As part of National Biodiversity Week 2026, Shannon Town Community Wetlands hosted 7 school groups. Our second group, St Johns National School from Shannon and their teacher Rhinagh Stanford joined us at 11:30 on Mon 18th May.

The weather was showery so after gathering at the Wetlands sign our ecologist Rachel Dowling and Ruairí Ó Conchúir from LAWPRO took the students to shelter under our four oak trees where Rachel explained how such trees propogate and invited them to listen to the birds. Rachel then explained which birds they can currently hear, especially, the Willow Warbler and how the abundance of willows in the wetlands makes it so attractive to them.

The pupils were then led off to the ponds. Where Rachel explained the ecology of the two large ponds on our Wetlands site. Both currently have very low water levels and are covered in bull rushes which make great nesting material. However, willow saplings are starting to encroach into the ponds.

This was followed by a pond dip by Rachel. Where the students were invited to match the invertebrates to the pictures on the card. Rachel also explained the importance and life cycle of some of the pond life. This year we had plenty of tadpoles and larvae from dragonflies, damsel flies and may flies. Which are essential for the food chain.

To wrap up the 90 minutes visit, our chair, Olive Carey gave a talk about how the wetlands are run by and for the community and presented their teacher Rhinagh (Reena) with some biodiversity themed booklets for their school library.