We are delighted to host Féidhlim Harty once again for our last workshop in support of our Rainwater Planter Initiative. Féidhlim's knowledge and expertise are wide reaching and our workshop is sure to be informative and entertaining in equal doses. Whether you are a farmer, lamdowner, or have a general interest in biodiversity and nature based solutions then there will be something for you.
The last of our rainwater planters have been installed with support from National Parks and Wildlife Service and Kerry County Council. The planters are sited in Killarney Community College and the Port Road Playground (Knockreer Playground). The planters were skilfully crafted by Killarney Men's Shed.
The Kerry Biosphere strives to engage with and help the local community groups and organisations in the reserve. In support of this the Kerry UNESCO Biosphere Officer Brendan Kirwan and Acres Kerry / West Cork manager Patricia Deane hosted an in-house presentation to Tús and RSS Supervisors employed by SKDP in the region. The TÚS programme aims to provide short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed and to provide certain services of benefit to communities in South Kerry. SKDP's Rural Social Scheme (RSS) aims to provide income support for farmers and fishermen and to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. The RSS allows low-income farmers and fishermen who are actively farming or fishing, to earn a supplementary income.
The Killarney Men's Shed have installed the last of our five rainwater planters in the Biosphere. With thanks to Kerry County Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service we were able to fund five planters in the region. The aim of our initiaitve was to raise awareness of nature based solutions. We can use nature and natural processes to manage our stormwater. The planters comprise a simple design that will lessen the pressures on stormwater systems.
Unfortunately we have had to cancel our creative writing workshop scheduled for Thursday July 17th. The workshop was due to be a follow on from our first workshop hosted by Killarney Library on Thursday July 3rd. We had a a very interesting group in attendance on the 3rd and we shared stories and ideas about the creative writing process and our own favourite authors and books.
The Biosphere's 'Our Wild Woodlands' booklet is coming along nicely and is already awash with short stories and poems. We have not yet added illustrations as we haven't appointed an illustrator. Biosphere Officer Brendan Kirwan tried periously to create some illustrations for inclusion in the booklet, alas the illustrations Brendan created were well below par and have since been sidelined!
We are delighted to collaborate with Killarney Library once again. We will be hosting a Creative Writing workshop in the library on Thursday 3rd of July at 10:45am, all are welcome. The workshop will be focussing on Kerry's wild woodlands and will be hosted by the Biosphere Officer, Bredan Kirwan.
The Kerry Biosphere was delighted to team up with Kerry County Council to prepare biodiversity themed tables at libraries throughout the County. Participating libraries included Castleisland, Dingle, Killarney, Killorglin, and Listowel. Biodiversity themed literature, skate and ray egg cases, oak salplings, and native broadleaves were proudly displayed in each library.
The grassland at Killarney Library is looking healthy and has not been mown in May. Dandelion and Catsears dominate the grass with Red Clover, Yarrow, Daisies, and Mouse Ear frequently occurring. The sun crept out for a short period in the early afternoon and the presence of Bumblebees and Honeybees was very noticeable at the library.
Biodiversity Week 2025 has been and gone, time flies as usual. The glorious weather continued for the most part and we enjoyed bright sunny weather. Much needed rain arrived and the floral species in the Biosphere soaked up some much needed moisture. Meanwhile, indoors, the Kerry Biosphere and Kerry County Council teamed up to provide biodiversity themed information tables at libraries throughout the County.