It's the unusual that most quickly captures the imaginations of children – and the education centre at Glendalough in Co Wicklow offers plenty of that, writes SYLVIA THOMPSON
WE’RE STANDING under some hazel trees, searching for signs that squirrels have been around. Some of the children find hazelnut shells and education guide, Ian Edwards, explains how the squirrels break open the shells with their sharp teeth to get to the edible nuts inside.
Other children have found badger tracks in the grass and damaged bark on trees that deer have gnawed at. In total, there are about 30 children and 10 adults on this free family fun day in the meadows and woodlands around the Upper Lake in Glendalough, Co Wicklow.
Every Thursday afternoon from mid-July to the end of August, you’ll find an enthusiastic group of nature-watchers on bug safaris, bird-watching trips and flower and tree identification walks. Today’s theme is mammals and before the walk begins the children are introduced to all the mammals that live in Wicklow Mountains National Park.
“So, what’s your favourite mammal?” Edwards asks the children, who range in age from toddlers to 11-year-olds. Dolphins, wolves, dogs, deer, cows and whales are popular with this particular group. Then, Edwards explains some of the discerning characteristics of mammals: they have hair or fur and the mothers feed their young with their own milk.
The stuffed animals in the education centre give the children an idea of the size of the mammals in the national park. There are squirrels, stoats, pine martins, badgers, otters, hedgehogs, foxes and bats. And, when education guide, Hugh McLindon plays recorded sounds from the different animals, we are all a bit amazed how unfamiliar the warbling sound a stoat makes is or even the whistle-like call of a deer.
After a stroll around the parkland, the group returns to the education centre to do some arts and crafts activities. “I like the hazel trees part best and I found a wasp’s egg,” says Emily, who’s 11.
“I found badger tracks and bat poo,” adds Aíne, who’s also 11. With help from parents and education guides, the children make masks of their favourite mammal.
The parents stay with the children throughout the two-hour long event. “I’ve been really happy to discover this area around the upper lake,” says Teresa Jones, who is here from Kiltegan, Co Wicklow, with her three young children and her husband. “After you pay the €4 for the car park, it doesn’t cost anything, which is great.”
Martin Murray and Nuala Calnan are here with their two daughters. “We are holidaying in Glenmalure from Dublin,” says Murray. “We came here last year for the bug walk and the children are still talking about it,” says Calnan, who adds that there are plenty of places to go while on holiday in Co Wicklow.
Carrie Fleming, who is originally from California but now lives in Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, is equally enthusiastic. “Glendalough is breathtaking – it’s so beautiful. Even when the weather is horrible it’s great here.
“I come here every week with my daughter during the summer. It’s wonderful to have a resource like this available and it’s great to bring up children in open spaces,” she adds.
Ian Edwards says the family fun days have become a popular feature of the summer calendar at the Wicklow Mountains National Park. “The younger children in particular enjoy it,” he says. “They have a lot of knowledge and curiousity about nature. They are always observing and asking questions.”
It’s a little disappointing that we don’t see any of the animals that are talked about and drawn. Catching a glimpse of a deer running through the woods or a badger feeding in the meadow would have been a magical experience. But then getting young children out in the park at 7am or indeed at about 9pm would require some magic in itself.
The Wicklow Mountains National Park free family fun days in the education centre at the upper lake car park in Glendalough continue on Thursdays from 2pm-4pm until the end of August.
Bats are the theme for August 12, trees for August 19 and habitats for August 26. Advanced booking is essential. Telephone 0404-45656. Self-guided walks can also be downloaded from wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie
