Public Programme for 2017
General Public Events 2017
Prebooking required: book with Eleanor Reade ereade@wit.ie or 051 302037.
The Bealtaine Living Earth Festival is a partnership of groups interested in Celebrating our Living Earth in the Southeast of Ireland and is coordinated by Calmast. Waterford IT through Calmast offers a wide range of science, technology, engineering and maths programmes for schools in the Southeast, attracting over 15,000 visitors to four annual festivals: Maths Week Ireland, Robert Boyle Science Week, The Robert Boyle Summer School, Waterford Engineering Week and Bealtaine Living Earth Festival.
- The following events are all FREE and are suitable for families and members of the general public. All under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
- Please ensure you dress appropriately for the weather and terrain.
- All events must be prebooked with Eleanor Reade, School of Science, Waterford Institute of Technology: ereade@wit.ie ph: 051 302037
SATURDAY 20th
Woodland Volunteering
12:00-13:00 GENERAL PUBLIC
Presenter: Rebecca Doyle, Native Woodland Trust
Location: NWT Gracedieu Community Woodland Reserve Waterford
This year the Native Woodland Trust will take part in the Bealtaine Living Earth Festival for the third time. We will be having a volunteer afternoon on our Gracedieu Community Woodland site in Waterford. Gracedieu is located in a beautiful location by the River Suir and is a great place to spend some time helping to develop the Gracedieu Community Woodland. Come along and plant a tree or ten to make your mark on this developing woodland. You can also help us with other tasks on the site such as fixing tree guards on our young trees.
This event is weather dependent. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear and bring water/a snack. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
The Gracedieu Community Woodland can be found by travelling along the River Suir past the old Brewery and keeping on as the road passes under the new bridge/ Waterford bypass and turns left.
See the map directions here
See more about the Native Woodland Trust Waterford Site here
www.nativewoodlandtrust.ie
The Copper Coast under the microscope
12:00-14:00 GENERAL PUBLIC
Presenter: Robbie Galvin, Geologist, Copper Coast Geopark
Location: Copper Coast Geopark Visitor Centre, Bunmahon
Drop into the Copper Coast Geopark Visitor Centre and learn about how, why and where we look at rocks and minerals under the microscope and get a chance to do so yourself at this unique exhibition and workshop in the Copper Coast Geopark Visitor Centre with Copper Coast Geologist Robbie Galvin. This is a must see event and a once off chance to learn about an aspect of geological investigation that is seldom thought of but is fascinating to examine. There will also be a selection of mineral and hand specimens to investigate.
The Copper Coast Geopark Visitor Centre will be open from 12:00 to 2:00 pm. The workshop will take about 45 min.
https://coppercoastgeopark.com/
SUNDAY 21st
Rhododendron Glory
11:00 GENERAL PUBLIC
15:00 GENERAL PUBLIC
Presenter: JFK Guides, JFK Arboretum, OPW
Location: JFK Arboretum – meet at flagpoles outside JFK visitor centre
A guided tour through the ericaceous gardens in the JFK arboretum. The ericaceous gardens contain many species of Rhododendrons, Azaleas and Heathers and is a must see for visitors to the Arboretum.
http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/south-east/thejohnfkennedyarboretum/
See more here at www.heritageireland.ie
Directions: The JF Kennedy park and Arboretum is about 12 km by road south of New Ross. From the N25 (as it sweeps around New Ross) take the R733 south. JFK Arboretum is signposted.
You can see the map here
MONDAY 22nd
International Day for Biological Diversity
The Benefits of Trees - Celebrating International Day for Biological Diversity
11:00 GENERAL PUBLIC
15:00 GENERAL PUBLIC
Presenter: JFK Guides, JFK Arboretum, OPW
Location: JFK Arboretum – meet at flagpoles outside JFK visitor centre
Explore the many different trees of the world at the JFK arboretum with a guided walk and discover why trees are so important for people and biodiversity.
Directions: The JF Kennedy park and Arboretum is about 12 km by road south of New Ross. From the N25 (as it sweeps around New Ross) take the R733 south. JFK Arboretum is signposted.
You can see the map here
http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/south-east/thejohnfkennedyarboretum/
Curraghmore Bat Walk
20:45-22:30 GENERAL PUBLIC
Presenter: Andrew Harrington, Waterford Bat Group
Location: Curraghmore Estate, Main Courtyard
Join Andrew Harrington on International Biodiversity Day for a bat walk through the beautiful Curraghmore Estate. We will take a dusk walk through ancient woodland and learn more the variety of bat species that live here, as well as other forest wildlife.
Please bring rain gear and comfortable footwear for walking along woodland tracks. As this walk will conclude after dark, please also bring a torch if you have one.
This event is suitable for adults and families. Children under 16 years must be accompanied by an adult. Some parts of walk may not be accessible to wheelchairs or buggies.
http://www.waterfordbatgroup.org/
The Historic Home of the 9th Marquis of Waterford. Some 2500 acres of formal gardens,woodland and grazing fields makes this the largest private demesne in Ireland.
Hidden in a shrubbery near the main house is the most enchanting Shell House created by Catherine Countess of Tyrone in 1754. Specimen trees are marked around the grounds and maps are available for visitors to enjoy the many trails around the estate.
See map here
TUESDAY 23rd
Treasures of the Earth
19:00-21:00 GENERAL PUBLIC
Presenter: Tina Keating, Geologist/Gemmologist
Location: Garter Lane Gallery (beside Delaney's Florists), O'Connell Street, Waterford
An introduction to the fascinating world of gem minerals and gemstones, discover how they are formed, why some are prized more highly than others, how similar looking gems can be distinguished from one another and how we can tell a natural from a synthetic or a fake.
