News from Biodiversity Ireland
March 2025

This monthly newsletter provides an update on some of the work of the National Biodiversity Data Centre and highlights upcoming events. 

Upcoming Biodiversity Training Events

As the days get warmer, insect activity is on the rise and now is the time to refresh your identification skills or take the first step to learn more about these small but mighty creatures. The National Biodiversity Data Centre has launched 4 NEW workshops designed to enhance identification and monitoring skills of moths, social wasps, dragonflies and damselflies! 

📅 Garden Moth ID and Recording Workshop - Saturday 5th April 
      Fota Wildlife Park, Co. Cork

📅 Introduction to Dragonflies and Damselflies - Saturday 24th May
      Dromore Woods, Co. Clare

📅Introduction to Dragonflies and Damselflies - Saturday 28th June
      Anne Valley, Co. Waterford

📅Social Wasps ID - Friday 4th July
      Brú na Bóinne, Co. Meath

New online course: Managing School Grounds for Biodiversity

The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan is delighted to launch a new online course ‘Managing School Grounds for Biodiversity’, developed in collaboration with the Department of Education in the Republic of Ireland. It is available through the National Biodiversity Data Centre online learning platform.

This free course is aimed at caretakers, groundskeepers, and those responsible for caring for school grounds. From pesticide alternatives to plant lists, biodiversity-friendly mowing tips to ideas on getting the school community involved, this is an opportunity for any school wanting to manage their grounds for nature, no matter their size, space, or previous experience.

FIT Count 2024 Summary

Flower-Insect Timed Counts (FIT Counts) is a citizen science scheme that collects information on the numbers of flower-visiting insects. Volunteers watch a 50cm x 50cm patch of flowers for 10 minutes and count how many insects visit. The scheme runs from April to September and can be carried out anywhere e.g., garden, farm, park, school.

In 2024, 784 validated FIT Counts were submitted by 135 different volunteers. Thank you to everyone who submitted FIT Counts. Your continued efforts and support will help assess changes in the numbers of flower visiting insects.

The average number of insects per FIT Count was 7. The most common insect group recorded were hoverflies, and the most common habitat FIT Counts were carried out in was grassland with wildflowers. 

Rowers embrace “Check Clean Dry” message in Sligo

Last month our Invasive Species Officers attended the Sligo Head of the River rowing event at Doorly Park Jetty on the Garvogue River to raise awareness of the “Check Clean Dry” campaign. The event, which was organised by Sligo Rowing Club, was attended by rowing clubs from all over Ireland and Northern Ireland. Invasive species may unknowingly be spread by the movement of rowing boats and equipment from one water body to another. It is important that rowers and other water users take action to prevent the spread of aquatic plant and animal invaders. We were joined on the day by Sligo County Council Biodiversity Officer, Ruth Hanniffy to help promote this message.

We engaged with members of the rowing clubs to gauge their knowledge of “Check Clean Dry” and their interest in having biosecurity facilities and signage installed at their clubs. The rowers we spoke to expressed a strong interest in having access to resources that support biosecurity efforts. We were delighted to have Geraldine Duignan, Lisa Cronin and Ailish Hackett from Sligo Rowing Club, Councillor Declan Bree, Sligo County Council Cathaoirleach, Aidan McCormack, Sligo County Council Tourism Officer and Luke Kenny, LAWPRO Community Water Officer, lend their support to this initiative. We would like to extend our thanks to Sligo Rowing Club and everyone who made the event possible.
 

Photo credit: Donal Hackett