Press Release: 16th January 2015
Feile an Dúlra at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre
The annual Festival of Nature ‘Feile an Dúlra’ at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre is launched. The festival runs throughout 2015 offering members of the public a wide variety of opportunities to explore and discover wildlife. The festival starts in February with World Wetlands Day and continues with celebrations including Biodiversity Week in May, World Environment Day in June, International Bog Day in July, Heritage Week in August, Culture Night in September, World Animal Day in October and lots more throughout the year.
Each event offers an introduction into a chosen wildlife theme so taking part in these events throughout the year you will learn about a host of wildlife species and their habitats in a fun and safe environment. For example World Wetlands Day at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre in February will focus on the amphibian species of Ireland. During this event you can experience two of Irelands three amphibians, the common frog and smooth newt in the wildlife gardens of the centre and learn how to record sightings of the different stages of the frog lifecycle and report your sightings to the Hop To It Frog survey. In July the celebrations will focus on our wonderful Irish peatlands when International Bog Day is celebrated at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre. This event is an opportunity to discover the magic of Irish bogs, feel the ground quake beneath your feet as you cross the wet bog and see the bright yellow star shaped flower of Bog Asphodel. Towards the end of the year October brings to the centre World Animal Day where the centre will display its collection of taxidermy wildlife. Get up close to an otter, badger, hare, bittern, snipe, barn owl, fox and lots more.
Feile an Dúlra at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre is open to everyone. Some of the events are held during the week, some on weekends and others in the evenings to allow an opportunity for everyone to experience wildlife at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre. In 2015 the Bog of Allen Nature Centre has introduced craft of the month where visitors can make a memory of their visit to the centre. Throughout the month of January you can make a bookmark using recycled greeting cards, in February you can make St. Bridget’s crosses to take home while later in the year you can plant your own sunflower or pumpkin or make dream catchers, there is a craft for every month. The nature centre is open all year round so if you cannot make one of the festival days not to worry. When you visit the Bog of Allen Nature Centre outside these festival days you can expect to find insect eating plants, try to pond dip for freshwater mini beasts or enjoy a walk along the biodiversity trail to Lodge bog. To learn more about the Bog of Allen Nature Centre and the events the Irish Peatland Conservation Council will host in 2015 visit www.ipcc.ie.
Editors Notes
Feile an Dúlra is supported by Kildare County Council through their Festival Grant scheme
The Bog of Allen Nature Centre is run by a charity, the Irish Peatland Conservation Council that aims to conserve a representative portion of Irish Peatlands for future generations to enjoy
Further information, interviews or pictures contact:
Nuala Madigan, Education Officer
Irish Peatland Conservation Council
Bog of Allen Nature Centre. Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare
Tel: +353 (0)45 860 133
E-mail: bogs@ipcc.ie
ENDS