Lough Boora Parklands

 Sculpture in the Parklands is hosting a 5-day summer school programme for 7 – 12 year olds from Monday July 19^th to Friday July 23^rd 2010.  The Heritage Council and Offaly County Council are supporting the programme, which is celebrating International Year of Biodiversity.

International environmental artist, Brandon Ballengee, will deliver an interactive workshop for 7 to 12 year olds that will explore, discuss and celebrate local biodiversity as well as look at insect and amphibian diversity from around the world.

Participants will enjoy a range of activities  including creating bog journals, making and using butterfly nets, exploring aquatic micro –fauna of the bogs, creating insect portraits at a human scale, painting insect murals, creating bug sculptures from natural materials, creating a dance for the Insect Festival on the final day and participating in an insect kite making workshop.

Lough Boora not only hosts some of the most innovative environmental sculptures in Ireland, it is also the site of Ireland’s inaugural Save The Frogs Day event.

Frogs, toads, newts and salamanders are one of the oldest groups of air breathing animals on our planet.

 Unfortunately of the 5,000 known species, about one third of them are in decline or already extinct. Loss and modifications of habitats, emerging diseases, climate change is all considered among the many causes for mass amphibian declines.

A recent count of the native endangered species Grey Partridge-Perdix Perdix carried out by the National Parks and Wildlife Service recorded 436 birds in the Boora conservation area.

This is the highest number ever recorded in the area and ten years ago the number recorded was a mere 26 birds.

This is a great success story to date and gives the prospect that the last wild and indigenous population of Grey Partridge in Ireland will survive and prosper into the future.

A rare photo of Whooper Swans skating on ice for the Winter Solstice Spectacular at Tumduff wetlands in Lough Boora Parklands.Tumduff Mór is one of three wetland areas located within the parklands, closely situated to the Boora Lakes. The wetlands are fringed with birch and willow scrub.

Whooper swans migrate many hundreds of miles to their wintering sites, arriving mainly from Iceland. 

The Bord na Mona Leabeg Offices Social Club and the Boora Works Social Club held a joint Charity Walk on the 4th October 2009 in Lough Boora Parklands. The walk was in aid of the Oncology Unit in Tullamore Hospital and we are pleased to say that we raised €2,500 for the unit.

The event was open to any friends and family that wished to join in on the day. Over 70 people participated in the walk on a beautifully clear and sunny October morning. 

Over 150 Whooper swans have been spotted on the Noggus Bog flood, which qualifies as an internationally significant number.  This shot was taken mid November 2009. 

During the winter months Whooper swan’s can be seen regularly throughout the parklands, however to see such a large number in one sitting is unusual.  

Many of the swans can be seen loafing or roosting on bare peat areas, whilst others are seen feeding on the grasslands within the parklands.   The whooper swans have arrived mainly from Iceland, escaping the colder locations in search of warmer climates and more food.

Why not take advantage of the wonderful bird watching facilities available at Lough Boora parklands this winter!.