Free educational event to take place at Clare wetlands

A FREE study visit to a Clare wetlands hotspot will be taking place as part of Heritage Week. 

Shannon Town Community Wetlands Committee and the Community Wetlands Forum will host the free event on Wednesday, August 16 at 11am.

Shannon Town Wetlands is an approximately 5 acre site in Shannon Town, in the ownership of Clare Council. After drainage and planting with spruce trees, the site was largely abandoned and became a waste ground. 

Inspired by the Clare County Council Green Infrastructure Plan, the Shannon Town Community Wetlands Committee was established with the purpose of restoring the site for wetland habitat and nature conservation.

Clare Arts Office seeking artists to lead creative programmes

The upcoming study visit to the site will provide an opportunity to learn about the restoration and management efforts of the community, and will be a chance to meet other groups and individuals from around Clare working on community led wetland conservation projects. 

A light lunch will be provided after the walk and talk in the nearby GAA Club. 

In the first two years of its existence, the committee developed a design plan for the future of the wetlands and once funding was secured, removed the conifers of dense undergrowth and interconnected four ponds.

The site is an important haven for residents of the town as well as wildlife, with the committee working with Local Authority Water Programme (LAWPRO) to provide educational workshops on biodiversity to 200 school students.  

The Shannon Town Wetlands Committee is made up of representatives of Dúchas na Sionna, the town’s heritage group, Shannon Tidy Towns, Shannon Men’s Shed, Club na Sionna, Shannon Archaeological & Historical Society, Conradh na Gaelige, Wolfe Tones GAA and other local people.