Wildlife kits come to Cork libraries

A new initiative aims to give aspiring natural scientists the tools they need to begin examining the biodiversity of Cork county.

The scheme, launched by Cork County Council through its network of local branch libraries, will provide wildlife mini kits to those who wish to delve into the world of local wildlife.

There are four distinct types of mini kit available to borrow from the libraries, covering bats, birds, bugs, and plants.

Each kit comes packed with essential equipment, for example bat detectors or binoculars, alongside resources such as field guides, educational books, and informative DVDs. The aim is to provide all the tools needed to connect with county’s bustling natural world.

The Mayor of the County of Cork, councillor Mary Linehan-Foley, said the initiative would furnish people with an opportunity to connect with nature.

“By helping to empower local communities with the tools and knowledge to engage with nature, we can all play a vital role in understanding, restoring and safeguarding Cork’s remarkable biodiversity for generations to come,” she said.

Moira Murrell, Cork County Council chief executive, said the scheme would serve as an introduction to become better acquainted with the Cork’s environment.

“This initiative underscores Cork County Council’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, evident in the objectives of its current climate action plan 2024-2029, and to supporting the invaluable contributions communities make in celebrating and protecting our natural environment,” Ms Murrell said.

The kits are suitable both for those with an interest in wildlife and those who are new to the field, the council’s library service has said.

Demand for the kits is expected to be high, and availability is likely to be limited, so requests should be emailed to sustainablelibrary@corkcoco.ie, specifying your local library branch.