Heritage Week Success

Heritage Week has been very memorable at Cabragh Wetlands and many thanks must go to the dozens of people who gave so generously of their time and energy to help ensure that our Open Day was such a resounding success. Among the many benefits of the day was the sense of community involvement, both in the planning of the event and on the day itself. To have so many people willing to help out was humbling and reflects positively both the work of the Wetland Trust and the great spirit of fellowship in the area.

Our afternoon with Dale Treadwell went very well, and special thanks to Thurles Library for supporting the event. It was good to see an expert and showman like Dale enthuse the children (and adults) about the smaller members of our community – the insects, bugs, and creepy-crawlies that play key roles in the web of life, and whose myriad numbers are crucial to support the food chain that sustains us. Love that wasp: he does more than you probably realise to clear debris in your garden and pollinate plants. Help those bees, whose future thankfully seems less worrying than a year or two ago. We have several varieties here at Cabragh, including a beautiful red-bottomed species which can be seen readily enough flying from flower to flower on these warm late summer days. Take time to enjoy the wonderful array of butterflies which have been evident this year; think about how you can preserve corners of your garden or farm where plants can grow which sustain species of butterfly and other insects.

Dale’s influence on the children could be seen in our Open day Fancy Dress Parade, when there were some magnificent butterflies, with colourful gossamer wings. I loved the colourful garden fairy, and among the mammals on display were several brown and white ponies (or were they cows?). A fine pair of vivid black and yellow wasps buzzed up and down the catwalk, stings hovering menacingly – perhaps they were visiting Kilkenny fans? They are very welcome at Cabragh, even in this momentous week! Many thanks to every child that took part in the parade, and to their creative advisers!