Pond workshop drew fascinated audience

Small actions by individuals, when multiplied in neighbourhoods, towns, and beyond, can have a huge impact on the environment and biodiversity, people at a Kilcullen workshop about making ponds were told, writes Brian Byrne. The well-attended event in the Town Hall was facilitated by wildlife consultant Rob Gandola, who said ponds can be provided in balconies, gardens, and public spaces.

The workshop was sponsored by the River Basin Management Service, formerly the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO). A fascinated audience absorbed the three basics of setting up a pond, which are that it be functional, "It has to be able to hold water", that it has an amenity value, "or looks great", and that it has a 'wildlife value'. "If you've designed it right, the wildlife is going to come in anyway."

The core message of the evening was to keep things simple, at a time when a resurgence of interest in ponds means that people are being overloaded with information. "A pond is something that's going to go into the ground or be raised, and is going to hold water for about eight months of the year and offer a clean habitat." 

The water source is the most important consideration, he said, with rainwater being the 'gold standard'. The heatwaves of this summer have highlighted the advantages of a water butt system to harvest rainwater and have it available. "This is going to be so important in the future for people who invest in these aquatic habitats. You don't want river water in your pond because the wildlife from the river doesn't like still water, and if somebody does something extreme upstream it can be dangerous. Canal water is a big no-no, because if there's something in that, it can destroy your pond over a few years."

Justin Ivory, Rob Gandola, and Ruth Gaj McKeever.

Construction of ponds has been enjoying something of a revival in Ireland, after a hiatus since the 1970s. Renewed interest is coming through various sources, including schools and community groups. Gandola suggests interest was sparked during Covid, as people developed a greater appreciation for their environment and realised the need to address air quality, habitats, and the current direction in their protection. "It's all now about habitat provision. It's diversity of habitats, irrespective of whether it's a community space or your own garden or something far bigger. Aquatic habitats have a greater concentration of species and species diversity compared to rivers, lakes, and other aquatic habitats. It's incredible what they do."

Ponds become home to invertebrates like aquatic beetles, dragonflies, damselflies, water scorpions, water stick insects, freshwater snails, and aquatic lice. They host a variety of mayflies which are more tolerant of nutrient influx than their river cousins. Amphibians such as frogs and newts, and the native Irish lizard, are commonly found near water bodies. "They'll move in quickly."

The presenter emphasised that once installed, the pond owner shouldn't have to do anything for years except enjoy it. A pond should be low-maintenance, without need for pumps or aerators. "Our native aquatic plants are perfectly good at doing all that for free."

Generational memory in Kilcullen will recall several local ponds and wetland spaces that have disappeared over short decades, in many cases through development. Gandola believes there's a regulatory shortfall here. "In the UK they have biodiversity net gain. They've got more protected species, like great crested newts, where they say: we acknowledge that you have to remove these ponds to build housing. But you have to replace them with a similar habitat, elsewhere on-site or at another location that we deem to be appropriate. We don't have that here."

The situation is better in relation to farmland, where several nature enhancement schemes encourage Irish landowners to reinstall ponds that may have been removed through intensive farming. "They may have a bit of neglected land, and they have funding streams available for, like, doing a mini orchard, making a biodiversity plan for the site, with money then to install a pond."

But for individuals at home, as the meeting heard, it can all begin for the simple cost of the price of a bucket.

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Pond Workshop in Kilcullen tonight

A workshop on the importance of ponds for biodiversity and habitats is taking place tonight at Kilcullen Town Hall, from 5.30pm to 8.30pm. 

Led by wildlife consultant Rob Gandola, the session will explore various types of ponds. 

Interested participants can book a place via this link or by emailing rgmckeever@riverbasin.ie. Or just turn up.

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KCC launches Biodiversity Action Plan

Cathaoirleach of Kildare CC, Cllr Tim Durkan, with Dr Méabh Boylan, KCC Biodiversity Officer, and Catherine Casey, Head of Climate Change, The Heritage Council.

