.
Anne Marie Fuller of GLAN Tralee with Presentation first year students, Niamh Ní Dhuill of LEAF and Mo O’Connor, Green Schools Co-ordinator at Presentation Secondary in the Town Park on Wednesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
PRESENTATION Secondary School students were treated to a special guided biodiversity and wildflower walk in Tralee Town Park on Wednesday, led by biodiversity expert Niamh Ní Dhúill.
The walk, which was organised by GLAN Tralee and Tralee Chamber Alliance, was funded by the Kerry County Council Community Support Fund.
GLAN Tralee and Tralee Tidy Towns member Anne Marie Fuller said: “We are very grateful to the Kerry County Council Community Support Fund for enabling us to host these outdoor classrooms, ‘learning by doing’ biodiversity sessions for local students. They are not only educational, they help enhance students’ connections with nature and through engaging with nature, their wellbeing too.”
Continued below…
.
Species Spotter sheets, also produced by GLAN Tralee, were used by students to identify species in flower.
Tralee Town Park, which received the Green Flag award in November, has dedicated areas managed for biodiversity and at this time of year common native species such as Dandelion, Germander Speedwell, Herb-robert, Red Clover and Creeping Buttercup are on display and provide an important food source for pollinating insects.
These insects are in turn a vital food source for the native wild bird population which is in decline.
Colette O’Connor, Chief Executive of Tralee Chamber Alliance said: “we are delighted to collaborate with GLAN Tralee and Tralee Tidy Towns on this initiative which is supported by Kerry County Council and is providing important opportunities for young people in Tralee to engage with their local environment and rich biodiversity. We are tremendously proud of our Town Park and we are happy to be part of projects like this which raise awareness of it and encourage appreciation of the many wonderful aspects of it.”
Mo O’Connor, teacher at Presentation Secondary School said: “We had a great day exploring the town park. Thanks to GLAN Tralee, Tralee Tidy Towns and Niamh Ní Dhúill for a really interesting afternoon.”
