Workshops

Join the National Biodiversity Data Centre, Wicklow County Council Heritage Office, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service for an introduction to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Ireland. During this workshop we will look at the features used to identify Ireland’s Dragonfly and Damselfly species, where to find them, how to survey and identify them. In the afternoon we will explore the Upper Lake to practice our field skills and spot some of the many species to be found in this area.

Workshop Leader: Dave Wall
Venue: National Park Education Centre, Miners’ Road, Upper Lake, Glendalough, Co. Wicklow. (Eircode: A98 AP99).
Date: Saturday, 27th May
Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm (fieldwork included)
Audience: Beginner to intermediate

Join the National Biodiversity Data Centre, Sligo County Council Heritage Office, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service for an introduction to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Ireland. During this workshop we will look at the features used to identify Ireland’s Dragonfly and Damselfly species, where to find them, how to survey and identify them. In the afternoon we will explore local freshwater habitats to practice our field skills and spot some of the many species to be found in this area.

Workshop Leader: Michael Bell
Venue: National Parks and Wildlife Service, The Ballinafad Centre, Gortalough, Ballinafad, Co. Sligo. (Eircode: F52 K752).
Date: Saturday, 27th May
Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm (fieldwork included)
Audience: Beginner to intermediate

Join the National Biodiversity Data Centre and Galway County Council Heritage and Biodiversity section for an introduction to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Ireland. During this workshop we will look at the features used to identify Ireland’s Dragonfly and Damselfly species, where to find them, how to survey and identify them. In the afternoon we will explore local freshwater habitats to practice our field skills and spot some of the many species to be found in this area.

Workshop Leader: Michael Bell
Venue: Brigit’s Garden, Pollagh, Rosscahill, Galway, H91 CC90.
Date: Saturday, 10th June
Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm (fieldwork included)
Audience: Beginner to intermediate

If you are familiar with the different anatomical features associated with the grass family, it can help make grass identification considerably more accessible for inexperienced or improving botanists. Following an introduction and some insight to grasses in Ireland, you’ll be tested by some indoor specimens collected for the workshop, before taking some time in the afternoon to practice in the field.

Option to add price of grass guide which will be provided on the day.

Workshop Leader: Úna FitzPatrick
Venue: National Biodiversity Data Centre, Waterford
Date: Saturday, 10th June
Time: 10:00 – 15:00 (field work included)
Audience: Beginner to intermediate recorders
Fee: €20 standard; €10 student

Join the National Biodiversity Data Centre and Tipperary County Council Heritage Office for an introduction to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Ireland. During this workshop we will look at the features used to identify Ireland’s Dragonfly and Damselfly species, where to find them, how to survey and identify them. In the afternoon we will explore Cabragh Wetlands to practice our field skills and spot some of the many species to be found in this area.

Workshop Leader: Geoff Hunt
Venue: Cabragh Wetlands Visitor Centre, Cabragh, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. (Eircode: E41 T266).
Date: Saturday, 17th June
Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm (fieldwork included)
Audience: Beginner to intermediate

Decomposers are essential to life on Earth. In this workshop, following an introduction to this important group of organisms, focus will be narrowed to a small family of beetles who perform a very important ecological role in this context, the Silphidae, or carrion beetles. From species identification, to species biology, ecology and survey methodology, it is hoped that we can begin to equip biological recorders with the knowledge and skills to be able to capture information on carrion beetle distribution in Ireland.

Workshop Leader: Dr Aidan O’Hanlon
Venue: North Bull Island Nature Reserve, Dublin, D05 RP86
Date: Saturday, 17th June
Time: 10:00 – 15:00 (fieldwork included)
Audience: Beginner to intermediate recorders

Join the National Biodiversity Data Centre for an introduction to Ireland’s ants. This workshop will cover identification features and techniques, as well as an overview of our ant species, where they are found and how best to find them. This will be followed by an outdoor session to a local nature reserve to put our skills to the test and try and find some of the species in the area.

Workshop Leader: Owen Beckett
Venue: Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, North Slob, Ardcavan, Co Wexford
Date: Saturday, 24th of June.
Time: 10:00am-3:00pm (fieldwork included)
Audience: Beginner recorders to intermediate recorders

Join the National Biodiversity Data Centre and Cork County Council Heritage Office for an introduction to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Ireland. During this workshop we will look at the features used to identify Ireland’s Dragonfly and Damselfly species, where to find them, how to survey and identify them. In the afternoon we will explore The Gearagh Wetlands to practice our field skills and spot some of the many species to be found in this area.

Workshop Leader: Geoff Hunt
Venue: Independence Museum Kilmurray, Cloghmacow, Kilmurry, Co. Cork. (Eircode: P14 R940).
Date: Saturday, 24th June
Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm (fieldwork included)
Audience: Beginner to intermediate

This workshop is aimed at beginners/intermediates to help develop your knowledge and skills needed to identify sedges and rushes in the field.

After an initial introductory talk, there will be two practical sessions. The first one will help you clearly distinguish between a grass, sedge and rush. It will also enable you to recognise the characteristics and features of both sedges and rushes that are important for identification purposes. The second session will then give you the opportunity to develop your identification skills on a variety of sedge and rush specimens collected for you on the day, we will be using the new sedge and rush guide written and provided by the National Biodiversity Data Centre.  There may be an opportunity to practice ID outdoors, but this is to be confirmed.

Workshop leader: Lynda Weekes

Venue: Inistioge Commuinity Centre, Cois Abhann, Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny, R95CX52.

Date: Saturday, 8th July

Time: 10am – 3pm

Level: Beginners & intermediates

This workshop provides an introduction to Ireland’s ladybirds. During this workshop we will look at Ireland’s ladybird species, their identification and ecology along with our Ladybird Atlas 2025 project. This will be followed by an outdoor session to search for ladybird species and identify them in the field. This workshop is aimed at beginners and those wishing to refresh their identification skills.

Workshop Leader: Oisín Duffy
Venue: National Biodiversity Data Centre, SETU West Campus, X91PE03
Date: Saturday, 26th of August
Time: 10:00 – 15:00 (fieldwork included)
Audience: Beginner to intermediate recorders

This workshop will introduce participants to many of Ireland’s native tree & shrub species found within Ireland’s woodlands and hedgerows nowadays as well as some non-native species which have naturalised here and are now common. Following an introduction, overview, and insight into key identification features of Ireland’s trees and shrubs, participants will partake in an outdoor session to practice their newly learned identification skills in the field. This workshop is aimed at beginners and those wishing to refresh their identification skills.

Workshop Leader: Oisín Duffy
Venue: National Biodiversity Data Centre, SETU West Campus, X91PE03
Date: Saturday, 2nd September
Time: 10:00 – 15:00 (fieldwork included)
Audience: Beginner to intermediate recorders