St Kieran’s College Transition year students, KKB and New Orchard Residents took part in the Science week tree planting programme, planting some 500 trees for the environment in Kilkenny City. The trees were donated by Coilte in conjunction with Science Foundation Ireland and coordinated by Orla Farrell of the easy treesie Crann project. congratulations to all. maintenance of the newly planted areas will continue in the spring.
Still some colour around!
Kilkenny Castle
There is beauty and colour in our city all around us, we only need to seek it out on a September day
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Good news received in relation to the river Nore. Kilkenny is top of Class with “Clean to European norms”. this is an excellent result for Kilkenny in the IBAL river review.
Citation:-
River Nore – Kilkenny: This was an excellent site in terms of overall presentation and litter. There was a virtual absence of litter throughout the area surveyed and this was particularly good considering the high numbers of people. Evidence of cleaning at time of survey. Kilkenny River Nore (Kilkenny) – Clean to European norms
KKB are very proud of the success of the work along the River undertaken this year.
This success reflects on the excellent work being undertaken in conjunction with the Kilkenny Sub Aqua Club, Kilkenny aqua canoe club, Dragon boats, Kilkenny county council and other groups
Pat Durkin of Birdwatch and Pat Boyd biodiversity officer KKB lead Heritage week Water Heritage day nature walk on Canal walk
Pat Durkin of Birdwatch and Pat Boyd biodiversity officer KKB lead Heritage week Water heritage day nature walk on Canal walk
River Nore from Peace park
Nore Dragon Paddlers on river Nore
River Nore at Canal Square
Celebrate Water heritage day ( Sunday 25th August 9.30am) meet at Canal Square! All are welcome. Bat Boyd chairman of KKB environmental sub committee and Pat Durkin of Birdwatch Ireland Kilkenny lead a biodiversity walk along the river Nore. Experience the beautiful flora and fauna of the river Nore which flows to the centre of Kilkenny city. The results of the extensive removal of invasive weeds including Himalayan balsam will also be reviewed.
There is a lot of interest along the river bank and will also review Alien Invasive Species, non natives, indigenous species and endangered species in the context of our riparian biodiversity. These include the grey squirrel , mink, signal cray fish, mitten crab, and our most recent invasive water mold asphonomyces astaci ( white claw cray fish plague).
We will also talk about immediate threats from the mollusks kingdom Asian Clams and Zebra Mussels.
Plants to be reviewed include the Impatiens glandulifera not to be confused with our native Heracluem Sphondaelium ( cow parsley) and Heracleum mantegazzianum (giant hogweed).
We will also be looking at winter heliotrope and other invasive’s present from the Gonnera family. Non-natives but not invasive’s such as the sycamore , horse chestnut and rye grasses as well as native sedge’s.
It will be great fun hope to see you there Email us at mail@keepkilkennybeautiful.com or ring 086-1075532 to be put on out text list and to get further details of our environmental actions and clean ups.
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!
It is important not to mow too much this time of year and let the wildflowers come out. These can be enjoyed by the pollinators. With a little bit of care there can be a wonderful display. Click here for the flight of the bumble bee video IMG_0577
At this time of year it is a regular occurrence that bees swarm. The honey bees should not be confused with wasps. Generally the bees will coalesce into a large bundle around the queen bee located possibly on a wall as they decide where they’re going to go to next. The bees in this situation are quite docile and the risk of getting a sting is low so long as the bees are not disturbed.
This week KKB called in the mid-Kilkenny Beekeepers to help when a swarm landed on one of Kilkenny’s historic limestone walls in the city centre. Congratulations to the beekeepers who had a volunteer out within an hour to help and a local building contractor who assessed to gain access. The swarm was collected and brought to a new hive. It is important that we protect and look after our pollinators in particular the honey bees.
Many thanks to the Lions Club and Dukesmeadows residents association who joined forces with KKB to undertake a Summer weeding of the Bennettsbridge rd., community orchard. The orchard has a variety of fruit tree types and also fruit bushes in an attractive location adjacent to the access route to the river Nore walks. The variety of trees and bushes is attractive for our pollinators and also provide autumn fruit and berries which is of interest to wildlife.
Congratulations to the Sycamores/Aylesbury and Talbots inch residents who joined the Bishops Meadows/Talbots inch weir balsam pick. This work forms part of the Keep Kilkenny Beautiful balsam invasive species eradication programme in the city and environs.
Information panel in relation to the Talbot’s inch suspension bridge which was washed away in the 1947 floods
Information panel in relation to the Talbot’s Inch suspension bridge which was washed away in the 1947 floods