film – WildMind

Rebels with a cause

keith — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 17:47:57 +0000

This event for local secondary school students will feature two inspiring young men from Cork who despite their young age have become leaders in their respective fields.

Ornithologist Seán Ronayne from Cobh who is on a mission to record the sound of every bird species in Ireland will introduce the new film ‘Birdsong’ which focuses on his work, while Fionn Ferreira a young scientist and inventor from Ballydehob who is on a mission to eradicate microplastic pollution will share his ‘toolkit’—a blend of innovation, science, and unwavering determination—that has propelled his vision from local beaches to the global stage.

For bookings contact Siamsa Tire

Birdsong

keith — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 19:05:50 +0000

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Seán Ronayne and Alba Novell Capdevila, hosted by ecologist and broadcaster Anja Murray.

A tour of Western Ireland’s special oceanic plants and vegetation

keith — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 18:09:34 +0000

Due to its position on the fringe of the Atlantic Ocean, the west of Ireland has a humid temperate climate, which is perfect for the growth of a rich and unique range of plants, especially mosses, liverworts and ferns, many of which have more affinities to the Tropics than to Europe. These species are a highly important component of the special habitats found here, including lust temperate rainforests and cool north-facing mountain slopes. This talk will shine a light on this often overlooked, but fascinating, group of species.

In August 2020, ecologist, Dr. Rory Hodd published a paper in the Journal of British and Irish Botany detailing his discovery of a tiny fern, Stenogrammitis myosuroides in a remote area of Killarney National Park. This was the first time that this species of fern had been detected in Europe, the only other known locations that this little plant can be found are in neo-tropical cloud-forests of Jamaica and Cuba.

This event will feature a screening of Like a Mouse, an experimental short documentary by Michael Holly & Mieke Vanmechelen following Dr. Hodd’s discovery, against the backdrop of an area of natural conservation that is under threat from the pressures of an unstable, globalised ecology.

Wild Transylvania

keith — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 20:24:09 +0000

A blue chip special on the wildlife and wild places of one of the world’s most iconic locations – Transylvania; a mythical land beyond the forests hiding some of Europe’s last true wilderness regions. Its soaring Carpathian Mountains and vast ancient forests still provide sanctuary for some of Europe’s most charismatic animals – wolves, bears and lynx. In Transylvania history, folklore and nature create a very special blend of wild magic.

For peat sake

keith — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 22:38:58 +0000

The session will introduce peatlands and the important ecosystem services they provide to society, including their roles as carbon stores, as habitats for biodiversity, in buffering extreme weather events such as droughts and floods, and in providing cultural, recreational and wellness benefits to surrounding communities.

We will hear from speakers from RE–PEAT a youth-led collective pushing for a peatland paradigm shift through collaboration, education, and a process of re-imagining and Peatlands and People a 7-year EC-funded LIFE Integrated Project, led by Bord na Móna:

Sophie O’Callaghan is a member of RE-PEAT and the Communications Officer for The Rivers Trust,
Arthur Devine is the Technical Program Manager for the EU LIFE Integrated Project Peatlands and People.
David McNicholas is an Ecologist at Bord na Móna.

This session will include a screening of Bog Standard a short documentary film that focuses on community-led bog restoration projects and the custodians who have extraordinary stories to tell. The film draws on the commitment and hope of grassroot projects happening around peatland conservation in Ireland, and responds to the need for awareness of peatlands in Ireland and their central role within the climate emergency

RE–PEAT

RE–PEAT is an international youth-led collective pushing for a peatland paradigm shift through collaboration, education, and a process of re-imagining, with members in the Netherlands, Italy, UK, Ireland, Germany, Estonia, some study peat at a university level, some work with peat “in the field”, and others are simply peat enthusiasts.

Peatlands and People

Peatlands and People is a 7-year EC-funded LIFE Integrated Project, led by Bord na Móna, the project integrates actions from five sections of the Climate Action Plan – Enterprise; Agriculture, forestry and land use; Waste and the circular economy; Public sector leading by example; and Citizen engagement, community leadership and just transition. Peatlands and People uses peatlands as a model to inspire behavioural change and build capacity and economy in Ireland’s midlands, a region of transition.