RESTORE BALLYMACRAVEN River Association (RBRA) will lead guided nature walks in North Clare exploring local biodiversity and searching for otter poo.
As part of Heritage Week, RBRA are hosting two free events in North Clare. The first takes place this Saturday (August 16th) from 11am to 1pm and is titled ‘In search of otter poo: otter identification on the Inagh River’.
A family-focused event organised by RBRA and the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), it will examine the world of otters through a guided discovery of their river habitat, and signs of their activity, like otter poo. The event will involve a voyage of discovery along the Inagh River, encouraging participants to become nature detectives. It takes place along the river path with refreshments afterwards in The Falls Hotel.
Led by volunteer members of the RBRA and LAWPRO such as Ruairí Ó Conchúir, the event will highlight the importance of local biodiversity and the unique characteristics of the otter, a protected species, and a mammal at the very top of the food chain, when it comes to rivers and coastal areas.
Ruairí who has been surveying otters for 15 years, will outline the role of otter poo in otter identification, and discuss otter habitat, diet, instream and riparian biodiversity, and the importance of good water quality. The volunteer members of the RBRA will outline their ongoing work to improve water quality, in both the Inagh and Ballymacraven rivers. This is a free, family event, suitable for children and adults of all ages. The work of the RBRA is supported by LAWPRO. This Heritage Week event is supported by Clare County Council’s Heritage Officer Programme.
Then on Sunday (August 24th), the biodiversity of the Inagh and Ballymacraven rivers will be explored in a two-hour event running from 11am to 1pm with the river path in front of the Falls Hotel serving as the meeting point. The guided nature walk will end up in the beautiful Glen of the Ballymacraven River with participants asked to wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
This special event, which is co-hosted by the RBRA and LAWPRO, will combine an exploration of the rich biodiversity of the area and an overview of the exceptional conservation work being undertaken by the RBRA. It will also be a bilingual event using the Irish language and offer participants a chance to learn Irish names for local plants, animals, and their habitats. This free family focused event, will explore the rich biodiversity of the Glen, focusing on the rivers flora and wildlife. It will explore the impact of storm damage on river dynamics and how a nature based approach to river restoration can help us work with nature.
Rachel Dowling RBRA and Ó Conchúir will host the event. The RBRA, is a community-led body which is focused on river restoration in Ennistymon and the wider Inagh River catchment. The work of the RBRA is funded by LAWPRO. This Heritage Week event has been supported by Clare County Council’s Heritage Officer Programme.
