Scything, anthills and species-rich grassland conservation

Come join us at Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve to learn about species-rich grassland conservation in the Big Meadow which has a large number of anthills.

National Parks and Wildlife Service are hosting botanist Phoebe O'Brien and scything expert Susanne Raven to share their knowledge about scything and species-rich grasslands.

• Learn about the plants which grow in the Big Meadow and the importance of anthills in supporting local ecosystems.
• Watch a demonstration of scything and hear about its benefits for meadow maintenance, biodiversity and human connection to nature. Interested people can have-a-go with the scythe, but only under Susanne’s supervision. For safety there will only be the one scythe present, please do not bring your own.

This event is perfect for nature enthusiasts looking to make a positive impact on the environment. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with nature and contribute to the preservation of our grasslands!

Details

Please park in Glengarrif Woods car park. We will walk down to the Big Meadow, taking about 15 minutes along a relatively flat woodland path.

Bring water and a snack if needed. We are sorry that we can’t accommodate children or dogs at this event. Please be prepared for rain or sunshine, wear walking boots and long trousers, and bring notebooks and cameras. If you have a hand lens/magnifier, bring that along too. Due to the sensitive nature of the protected grassland please ensure that footwear is cleaned before arriving.

Further info

The Big Meadow at Glengarriff Nature Reserve is one of 27 sites on the ‘Grasslands Trail – find out more at https://www.greatirishgrasslands.ie/ Great Irish Grasslands is a project which aims to share information about the importance of semi-natural grasslands in Ireland[ML(1] [PO2] .

For more information on Susanne’s work see An Faobhar - Scythe Group Ireland: https://www.facebook.com/groups/215248119929200

Also check out other Trips & Adventurous Activities in Bantry.