The Living Wall: A Biodiversity Walk in Kiltimagh Park

Take a relaxed, educational stroll through Kiltimagh Park to explore the vital intersection of built heritage, natural biodiversity, and local climate action. During this guided walk, we will showcase the newly completed sections of our traditional dry-stone wall. This project was made possible by funding from The Heritage Council, which allowed us to bring in a master instructor to preserve this ancient craft.

This year, we celebrate the fact that Ireland's practice of dry stone construction has been officially inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Stopping at the wall and our native willow trees, we will explore a powerful historical truth: in the past, sustainability was a matter of necessity, not choice. Our ancestors relied entirely on materials directly to hand, from clearing stones for field boundaries to harvesting flexible willow. Moving through the park, we will contrast this history with our modern efforts to boost biodiversity, stopping at our dedicated Irish Seed Savers heritage orchard. Here, we will look at how we are intentionally preserving rare, native Irish apple varieties to protect genetic heritage and secure our local environment for the future.

The walk will highlight how all these features, the cavities in the dry-stone walls, the willow branches, and the heritage orchard, come together to provide crucial micro-habitats for local birds, pollinators, and wildlife.

A highlight of the walk; we will officially launch and mount our newly purchased community wildlife camera. Attendees will see how the technology works to track the park's animals.

This is a fully outdoor event. Wear suitable clothing and footwear.