As part of National Biodiversity Week 2026, Shannon Town Community Wetlands hosted 7 school groups.

Our fitth group, St Conaire’s NS 6th Class from Shannon and their teacher Eoin joined us at 9:30 on Weds 20th May.

Our ecologist, Rachel Dowling, met the group by our sign in the car park and then took the students to our logged circles where she explained about the wetlands.

She then took them to under our four oak trees where she 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 bulrushes 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 with some biodiversity themed booklets for their school library.