Afterwards, everyone has the chance to use some of the equipment involved such as microscopes, spectroscopes, refractometers, dicroscopes and diamond testers.
The Sounds of Nightfall: Dusk Walk with Eric Dempsey
19:00-21:00 GENERAL PUBLIC
Presenter: Eric Dempsey, Birds Ireland
Location: Mt Congreve Gardens
A dusk walk through the amazing gardens of Mount Congreve with author and broadcaster Eric Dempsey. Eric is well known from the Mooney Show and for his many books about the birds of Ireland. He will introduce the common birds of the countryside and demonstrate how to identify them through their calls.
http://birdsireland.com/
The gardens at Mount Congreve, Waterford, consist of around seventy acres of intensively planted woodland garden and a four acre walled garden. The owner, the late Mr Ambrose Congreve, cultivated Rhododendrons, Magnolias, Camellias and indeed many other floras from every continent in the world. The entire collection consists of over three thousand different trees and shrubs, more than two thousand Rhododendrons, six hundred Camellias, three hundred Acer cultivars, six hundred conifers, two hundred and fifty climbers and fifteen hundred herbaceous plants.www.mountcongreve.com
WEDNESDAY 24th
Butterfly Workshop
13:30 GENERAL PUBLIC
Presenter: Dr Liam Lysaght, Director of the National Biodiversity Data Centre
Location: JFK Arboretum – meet at flagpoles outside JFK visitor centre
Butterfly Field study on site at the JFK Arboretum. Enjoy an afternoon of great fun outdoors exploring and monitoring butterfly habitats.
http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/south-east/thejohnfkennedyarboretum/ http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/
See more here at www.heritageireland.ie
Directions: The JF Kennedy park and Arboretum is about 12 km by road south of New Ross. From the N25 (as it sweeps around New Ross) take the R733 south. JFK Arboretum is signposted.
You can see the map here
THURSDAY 25th
Geological Walk to Trá Na mBó Cove
19:30-21:00 GENERAL PUBLIC
Presenter: Robbie Galvin, Geologist, Copper Coast Geopark
Location: Meet Copper Coast Centre
Walk through hundreds of millions of years of Earth’s history and learn how to read the dramatic history of the Copper Coasts rock formations as seen in Tra Na Mbo Cove with Copper Coast Geologist Robert Galvin.
This event is suitable for adults and families with children of 13 years or older. Some parts of walk may not be accessible to wheelchairs or buggies.
https://coppercoastgeopark.com/
SATURDAY 27th
Explore the Shore - a closer look at rocky shore biodiversity
13:00-14:30 GENERAL PUBLIC
Presenter: Marie Power, The Sea Gardener, Irish Wildlife Trust
Location: Copper Coast Strand – meet at Mother McHugh’s, Fenor
Parking at Church Carpark, Fenor village –coming from Tramore, follow the Coast Road for about 6km, then take care turning right on the bend into carpark.
Marie Power, author of The Sea Garden, will guide an exploration of the flora and fauna of the rocky shore, including identifying edible seaweeds.
Wear waterproof, slip-proof footwear and weather-appropriate clothing. Suitable for all interested and families with children of 4 years or older.
Nature’s Calendar
15:00 GENERAL PUBLIC
Presenter: JFK Guides, JFK Arboretum, OPW
Location: JFK Arboretum – meet at flagpoles outside JFK visitor centre
Come along to this guided tour and discover the wonders of nature's calendar, exploring a year in the life of a tree.
http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/south-east/thejohnfkennedyarboretum/
See more here at www.heritageireland.ie
Directions: The JF Kennedy park and Arboretum is about 12 km by road south of New Ross. From the N25 (as it sweeps around New Ross) take the R733 south. JFK Arboretum is signposted.
You can see the map here
Rockpool Expedition
Time: 14:00 – 17:00 (max)
Location: Oceanics Surf School & Marine Education Centre, The Red Cottage, Tramore
Discover Neptune’s underwater animal kingdom for yourselves. The Oceanics guide will show you the many living animals that inhabit the rockpools on Tramore Beach as you view our holding tank at the Surf School. Receive an introduction to rockpooling - including species identification, safety and the free use of nets and containers.
SUNDAY 28th
The Centenary Tour – History and Horticulture
11:00 GENERAL PUBLIC
15:00 GENERAL PUBLIC
Presenter: JFK Guides, JFK Arboretum, OPW
Location: JFK Arboretum – meet at flagpoles outside JFK visitor centre
On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the birth of President John F. Kennedy, enjoy a guided tour and learn about the history of the JFK Arboretum and the commemorative trees planted by the Kennedy Family since the opening of the Arboretum.
Directions: The JF Kennedy park and Arboretum is about 12 km by road south of New Ross. From the N25 (as it sweeps around New Ross) take the R733 south. JFK Arboretum is signposted.
You can see the map here
http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/south-east/thejohnfkennedyarboretum/
Mosaic on the Beach
13:30-16:00 Families
Presenter: Tina Keating, Geologist/Gemmologist
Location: Annestown Beach
Create a giant Mosaic on Annestown Beach with geologist Tina Keating using all the natural materials found on the beach (different colour rock types, seaweed, shells and more). A great way to learn about the geological history of the area, the various rock types found on the beach, the importance of keeping the beach clean and biodiversity through a fun artistic creation.
