2023 County Report for Offaly

Fiona Devery

BSBI Report for Offaly (H18) 2023

I liaise with the Biodiversity Officer in Offaly County Council and participate in the Offaly Naturalists Field Club.

I help and advise Birr Tidy Towns group and a “no mow” campaign in the local cemetery gave a count of over 250 Anacamptis pyramidalis, Pyramidal orchids. 

A “Walk and Talk” for the Friends of Birr Castle Demesne on the meadow flora was held in June.

The Aquatics day with Nick Stewart at Pallas lake inspired much aquatic work in the county.

Recording in 2023 started early with a trip in February to check the stand of  Equisetum hymale, Dutch rush, above Cadamstown first recorded by R.L. Praeger.

Erimlia hirsuta, Hairy tare, a first VC record for Offaly.

The canal at Shannon Harbour produced Chara curta and Tolypella glomerata (also recorded by Praeger in 1891 as the first VC record) Nitella tenuissima, P. friesii, Flat-stalked pondweed, Ceratophyllum demersum, Rigid hornwort.

Utica urens, Small Nettle at Mossfield organic farm.

Paul Green’s workshop with the National Biodiversity Data Centre on Orchis moiro, Green-winged orchids in the Ridge Hills, Birr, Clonmacnoise and Lusmagh yielded many Green-winged orchids and the bonus of Carduus tenuiflorus, Slender thistle, at Clonmacnoise.

A day in July on the Grand Canal at Rahan gave a haul of Nitella flexilis and Potamogeton friesii.

A return trip to the Ridge Hills in early September recorded the last few flowers of Spiranthes spiralis, Autumn ladies-tresses and Gentenella amerella, Autumn gentian.