Bursting to get out of the house?

With spring positively springing and a grand ‘ole stretch in the evenings already, an upcoming event might entice you out into nature to explore the amazing creatures that live along Cork’s waterways.

As part of World Water Day, a free public participatory event will take place in Cork’s Glen River Park, another piece of the ongoing ‘Gleann a’ Phúca’ Creative Climate Action project.

On Saturday, March 23rd, Catherine Seale-Duggan, Community Water Officer with the Local Authority Waters Programme, invites walkers to explore life in the Glen River during a deep dive session aptly titled, ‘What’s in the Water?’

Participants, who are advised to wear wellies for wading, will be asked to consider some questions around the river’s health and how to protect it before using citizen science kick-sampling methods to seek out the tiny life forms and organisms that exist in the water.

Ms Seale-Duggan will share insights around what the life forms found in the river tell us about the health of the water.

“Will we find the elusive Caddis fly larva, or the Mayfly, that exist only in clean water? Or will we find blood worms that can exist in really polluted rivers? Perhaps we will be surprised!” she said.

The kick sampling part of the event takes place from 12pm – 1pm, meeting at the bridge at the bottom of the ‘zigzag’ (Ballyhooley Road Car Park). All sampling equipment will be provided but attendees are invited to bring along white pots for scooping up river life, a magnifying glass and a picnic for lunch in The Glen Resource Centre.

Head off on a walk afterwards

Afterwards, from 2pm – 4pm, attendees are invited to join artist Elinor Rivers on ‘A Slow River Walk’ at the water’s edge to continue the sensory exploration of the park and its water bodies.

Part of the walk will be in silence and other stages will see participants stop and focus on the water through various sensory activities, as well as sharing river memories and stories.

This event is part of the artist’s Ordinary Gifts project.