Welcome to Biodiversity Week 2024! We are delighted to be celebrating Irish Wildlife with you!
This year we are focussing on all of the different ways we can protect and conserve Irish plants and animals. We will hear about different projects which are working in different ways to help biodiversity. We will also give you a simple action a day you can take in your school or community to get stuck in as well! Check out our daily action sheet for info for advice plus short videos and ideas for fun activities.
Fáilte chuig Seachtain na Bithéagsúlachta 2024! Tá ríméad ar Chlár na Scoileanna Glasa Fiadhúlra na hÉireann a cheiliúradh libh! Tá súil againn go mbainfidh sibh triail as roinnt dár “Gníomhartha an Lae”. Gheobhaidh sibh acmhainní Gaeilge ar gach bileog gníomhaíochta chun cabhrú libh. Chomh maith leis sin, bígí ag faire amach do na trí fhíseán, ‘Tarraing Pictiúr Linn’ as Gaeilge, a bheas ar fáil Dé hAoine!
Why not also check and see if there are any events happening in your community that you can join? Head over to National Biodiversity Week Ireland 2024 to find out more!
Travelling to the Green Schools Awards this week? We have you covered! While you travel, see what you can see out the window and play a game of Biodiversity Bingo!
Monday
11 to 11.45am-Wildlife in National Parks. We are delighted to be joined by Conservation Rangers from Killarney National Park and the Burren National Park. Tricia Beecher will tell us about the reintroduction of White Tailed Eagles to Killarney and Eamonn Twomey will discuss bats in the Burren. Aimed at senior primary students.
Biodiversity Action of the Day: Do a litter pick in your local park or school grounds.
Gníomhartha an Lae: Eagraigh lá ‘Pioc Suas Bruscar’ sa pháirc áitiúil
Tuesday
11 to 11.45am-Tracking Nature. Discover how and why we monitor Ireland’s wildlife. The more we know the better we can conserve biodiversity. Hear about the National Otter Survey with Karina Dingerkus and the Dragonfly Survey Project with Dave Wall, Biodiversity Ireland. Aimed at Senior Primary and Secondary Students.
Biodiversity Action of the Day: Submit a record of a plant or animal you find to the Biodiversity Data Centre.
Gníomhartha an Lae: Déan taifead ar phlanda nó ainmhí agus bí cinnte do chuid torthaí a thuairisciú!
Wednesday
11 to 11.45am-Invasive Species: These are animals or plants from other parts of the world that don’t always belong in their new environment, here in Ireland.
Why is the grey squirrel bad for the red squirrel? Is Rhododendron beautiful, bad for nature or both? Liane Costello, Clean Coasts Marine Biodiversity Officer and Aengus Kennedy, Green Schools officer will help us understand what invasive species are and how they can be managed. Aimed at senior primary students.
Plus hear from YRE winner Martha Feely from St Joseph’s Secondary School in Rush about her project on invasive Flatworms: https://yreireland.exposure.co/waging-war-on-the-killer-kiwi-project-triangulatus
Action of the Day: Go on a nature walk and see if you can spot any invasive species
Gníomhartha an Lae: Téigh ar shiúlóid dúlra agus coinnigh súil amach do speicis ionracha!
Thursday
11 to 11.45am- Careers in Biodiversity. Interested in a career connected with the environment? Hear from three great speakers on their current roles, the training they have undertaken and what they enjoy most. We will be joined by Elaine O’Riordan, NUI Galway, Meabh Boylan, Kildare County Council Biodiversity Officer and Jennifer McAree, Flynn Furney Environmental Consultants. Aimed at Secondary School Students and Senior Primary
Action of the Day: Get to work on your school grounds. Take one action to attract biodiversity to your school grounds.
Gníomhartha an Lae: Téigh ag obair ar thailte do scoile! Déan beart amháin chun cabhrú leis an mBithéagsúlacht
Friday – Draw Along with Rob
Please note this is not live! You can watch and draw along with Green Schools Officer Rob Nelson in these three videos and learn to draw:
- a hedgehog (aimed at junior students)
- An Ghráinneog
- an otter
- Madra Uisce
- a White-tailed eagle
- Iolar Mara
Videos are available in English or with Irish Voiceover by Green Schools Irish Language Officer Úna Bhreathnach!
Action of the Day: Spread the Word! Tell your family/friends/local community what you have been up to this week.
Gníomhartha an Lae: Scaip an scéal! Cuir do mhuintir agus do chairde ar an eolas faoi gach atá foghlamtha agaibh an tseachtain seo!
Get social!
Share your actions and photos with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by tagging @GreenSchoolsIre using #BiodiversityWeek.