River Visit - Popes Bridge

April 20th 2010

Pupils from 5th and 6th class enjoyed a local field trip recently which helped them learn more about and view river life. This was organised in conjunction with Mulkear LIFE European Commission funded LIFE Nature project working on the restoration of the Lower Shannon Special Area of Conservation (Mulkear River catchment) for Atlantic Salmon, Sea Lamprey and Otter. This is one of the most exciting and important fish and nature conservation projects ever undertaken on a river catchment basis anywhere in Ireland. The project covers the Mulkear River catchment and covers an area of 650 square kilometers in counties Limerick and Tipperary. Creating awareness among school children is part of the action plan.

"The Mulkear LIFE educational programme will give the school children a heightened sense of “environmental ownership” and recognition of the importance of the river catchment as an important natural resource. In particular it will promote sensible behaviour towards the river and the species in the river. Developing a greater understanding and respect for the flora, fauna and physical habitat will help them comprehend the positive and negative environmental effects of our actions. The Mulkear LIFE educational programme will give the school children a heightened sense of “environmental ownership” and recognition of the importance of the river catchment as an important natural resource. In particular it will promote sensible behaviour towards the river and the species in the river. Developing a greater understanding and respect for the flora, fauna and physical habitat will help them comprehend the positive and negative environmental effects of our actions."

For more see http://www.mulkearlife.com/