About:

Sat May 18th Gormanston beach, Co Meath; 12:45 sign-in at the Delvin river bridge (event 13:00 - 15:15). Joint and expert led groups to explore the ecology and history. In  cooperation with Gormanston Community Association.

Transport:

Public transport to Gormanston station, located next to the meeting point, or walk/bike if you live close to Gormanston Beach.  If coming by car, park on the road. 

Agenda:

Start under the Delvin Bridge, Gormanston, Co. Meath.

12.45 pm – Sign in and chose activities

1.00 pm - Welcome all to this shore Biodiversity and history Discovery Event

Karin Dubsky, Coastwatch and Peter Brady, Gormanston Community Association.

Fieldtrip leaders introduce themselves and their plans for you:

• Conor O’Neill, Local Seashell collector:

Forage for empty seashells, with a warning from hermit crabs & a citizen science game.

• Brendan Matthews, Community Historian:

A walk and talk on ancient burial sites/archaeology

• Karin Dubsky, marine ecologist and Patrick O shea ecologist

Exploring the shore habitat mosaic and what influences their creation and state.

• Larry Lenehan Area Bird counter and Dr Michael Gunn BirdWatch and vet

The birds here and what they need. What does the recent ‘SPA’ designation mean.

1.10 pm Groups are on their mission:

1. 50 pm Groups start to return and lay out their findings and riches in 4 circles. 2.00 pm – Fruit and a drink if you brought a cup/glass to put it in.

2.15 pm - Show, tell, act or sing about your group’s findings

2.30 pm – Group Session II

• Adults: Ben Malone, Meath Co Council introduces an ‘Action Plan for nature from source to sea’ then your views what should be in a top useable bidi plan.

• Children: ‘Build your own mini Passage Grave’ - lead Brendan Mathews

2.50 pm – Biodiversity without borders - county or country, official or citizen.

stretch across the Delvin river. Hear about flow of water and sediment.

Fingal

Biodiversity Officer Deirdre O’Farrell

Coastwatch Fingal coordinator Michael Walsh

Others from Fingal

Meath

Biodiversity Officer Ben Malone

Coastwatch Meath Coordinator Declan Collins

Others from Meath

Those from other countries or counties form a chain from the sea and meet the locals

Close and a song for the sea – Deirdre O Farrell.

3.15 pm END

Coastwatch is trying to make all events as near zero packaging and waste as possible. Please bring your own glass or mug and if coming earlier and bringing your own picnic lunch try to display your ingenuity in avoiding waste. There is EC law we are working on called the SUP Directive. Perhaps some of your ideas are of model value. NB: there is a small coffee hub with excellent coffee and cake in Gormanstown village and a pub nearby called The Huntsman, serving drinks and delicious food.

Contacts:

Sharon Burke Gormanston RA: byrnes@rocketmail.com 087 202 0848

Karin Dubsky Coastwatch kdubsky@coastwatch.org 0868111684

There loads more biodiversity week events - see https://biodiversityweek.ie/

Other coastal ones too – look out for familiar Coastwatcher names co-organising other events or wearing different hats.

We grateful for National Parks and Wildlife Service Grant, administered through IEN.