TALLAFEST

We had a very successful day out at Tallafest on June 30th where we displayed a twice-removed shopping trolley from Donnybrook Dodder in an advanced state of decay and a skip-load of junk from a recent clean-up with Google employees.

We shared a bay with the Litter Mugs who work so hard to keep the Dodder tributary of Whitestown Stream free of litter in Sean Walsh Park. An uphill struggle.

The best news came from Inland Fisheries Ireland who had a fascinating stand featuring insects and freshwater shellfish which they had collected that day in the Dodder tributary of the Owendoher. They said they would be lucky to find such biodiversity anywhere in the country, with the creatures which are highly sensitive to pollution well represented, such as the mayfly and the stonefly. They congratulated us on our work for the river and we must congratulate nature!

Speaking of which, we have some walks and talks lined up for the August/September period as summer wanes to autumn.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER EVENTS AND WALKS

BATS!

Sunday August 19th we will do a Bat Walk in Bushy Park with Kevin Delahunty of Bat Conservation Ireland.  It's a rich place for bats with lots of Daubentons, Pipistrelles and Soprano Pipistrelles usually in evidence.  Kevin will bring bat monitors to share around so we can hear their calls.

Meet Rathdown Avenue entrance to Bushy Park Terenure, exact time to be confirmed but around 9 pm

OLD AND HISTORIC MILLS

Saturday, September 1st we will do a historic walking tour of the eight old mills along the lower Dodder from Clonskeagh to Lansdowne Road led by Rob Goodbody.  Rob's new book on Dublin Bay has been very well received and he is an expert on the Dodder mills.  We hope to uncover the hidden history of Clonskeagh, Donnybrook and Ballsbridge.  What lies beneath...

Meet Clonskeagh House car park, 2 pm

FLORA AND WILDLIFE SPOTTING

Sunday, September 16th we will do a flora and wildlife spotting walk of the Dodder with Irish Wildlife Trust's Tim Clabon who was part of a recent Dodder otter survey.  We hope the morning walk will yield the tracks of otters at least and certainly a variety of birds and freshwater species as well as a variety of vegetation.  Come explore this wonderful wildlife corridor from Dartry to Rathfarnham!

Meet Dropping Well bar and restaurant on river bank 10 a.m.

These talks and walks are free of charge.

POLLUTION ISSUES

There is an engineer from Dublin City Council looking for reports of incidents of sewage pollution on the river at any point on it.  Please email us on dodderaction@gmail.com or message us through our CONTACT form, if you have knowledge of such pollution going into the river and we will pass on the information.

See you down the Dodder!