Natural Heritage book launched
There's a strong Kilcullen connection to a new publication by Kildare County Council and KELT which provides a keen insight into the county's flora and fauna.
The quality publication was produced with the help of KELT and is part of the County Kildare Heritage Plan. It is dedicated to the late Dr Anne Behan, who worked tirelessly for the appreciation and awareness of the natural environment of Kildare.
The book details key features over a number of areas, including trees, grasslands, the rivers and canals, the wetlands, and the wildlife habitats in the towns and villages of the county.
It also sets out the designations of natural heritage areas in Kildare, with a map showing the location of more than 30 of them. A range of further contacts for further information are listed.
In editing the book, Juanita Browne built on the previous 'Environment Kildare' initiative which was produced by Anne Behan in the mid 90s. But she brought to it her own background as a zoologist and involvement in a number of projects including 'Wild Ireland' magazine. She is the author of 'Ireland's Mammals'.
"My direction with this book was to appreciate and celebrate what we have in wild life in County Kildare, rather than going down the road of generating concern about endangered species," she says. "This book also includes details of how people can encourage wild life into their gardens in towns and villages.
"I wanted to provide a general introduction, to give people a taste of what they can find if they become interested in wild life," she says, adding that the importance of the field work carried out by Dr Anne Behan couldn't be overestimated in the production of 'Kildare's Natural Heritage'.
Brian Byrne.
