Enjoy time in nature this Midsummer Day
Brigit’s Garden in Co. Galway will be marking midsummer this year by hosting free biodiversity walks with expert guides on Sunday, June 21.
According to the organisers, it will be "an opportunity to learn more about everything from butterflies and wildflowers to trees and herbs".
The event will also allow attendees to "enjoy time in nature", and pick up tips about how to support biodiversity in their own gardens or land.
Taking visitors into the heart of Celtic heritage and mythology, Brigit's Garden is set within 11ac of native woodland and wildflower meadows at Roscahill between Moycullen and Oughterard, Co. Galway.
It includes a sun trail, a ringfort, a children's nature trail, a thatched roundhouse and crannog, and the calendar sundial, said to be the largest in Ireland.
People are being invited to either take part in one walk or to make a day of it on June 21.
The Garden Café will be open for lunch as well as coffee, tea and treats.
Apart from the family afternoon version, most of the walks are geared towards adults. There is no charge, but online registration is required.
Donations to Brigit’s Garden, a registered charity, are welcome.
Midsummer day
Billed as an inspiring day in nature, the midsummer event will show how small steps can make a big difference for biodiversity.
The afternoon events will run from 11:00am to 12:30pm.
Forest bathing will be explored in a nature mindfulness walk with Maria Buitenhuis.
"Forest bathing is becoming popular as a way of spending time in nature for those who want to relax and de-stress," the organisers said.
"Participants will be encouraged to slow down and open their senses to the sounds, scents and colours of the meadows and woodlands on a gentle guided walk."
Another session will discuss introducing a pond and water into a garden or land, "which is seen as a great way to support insects, birds and other wildlife".
Led by Dr. Martin Gammel, participants will have the chance to "discover the rich biodiversity in and around the ponds" at Brigit’s Garden and how to make a pond, whether big or small.
A session on native trees and their associated folklore and mythology, provides the opportunity to view some of Ireland's "most important and beautiful native trees" and hear from Carol Barrett about their rich folklore and the Ogham tree alphabet.
Afternoon events will run from 2:00-3:30pm. There will be an exploration of wildflowers, which are regarded as being very good for biodiversity, at the 'Wonderful Wildflowers' session.
Jenny Beale and Dolores Keegan will teach participants how to identify some native wild plants in their own gardens or community spaces.
A further session will put the spotlight on local butterflies and how to identify them, and a guide to the best plants to grow to attract butterflies into the garden. It will be led by Dr. Caitriona Carlin and Dr. Martin Gammell.
There will also be a family-themed event, which will include nature-based activities, games and eco-crafts. It is for children aged 4+, accompanied by their parent(s), and will be led by Carrol Barret.
Brigit's Garden
Brigit’s garden was set up by Jenny Beale out of her passion for nature and education.
She said: "We live in a world where many people’s lives are increasingly detached from the natural world.
My dream for Brigit’s Garden was to create a place where people of all ages could connect with nature in beautiful surroundings and find inspiration, delight and learning as they do so.
"Theming the gardens on the Celtic festivals is a natural extension of this vision as the Celtic calendar and stories provide a rich source of symbolism in relation to nature.
"This symbolism still has a strong resonance in the 21st century, and I hope Brigit’s Garden will play its own small part in helping to re-connect humankind with nature."
