs emerge from hibernation in early spring (sometimes even earlier) and travel to breeding sites. Male frogs attach themselves on the back of a female in a position called amplexus before spawning occurs. Frog eggs are enclosed in an envelope of jelly known as frogspawn. When the tadpole hatches, it will digest the spawn jelly. Tadpoles breathe though gills and eat algae, and as they get older they will also eat plants and insects. As they develop into a froglet they grow legs, their tail reduces and they breathe through lungs. Young frogs will usually double in size by the following autumn and they reach sexual maturity in their third year. Adult frogs eat slugs, worms, flies and other insects. They hibernate during the winter in refuges such as tree stumps, leaf piles or rock piles. The Common Frog is protected under the Irish Wildlife Act and as an Annex V species under the EU Habitats Directive.

Monitoring the population of Common Frogs can help us to better understand changes in our local environments as they are biological indicators to pollution. This year watch for the Common Frog and the various stages of its lifecycle in your area. To become a citizen scientist all you have to do is submit your record to the Hop To It Frog Survey on IPCC’s website.

Irish Stoat Citizen Science Survey

The Irish Stoat Citizen Science Survey is in its final months, but there is still time to submit your sightings!

If you have seen an Irish stoat, alive or dead, report it via the National Biodiversity Data Centre website. With your help, we hope to learn more about these elusive animals.

https://biodiversityireland.ie/surveys/irish-stoat-survey/

Hillwalking & Environment Officer

Mountaineering Ireland

We are looking for an efficient and enthusiastic person to join the Mountaineering Ireland team in the role of Hillwalking and Environment Officer.

More information here