New biodiversity course to launch in Kilkenny - closing date for applications is April 22

A new community training course focusing on biodiversity is being launched this month, with lectures to take place from late May.

It aims to educate and empower participants to understand the importance of biodiversity, by presenting a lecture series, acting like building blocks to create a better awareness how the surrounding geology and landscape impacts on habitat creation and how habitat quality impacts on species diversity.

Participants will learn about the importance of biodiversity, the various species and habitats found in Kilkenny and field work sessions will build on practical ecology skills to make participants confident citizen scientists.

Running over a five-week duration starting in late May, there will be one evening lecture per week, followed by a practical field session each weekend over the five-week period and will open to 15 participants. The course has been designed by the members of Kilkenny’s Biodiversity Working Group with the support of the Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board (KCETB) under their Community Education division.

“We are excited to offer our support to this biodiversity course,” said Siobhán O’Brien, Community Education Facilitator.
“Biodiversity is crucial for maintaining healthy ecosystems, and through this training, we hope to inspire individuals to take an active role in recording species and participating in national citizen science monitoring schemes.”

Those interested in participating in the course should email biodiversity@kilkennycoco.ie for an application form and further course details will also be forwarded.

The course is designed for those who have not participated in similar courses previously and are interested in meeting like- minded individuals wanting to gain more knowledge, skills and confidence to identify different species and learn how the landscape influences habitat creation, enabling different plants and animals to thrive.

“At this stage, we would like to determine the interest locally, it’s the first time to run a course like this and we believe it’s a good venture to test the waters,” said Bernadette Moloney, Biodiversity Officer with Kilkenny County Council.

“From the public consultation sessions held last year in preparation of the Draft Biodiversity Action Plan and the interactions with people who came to our different themed biodiversity walks last year, I feel running a five-week biodiversity course will reap better rewards, building a cohort of local citizen scientists.”

The course content is varied, with lecture time kept to a two-hour session in the evening mid-week with emphasis on longer field practical session taking place over five consecutive weekends. The closing date for applications is April 22.
READ NEXT: PICTURES OF ST PATRICK'S DAY PARADE IN KILKENNY