Welcome to all Bob Dylan and Neil Young fans to Kilkenny. We need you keep Kilkenny Beautiful and take your litter home. Why not take time to enjoy the amazing wildflowers along many of our roads including the city ring road.
look out for our KKB cat!
A large crowd attended a very interesting presentation by Zoe Devlin titled ” Wildflowers of Ireland – a personal record” which recently took place in Kilkenny. The event was coordinated by Bird watch Ireland Kilkenny branch. Zoe reviewed Ireland’s rare flowers and also some of the not so rare flowers including flowers growing in Kilkenny. Invasive species were also reviewed.
The importance of pollinator species was discussed. The event ties in to the theme of improving habitat for our bees in Kilkenny. The importance of many plants to specific insects and having adequate food for birds was noted.
A fitting county emblem which will also raise the importance of bees as pollinators. KKB works each year to improve the range of honey and bumble bee friendly planting throughout our city.
Crab apple blossom attracts!
Summer wild flowers
Sunflower attraction!
Bumble bees enjoy the summer lavender
Over the last number of weeks we have seen the river Nore rise and rise. The Nore still quite a wild river with many tree-lined natural banks. When the river rises the floodplains turn into lakes. Trees along the riverbank where undermined and weakened are washed down the river. The City boardwalk was just above the flood level.
Not a time for swimming as the wild river Nore washes whole trees and their roots down the river
With the water at such a high level the newly completed mural at Ossory bridge looks like it is swimming in the river.
The river boardwalk between Ossory bridge and the City centre is just above the flood level
Dukesmeadows forms an extensive urban wild flower meadow close to the River Nore and within walking distance of Kilkenny City Centre. It is a haven for wildlife, insects and plants. it forms an attractive amenity for the residents of the area.
Dukesmeadows 7 Copyright: Keep Kilkenny Beautiful
Shall we round them up. Copyright: Pat & Mary Durkin
Are they all lined up. Copyright: Pat & Mary Durkin
On the way back to the water. Copyright: Pat & Mary Durkin
The river Nore flows through the centre of Kilkenny forming an attractive river wildlife and green area. There are a number of weirs and rock water falls which provides an attractive fishing area for our birds! There are a number of grey herons living and feeding along the river Nore in the area of the City.
Fishing on the river Nore. Copyright: Keep Kilkenny Beautiful
Kilkenny is fortunate to have a number of very attractive lake and marsh habitats within the City. Lakeside is currently springing to life. to assist the wild fowl a floating nesting area has been put in place and also a small island had been planted. Currently there are a pair of swans nesting, they and the other wild foul are working hard to prepare their nests.
The KKB thank Bird Watch Ireland (Mr Pat Durkin ) who has confirmed that the hawk filmed by the KKB at Dukesmeadow in early Spring was a Female sparrow hawk.
During March the KKB distributed a large number trees through out the city for planting by community groups, residents associations and other groups. The KKB wish to thank O’Loughlin Gaels GAA club for facilitating the distribution of trees from their car park on the 12th March 2011. There was a range of tree types including Birch, wild cherry and mountain ash. The planting of these trees will add to the city amenity and will also provide food and cover for wild life.
Newly planted tree at Dukesmeadows following the tree distribution by the KKB. copyright: Keep Kilkenny Beautiful
