Water Heritage Day

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.

Owl boxes completed

The Kilkenny mens shed have completed the construction of 3 new barn owl boxes.  They were designed in line with Biredwatch Ireland guidance and are being erected in  wooded areas  in the City environs. The project is being lead by the KKB biodiversity group.

Pat Durkin of Birdwatch Ireland (right) explaining the operation of the barn owl boxes to Simon Walton City engineer Kilkenny Co Co at the launch of the project.

Zoe Devlin presents “Wildflowers of Ireland- a personal Record”

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.

World Wetlands Day Sat Feb 2nd

Newpark Marsh hosted the world wet lands day visit on 2 February. Located close to the centre of Kilkenny city Newpark is a wonderful Marsh environment with a large amount of wildlife.On the visit organised by Birdwatch Ireland Kilkenny Branch, with support from the Heritage Office of Kilkenny County Council. A great lmorning was enjoyed. It was quite cold and ice was in place across much of the wetland. KKB has been working many years with local stakeholders and Kilkenny county council to  maintain Newpark Marsh. .Newpark Marsh  was awarded the top award in the ESB/CVI Community Environmental awards 2001 and the Marsh was also a national winner for Wildlife in the Tidy Towns Competition 2002. Since then there have been many improvements including additional signage, seating and a wonderful walk around the Marsh.