We have developed a number of interactive story maps to use via the browser on your smartphone, tablet or computer. Our story maps will help you learn more about wetlands and where to visit them. Links to the story maps are provided below.
Wetlands to visit around Ireland
Would you like to learn more about Irish wetlands? The selection of wetlands shown here include coastal wetlands, fens and swamps, ponds and bogs. These sites have a variety of visitor facilities including parking, paths, boardwalks, exhibitions and information signs, that will help you enjoy a visit to these magical places, and learn more about wetlands and their value to wildlife. The map is based on a selection of sites shown on the Map of Irish Wetlands.
Wetlands in County Mayo story map showcases the wetland habitats of Mayo. The story map was produced by Mary Catherine Gallagher, Patrick Crushell and Peter Foss and was funded by the Mayo Heritage Office. The story map features a range of information about the wetlands found in County Mayo, their importance to our wildlife and the ecosystem services they provide us with and threats they face. The story map includes a section on wetlands to visit in County Mayo.
You can see the story map at: bit.ly/MayoWetlands
Leitrim’s Wetland Wealth story map showcases the wetland habitats of County Leitrim. The story map was produced by Mary Catherine Gallagher and Peter Foss and was funded by the Leitrim Heritage Office through the County Heritage Plan scheme. The story map features a range of information about the wetlands found in County Leitrim, their importance to our wildlife and the ecosystem services they provide us with. The story map includes a section on wetlands to visit in County Leitrim.
You can see the story map at: bit.ly/LeitrimWetlands
An Introduction to Wetlands in County Tipperary
To celebrate wetlands in County Tipperary, Wetland Surveys Ireland have published a online story map entitled: An Introduction to Wetlands in County Tipperary. The story map was produced by Mary Catherine Gallagher and Peter Foss and was funded by the Tipperary Heritage Office through the National Biodiversity Action Plan fund. The online story map features lots of information on the wetlands found in County Tipperary, their importance to our wildlife and our own health and includes a section on wetlands to visit in County Tipperary.
You can see the story map at: bit.ly/TipperaryWetlands
This story map was produced by the Heritage Office in Longford County Council, to coincide with National Water Heritage Day in 2020. The online interactive story map ‘Longford's Wetlands - A story map about wetland habitats in County Longford' features information on the different types of wetlands that occur in the county and the location of these wetlands. It explains why wetlands are important, to our wildlife and our own health and the story map includes a wetlands to visit section. You can see the story map at: http://bit.ly/LongfordsWetlands
Take the County Monaghan Wetland Tour
The County Monaghan Wetland Tour is an initiative of the Heritage Office, Monaghan County Council. The story map forms part of the Volumn 1 in the County Monaghan Heritage Series publication entitled “Monaghan’s Wonderful Wetland”.
The wetland locations shown in this interactive tour are sites in Co. Monaghan open to public that have various facilities including parking, paths, fishing stands (may require license), information signs, longer walking routes or a visitor centre.
The story map brings you on an informative tour of 23 wetlands around Monaghan where you can learn more about these fascinating habitats. These sites have a variety of visitor facilities including parking, paths, boardwalks, exhibitions and information signs, that will help you enjoy a visit to these magical places, and learn more about wetlands and their value to people and wildlife. The map is based on a selection of sites shown on the Map of Irish Wetlands.
The story map includes map location information, a brief summary of what you can discover at the sites, a summary of facilities at each location, and a link to further information, opening times and much more. The groups that manage these wonderful places, have invested significant resources in making the sites open to the public and allow anyone to learn more about these fascinating wet wonderlands.
To access the story map go to the link shown below:
http://bit.ly/MonaghanWetlands
The story map brings you on an informative tour of 53 raised bog Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and the 75 raised bog Natural Heritage Areas (NHA) where you can learn more about these fascinating peatland habitats. The story map includes and introduction to the SAC and NHA raised bog network, map location information for these raised bogs; the designated site boundary; a brief summary of the habitat and species of interest on the site; restoration work which has been undertaken on the sites under EU LIFE projects; and NPWS site code. The raised bogs which are open to the public and include information signs and a boardwalk are also highlighted.
Included on the raised bog story map are peatlands such as Clara Bog, Girley Bog, Scohaboy Bog, Carn Park Bog, Cloonshanville Bog, all of which have visitor access, together with the other sites being conserved throughout the country.
So if you would like to learn more about Ireland’s raised bogs, all you have to do to access the story map is go to the link shown below:
Fens are magical places and an essential and unique part of the Irish landscape. They help regulate and clean our water supply, support a rich variety of wild plants and animals, have a significant economic value, and can even tell us about our past history.
The story map brings you on an informative tour focusing on the various fen types that occur in Ireland, their ecology and the importance of their water supply, the environmental services they provide us with, the plants and animals that live in fens, and how well we have done in protecting and conserving these habitats at a national level.
A link to this freely available story map on fens is: http://bit.ly/IrishFens
Bohernabreena Reservoir and Glenasmole Valley Tour
Glenasmole valley, and more particularly the Bohernabreena Reservoir in south county Dublin, is located just 5 km from Tallaght village. The reservoirs and public amenity areas in the valley are managed by South Dublin County Council. To celebrate this Special Area of Conservation we have created a short interactive online story map about the glen and its history, the habitats and wildlife that occur there, and other information that people might find interesting.
A link to this freely available story map is here. I hope you enjoy the tour.
Take the Reenagross Woodland Park Tour
The new story map brings you on an informative tour of the park where you can learn more about the fascinating estuarine and woodland habitats and wildlife that you can see there. The park is a wooded peninsula set within the beautiful landscape of Kenmare Bay, Co. Kerry. The Reenagross Woodland Park has over 3km of walking trails, along with a diverse range of habitats that are home to a wide variety of plants and animals and places of interest. The park is actively managed by Kenmare Tidy Towns as a place where people can enjoy nature, take a walk, and learn about the rich wildlife of the area. You will learn more about these topics during this tour. Kenmare Tidy Towns wish to thanks The Heritage Council for funding to develop this story map.
So if you would like to learn more about Reenagross Woodland Park, all you have to do to access the story map. Go to the link shown below:
Discover Ramsar Wetlands in the Republic of Ireland
The story map brings you on an informative tour of 45 designated Ramsar sites in the Republic of Ireland. The Ramsar Convention entered into force in Ireland on 15 March 1985. Since then Ireland has designated 45 sites as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites), with a surface area of 66,994 hectares. This intergovernmental treaty embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the “wise use”, or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories. This information tour of the designated Ramsar sites around Ireland includes map location information, a brief summary of species and habitats of interest that resulted in the Ramsar designation, and information on whether sites are open to visitors.
So if you would like to learn more about Ireland’s Ramsar wetlands, all you have to do to access the story map is go to the link shown below:
Why Pearl Mussels need our help
This story map was created by the Pearl Mussel Project to compliment an education resource pack for use by primary school children.
The pack includes an introductory on-line story map, where students can learn more about the freshwater pearl mussel, where they occur, their biology, habitat requirements and how they help our rivers and the people living along them. This story map also explains why pearl mussels are endangered and what the Pearl Mussel Project are doing to help them.
The story map is complimented by a resource pack containing a series of activity sheets which teachers or students can download here. The activity sheets include a biodiversity survey students can do at home, on the farm or in school, quizes and word puzzels.