Kildare County Council has launched its Biodiversity Action Plan 2026–2031, setting out a five-year framework to protect habitats, restore ecosystems and support nature recovery across the county.

The plan follows wide consultation with council staff, community groups, farmers, landowners, environmental organisations, state agencies, schools and the public. Its priorities include protecting biodiversity-rich habitats, restoring wetlands, peatlands, grasslands and river corridors, supporting threatened native species, improving ecological networks and strengthening biodiversity monitoring.

The Council says the plan reflects the urgency of biodiversity loss and aims to embed nature protection into everyday policy and land management. 

The full plan is now available on the KCC website.

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National plan for Invasive Species needed - Kilcullen scientist

Dr Jan-Robert Baars with Brian Browne.

The lack of a national plan to deal with invasive species is leaving Ireland open to ever-increasing threats to the country's biodiversity, writes Brian Byrne. That was emphasised last night by Dr Jan-Robert Baars of the School of Biology and Environmental Science in UCD, at a talk in Kilcullen Town Hall for Invasive Species Week.

The event — which is being repeated tonight — was supported by Kildare County Council and included live exhibits and information panels on several invasive species which are currently problematic in Ireland and locally to the upper Liffey. There was also a demonstration on the physical control of Himalayan Balsam, which the Ballymore community has helped to eradicate from several locations along the Liffey in its area.

Dr Baars, who lives in Kilcullen, noted that while certain funding streams have been available for several years for individual invasive species monitoring and control, they are small-scale. "We have a national biodiversity plan that mentions invasives, but we really need a specific national plan to target and deal with them, and integrate it with other conservation plans."

Public awareness also needs to be ramped up. There's general awareness of invasive species such as the grey squirrel, mink, and Japanese knotweed, but there are many others which are already adversely affecting our national ecosystems. Dr Baars believes those in Ireland's waterways are probably the most dangerous. "In both freshwater and marine environments, they are difficult to monitor and control. Unless we're regularly monitoring, we don't pick them up until it's often too late. By the time we actually discover them, they are super-abundant and widespread."

Other things which people need to be aware of include plants for their gardens, as the garden trade can often offer plants which are actually on the invasive species list. Among these are variations of the flowering plant Hydrocharitaceae. "There are 16 species of these in the world which are invasive, and some of these are advertised and sold in Ireland, often misidentified. They are a disaster waiting to happen." Another common purchasable invasive is Lemna minuta, or duckweed. There are issues, too, with the implementation of the EU invasive species regulations here. "If things are on the EU list, they are not allowed to be distributed or sold. Whether that's being enforced here, I think, is questionable."

Pets are another issue, a specific example being the Alpine Newt, which arrived in Ireland through the pet trade. "We need to be careful and know what such pets are likely to do if they get released and out into our environment." The Alpine Newt consumes frogspawn, directly affecting the frog populations in Ireland. It doesn't have a natural predator here and is toxic to anything that tries to consume it. Dr Baars and his team have been conducting pilot eradication efforts at two sites, a bog in the Midlands and in Galway, the first such research in Europe. 

Among several other species discussed at last night's talk was the Quagga mussel colonisation of lakes and rivers, which was described as a 'serious problem' that will, among other effects, result in more and more intense algae blooms. 

A new invasive crustacean, native to eastern Europe and first detected in Ireland last September, has now spread through the Shannon system, probably via boats, and to the canals. "It did trigger a national alert, but there should then have been a national response. If we had a better system in terms of treating boats, we could have reduced the likelihood of the spread. But it just shows that when we have found something has come in, it's almost too late."

Especially in the absence of a national invasive species plan, local authorities play a key role in current efforts of monitoring and control. Kildare County Council has funded work for the last six years to deal with both Himalayan Balsam and American Skunk Cabbage along the Liffey to Celbridge. The effort is arduous and time-consuming, and Dr Baars highlighted the dedication of the Ballymore Eustace community, who put in some 500 hours in 2024 to manually remove Himalayan Balsam, resulting in an 85 per cent reduction of the species in the area. "We have secured further funding, and this year our target is to clear about eight or nine kilometres downstream from Ballymore."

