Knocksink Wood Education Centre

03/11/2026

To brush up our skills for the Irish Wetland Bird Survey (IWeBS) taking place throughout the winter, yesterday the team attended a training day at Dundalk Bay alongside NPWS colleagues from around the country. Thanks to Birdwatch Ireland for an informative, enjoyable and indeed sunny session in the field!

29/10/2026

A mild and clear moonlit night raised the spirits for the first of our SUPER-NATURAL Halloween wildlife walks at Vale of Clara. Tonight it's happening in ancient Tomnafinnoge Wood! Tickets still available on our Eventbrite page!

28/10/2026

Some tickets still available for our family-friendly SUPER-NATURAL event tomorrow night at Tomnafinnoge Wood! Hear tell of the folklore of Wicklow's woodlands, wildlife and landscape as the Samhain season approaches.. Join us if you dare by booking at
https://super-natural-tomnafinnoge-wood.eventbrite.ie

22/10/2026

The calm before the storm.. Yesterday we took part in the monthly Irish Wetland Bird Survey (IWeBS) at Poulaphouca Reservoir. While very few birds were seen on the rough open water, we counted a fair few sheltering in calmer bays, as stiff breezes blew over the lakes. These counts take place from September to March and give us a wealth of information on how many waders and waterfowl visit Irish wetlands in winter - and how their numbers are faring year to year.

15/10/2026

As days darken and nights lengthen, the natural world changes and readies for winter. Join us once again at our woodland sites for SUPER-NATURAL, celebrating the wildlife of the woods as Samhain approaches with guided walks and stories.

While trees shed their leaves and some animals hibernate, many nocturnal creatures are still at large, surviving winter by their wits and giving rise to folklore and fireside tales.

What animal makes the sound of the banshee? Which creature is known as the graveyard screecher? How do bats not fly into our hair? Why are spiders lurking in every corner?

This year, we’re going to Vale of Clara on Wednesday 28th and Tomnafinnoge Woods on Thursday 29th, to try and spy what may be lurking there at night..

Booking: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/super-natural-wicklow-wildlife-adventures-4884047

13/10/2026

Sunny October day in Knocksink Wood. Very few acorns falling from the oaks, which had a mast year last year, dropping thousands per tree. This year appears to be the turn of the non-native beech!

08/10/2026

🌿 What a fantastic day at Knocksink Wood on Saturday!

As part of the Dublin Mountains Festival ~ Féile na Sléibhte 2026, we had a brilliant day learning so much from Mark and Laura at the NPWS Education Centre.

A huge thank you to Mark and Laura for sharing their incredible knowledge and enthusiasm with us, and to everyone who joined us for the day 🍂🌳

Another lovely opportunity to Discover Our Mountains and learn more about the wonderful natural environment on our doorstep 💚

02/10/2026

Speaking of fungi and very seasonal, we're delighted to join Wicklow County Council Library Service for what promises to be an excellent talk on Tuesday 13th! Fungi are an essential, beautiful and often overlooked part of our ecosystems, and play a crucial role in woodlands. Hope to see you there!

Join the Wicklow town library for a talk that will focus on the fascinating lives and biology of fungi, a crucial part of ecosystems.

01/10/2026

After the rain, the eruption. Fungi appear throughout the wood, their fruiting bodies emerging from leaf litter, soil and dead trees. Many of these are decomposers of dead wood, part of the cycle of woodland renewal, while also providing food for a whole range of animals, from snails to squirrels.

24/09/2026

To celebrate Sustainable Goals Week and mark the autumn equinox, our Education Guides joined up with Enniskerry Library yesterday for a Bat Walk and Talk! We'd a great turnout and a lovely walk in the moonlight, and despite the bright and cold night we did manage to locate some bats in Knocksink Wood itself. Thanks to Wicklow County Council Library Service, who are now loaning out bat detectors as well as books! Contact [email protected] for further details, while bats are still on the wing before winter..