Ireland’s nature and wildlife will take centre stage from 15th – 24th May, with hundreds of free events across the country for National Biodiversity Week.
Explore the rich variety of wildlife in Ireland with a host of wonderful free events and activities for the whole family.
Organised by the Irish Environmental Network and supported by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Biodiversity Week will bring you opportunities to connect with nature and learn from local experts and groups actively working to protect our natural heritage.
Events will reach communities in every corner of Ireland, showcasing coasts, rivers and estuaries, hedgerows, wetlands, native woodlands, the marine environment and more.
Discover wildlife near you with a host of events celebrating nature around us – whale watching, farm walks, bat walks, biodiversity cycle tours, field trips, nature walks, wildlife watching and woodland workshops.
As well as highlighting the importance of biodiversity, National Biodiversity Week is also about experiencing the fun, enjoyment and spectacle of the nature that surrounds us.
Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, said:
“Each year National Biodiversity Week gets bigger and better – and reflects a growing public appetite and interest in nature. Communities all around the country are celebrating their local biodiversity and what they are doing to protect it. There’s an amazing variety of events this year happening in our Parks, woodlands and wetlands, on farms, lakes and in community gardens around the country. We all benefit from spending time in nature, so I’d encourage everyone to sign up for an activity or event.”
Welcoming the launch of National Biodiversity Week, Karen Ciesielski, Chief Executive Officer of the Irish Environmental Network, said: “Spending time in nature is so beneficial to our physical and mental wellbeing. This annual 10-day celebration of nature and wildlife offers a variety of free events and activities for the whole family and highlights the need to protect and enhance our biodiversity for now and for future generations.
The beauty of National Biodiversity Week is that it not only educates but brings the fun and wonder of nature back into our lives. With more than 300 events planned all around the country, there is so much for all the family to see and enjoy. I’d advise people to get outside and see what’s happening in their communities.”
Niall Ó Donnchú, Director General of the National Parks and Wildlife Service said:
“NPWS is delighted to partner with the Irish Environmental Network on this impressive and creative programme of events this year. Our collective efforts in communities around the country can make a difference for nature, and this week is testament to that.”
A full listing of Biodiversity Week events can be found at biodiversityweek.ie