This evening's repeat of the exhibition and talk starts at 6pm.

Leah O'Donoghue who created an illustrated knowledge board during the event.

Kildare CC Biodiversity Officer Méabh Boylan, Damian Bannon, and Maria O'Neill.

Emer Gaj McKeever, Anne-Marie Gaj McKeever and Ethan Bannon.

Quagga mussels.

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Invasive Species workshops this week

This is Invasive Species Week 2026, running from Monday, 22 June to Sunday, 28 June, organised by the National Biodiversity Data Centre, writes Brian Byrne. It aims to raise awareness about invasive species and promote actions to prevent their spread, and, as part of the week’s activities, two engaging workshops will be held at Kilcullen Heritage Centre on Wednesday and Thursday. 

These workshops will focus on aquatic invasive species, both plant and animal, and will feature live samples. Attendees will have the opportunity to use microscopes to examine smaller species. Each workshop is limited to 25 participants, so booking is available on Eventbrite here.

The exhibition and talk will run from 6pm to 7.30pm at Kilcullen Town Hall, followed by the outdoor demonstration from 7.30pm to 8.30pm at the River Liffey.

The events will feature Dr Jan-Robert Baars of University College Dublin’s School of Biology and Environmental Science and Ethan Bannon, a research assistant and junior ecologist with an MSc in Wildlife Conservation and Management from UCD. 

Common invasive species in Ireland include plants such as Rhododendron ponticum, Himalayan Balsam, and Japanese Knotweed, as well as animals like the Asian Clam, Zebra Mussel, and Asian Hornet. Last year, public sightings of the Asian hornet in Cork led to the swift removal of two nests.

For more information about Invasive Species Week, visit invasives.ie/invasivespeciesweek/. To report a sighting of an invasive species, go to https://invasives.ie/reportsightings/.

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Talk and demonstration on invasive species control

Kilcullen will host an Aquatic Invasive Species Exhibition and Talk next week, on 24 and 25 June, as part of Invasive Species Week, writes Brian Byrne, with a live demonstration on controlling Himalayan balsam also planned each evening.

The exhibition and talk will run from 6pm to 7.30pm at Kilcullen Town Hall, followed by the outdoor demonstration from 7.30pm to 8.30pm at the River Liffey.

The events will feature Dr Jan-Robert Baars of University College Dublin’s School of Biology and Environmental Science and Ethan Bannon, a research assistant and junior ecologist with an MSc in Wildlife Conservation and Management from UCD.

Attendance is limited to 25 people per session. Booking available on Eventbrite here. 

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Meeting on Himalayan Balsam Control

A community meeting about the River Liffey Himalayan Balsam Control Project will take place in Kilcullen Town Hall on Monday, 22 June, from 6.30pm to 7.30pm, writes Brian Byrne. Now in its sixth year, the project has made significant progress tackling Himalayan Balsam at the upstream extent of the infestation in Ballymore Eustace village and surrounding areas. 

The next phase of the work will focus on supporting new control efforts further downstream during 2026.

The plant is a particular issue along the Liffey in Kilcullen. Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting to learn more about the invasive species, hear about the progress made so far, and find out how they can get involved in the continuing effort to protect the River Liffey corridor.

The meeting is open to anyone interested in local environmental action and community-led conservation.

Further information on the plant here. 

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Kildare Biodiversity Week brings nature-themed events

A diverse programme of free walks, talks, workshops and exhibitions will take place across County Kildare as part of Kildare Biodiversity Week 2026, running from 15 to 24 May, writes Brian Byrne. The programme aims to raise awareness of Kildare’s plant and animal life and encourage people of all ages to take a greater interest in protecting the natural environment. 

