Kilteevan Tidy Towns celebrated National Biodiversity Week today by hosting an event for the community -Walk and Talk with Michael Bell of Nature Learn. Michael’s daughter Molly accompanied us and kindly shared her knowledge also.

Michael set two Moth Attractors on the Loop last night. As we walked the Loop, birds, butterflies, bee’s wildflowers and trees were noted. When the Moth traps were opened we got the opportunity to see and touch some amazing creatures that co-exist with us.

WOW! What a surprise.  There were flying beetles in there too. As most of our moths are hiding away during the day so we rarely get to see them.  Moths are important pollinators too.

All records are submitted to the National Biodiversity Data Centre and all moths were released. We have shared  just a few photos  and have labelled three photos for you.

What lovely relaxing morning in the Great Outdoors! Thank you Nature Learn for a wonderful experience. We look forward to further learning later this Summer when we can develop our own expertise further in identifying and recording species.

Kilteevan Tidy Towns would like to acknowledge the support of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in hosting this event.

Blackthorn –Draighean in Irish

Did you know that the Blackthorn is unusual in that the flowers appear before the leaves?  

The very pretty white flowers have 5 petals which occur in large numbers. They are one of the first sources of nectar and pollen for insects that emerge early in spring.

The fruit, known as sloes, are bitter blue-black berries which resemble tiny plums

The wood is dense and hard-wearing. It was traditionally used for making the famous blackthorn walking sticks,

Click on the link below to view a video by the Woodland Trust 

https://www.kilteevancommunity.ie/heritage/natural-heritage-biodiversity