Carlow Walking festival

Beautiful autumnal skies greeted the walkers participating in the Carlow Walking Festival in Borris  as we ambled along the 6km Barrow walk, guided by Una Halpin of Wildways Adventures. We all received  fantastic autumnal ID guides and we  and scrutinised the verges of the tow path for seasonal flora and fauna. Sloes, Blackberries and the invasive Himalayan were all spotted as well a  Comma, Polygonia c-album, warming its delicate wings on a rock. 

My second walk on Sunday was guided by Mary White of Blackstairs Ecotrails through the best Beech  Scott's pine wood in Carlow . as we walked, our guides told us about healing properties Herb Robert and the now banned St. John's wort. Female holly plants were sagging with bwerries

We learnt about how black napweed pollen attracts butterflies and  bees,herbalists use   black beret mends trouble with the water as well as how to make Gorse flower icecream
Infuse in water 

Of the most intreset wzsd the rray of fungi. In Ireland we have 


33 butterfly's species
127 breeding bird secies
800 wild plants
Over 4000 and growing fungus


Next up is Carlow is Oak Park Forrest Park.