Events are scheduled in libraries, community centres, nature reserves, gardens and outdoor heritage sites, offering something for families, local residents, wildlife enthusiasts and community groups. Highlights include nature and bat walks, biodiversity talks, gardening workshops, butterfly events, exhibitions and citizen science activities. Participants can also learn about bogland habitats, hedgehogs, bees, baby animals and the importance of local conservation work. 

Other events include an art exhibition celebrating Irish wildlife (in Kilcullen Library), a photography exhibition, and the interactive Fish Doorbell citizen science initiative. Activities locations include the Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Castletown House, Athy, Clane, Naas, Celbridge, Rathangan, Kilcullen and Kildare Town. 

Kildare Biodiversity Week is supported by the Local Biodiversity Action Fund of the National Parks and Wildlife Service and by The Heritage Council through the Local Authority Biodiversity Officer Programme. Full event details are available via the official Kildare Biodiversity Week listings.

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2025/2026 Nature Hero Awards deadline

Schools across the Republic of Ireland have until 29 May to enter the 2025/2026 Nature Hero Awards, Ireland’s standalone outdoor learning awards, writes Brian Byrne. The awards cover many topics from biodiversity actions, conservation and ecological literacy to responsible citizenship as well as physical and mental wellbeing.

Coordinated by Biodiversity in Schools in partnership with Glenveagh, the annual awards recognise biodiversity action and outdoor learning projects by students at pre-school, primary and secondary level. 

Participating schools can compete for a share of a €10,000 prize fund to improve their gardens, while achievement is also recognised through Bronze Badger, Silver Stag and Golden Eagle awards.

The winners will be announced in September.

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Plant Swap planned

Kilcullen Community Action is organising a Plant Swap on Saturday, 2 May, outside the former bank building. The event will run from 10 am to 12pm.

People are encouraged to bring along any surplus plants or seeds and swap them for varieties they do not already have. 

The idea promotes gardening, sustainability, and community spirit by giving people the chance to refresh their gardens and connect with others with gardening interests.

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Ballyshannon plants trees

Images: Ballyshannon Action.

Ballyshannon has marked National Tree Week with the planting of 1,800 trees across the area as part of its Community Biodiversity Action Plan, supported by Community Foundation Ireland.

Led by Colm and his team, the project introduced a rich mix of Irish hedgerow species along with fruit trees at the local school and in nearby homes. Organisers hope the new hedgerows will attract more insects and birdlife, enhance the local environment, and increase the diversity of trees and shrubs in the area.

The initiative builds on Ballyshannon’s existing natural assets and aims to strengthen local biodiversity for years to come.

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Lions plant trees at Community Centre

Members of Kilcullen Lions Club planted several 8-foot Mountain Ash trees at the front of the Community Centre last Saturday, as part of the Lions Club’s contribution to National Tree Week.

Photos courtesy Kilcullen Lions.

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More trees planted at Field of Dreams, Scoil Bhride, and Valley

A further 500 trees have been planted at Kilcullen GAA's Field of Dreams by the Kilcullen Tidy Towns group.

This brings the total number of trees planted at the grounds to over 5,000 in the last two years.

The latest planting is part of some 2,000 native saplings planted this week at Scoil Bhride, the GAA grounds, Cnoc na Greine Avenue, and The Valley. The trees are a mix of Whitethorn, Rowan, Dog Rose, Spindle, Viburnum, and Crab Apple, and the work was supported by Caitriona in Blessington Garden Centre.

Pictured are the KCA dream team, Ilona, Joe, Noel and Wayne.

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Cnoc na Greine seeks grass cutting tenders

Cnoc na Greine Residents Association is seeking quotes for grass cutting as it re-applies for a maintenance assistance grant from Kildare County Council. The contract includes the collection and removal of cuttings. 

The work covers 5 acres of land, with the first cut scheduled for April. Full cutting operations would occur every two to three weeks from late May or early June, continuing through September. Interested contractors are invited to walk the site with association members. Additionally, the association manages the wild meadow areas, which contractors may consider as part of the job. 

Please email cnocnagreineresassoc@gmail.com by 10 March 2026. 

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