Press Release

18th Feb, 2010.

New Nature Reserve for Irish Wildlife Trust

The IWT is delighted to announce the latest addition to our collection of nature reserves around Ireland. Newcastle lake is situated in north county Meath and is an important site for the county's biodiversity. It is home to Kingfishers, Otters, Cormorants and Ravens. In winter Atlantic salmon pass through it to spawn in the river Dee while wildfowl, including Whooper swans, roost on its calm surface. In summer the air buzzes with dragonflies and swooping Daubenton's bats. This fantastic reserve brings to five the total under IWT management.

The IWT has a network of reserves around the county that it aspires to expand in the future in order to protect more and more of Ireland's wildlife and their habitats. Our other reserves are wet grassland sites in Macroom Co. Cork, and in the Shannon Callows a unique area flooded annually by the river Shannon and important for many bird species such as Lapwing and Corncrake. The IWT also owns a bogland reserve at Boora Bog Co. Offaly and manages a reserve within Co. Dublin along the banks of the river Tolka at Ashtown.

The Newcastle Lake reserve is privately owned and is not accessible to the public. However there will be guided tours later in the year for those who would like to visit and these will be open to all IWT members. IWT membership subscriptions partly go towards managing these reserves for the benefit of wildlife so every new member counts! Go to www.iwt.ie to become a member today.

ENDS

Contact:

For further information please contact Kieran Flood IWT Reserves Officer

Ph: 01 860 2839 or E-mail: reserves@iwt.ie

Editors Notes:

The Irish Wildlife Trust was founded in 1979 as a charitable conservation body. We provide the public with information about wildlife, run education and training programs like SAC Watch and the Outdoor Classroom Programme, carry out habitat and species surveys like the IWT National Lizard Survey, campaign and lobby around biodiversity issues, restore natural habitats, consult with industry, agriculture and Local Authorities to maintain our natural heritage and contribute to national and international forums for the protection of biodiversity. The IWT is a nationwide organisation with a strong membership base, staff and Board of Directors, with branches in Clare, Tipperary, Limerick, Waterford and Cork.