This Biodiversity Trail spans the length of the Cavanagh Way trail. It has been designed to be accessible for those who are new to wildlife watching, as well as being enjoyable for seasoned naturalists. UCC is privileged to host a variety of habitats on its campuses, with our city-centre main campus boasting an arboretum, wildflower meadow, community garden, manicured and wild landscapes and close proximity to the River Lee.
UCC's commitment to biodiversity
UCC is committed to managing its grounds with biodiversity in mind. Nature-friendly initiatives in place on campus include a native planting scheme, companion planting scheme and multiple bird and bat boxes. UCC鈥檚 knowledgeable grounds鈥 personnel maintain green areas for biodiversity through reduced mowing and no-mow areas. No pesticides are used on campus, and nature is factored sensitively into plans and practices administered by our gardening team.
Celebrating nature
This biodiversity trail celebrates nature along the Cavanagh Way. It showcases commonly found species, some of which are sometimes overlooked or misunderstood. Through interaction with UCC鈥檚 biodiversity trail, we hope that all users of and visitors to our campus enjoy and connect with nature on campus in a way that is meaningful and restorative. UCC鈥檚 Office of Sustainability and Climate Action and UCC Green Campus are committed to nurturing nature connection at UCC to create a mutual relationship of care between people and the world of which we are a part.
Treated as stinging and prickly weeds, respectively, nettles and brambles are often underappreciated. However, nettles are invaluable habitat for wildlife in areas disturbed by human activity, providing habitat for butterflies (such as the Peacock butterfly) and aphids, which are eaten by ladybirds. Nettle leaves are also highly nutritious for humans.
Brambles provide safe cover for birds and small mammals. Bramble blackberries are nutritious for people and wildlife alike, and the nectar in their flowers provides food for pollinating insects like bees, flies and wasps.
Is minic nach dtuigtear i gceart luach na neant贸g agus na ndriseacha, 贸s rud 茅 go bpl茅itear leo mar fhiail铆 cailgeacha agus deilgneacha, faoi seach. Ach is gn谩th贸ga f铆orluachmhara iad na ceapacha neant贸g don fhiadh煤lra sna ceantair sin a gcuirtear as d贸ibh ag an ngn铆omha铆ocht dhaonna, iad ag sol谩thar gn谩th贸ige d麓fh茅ileac谩in (leith茅id铆 an Ph茅ac贸g) agus d麓aifid铆, a n-itheann b贸铆n铆 D茅 iad. B铆onn duilleoga na neant贸g an-chothaitheach ar fad do dhaoine freisin.
Sol谩thra铆onn driseacha cl煤dach s谩bh谩ilte d麓茅in agus do mhamaigh beaga. B铆onn sm茅ara dubha na ndriseacha cothaitheach do dhaoine agus don fhiadh煤lra araon, agus sol谩thra铆onn an neachtar ina gcuid bl谩thanna bia do na feithid铆 pailnitheacha, leith茅id铆 beacha, cuileoga agus foich铆.
2. Common Alder
Alder has a wide distribution in Ireland. It is most frequently found in wet or damp areas, and along rivers and lakes. Its bark is dark brown and fissured, while its leaves are somewhat heart-shaped, due to an indented leaf-tip.
Alder trees produce catkins and cones. The catkins provide nectar for insects, while cone seeds are eaten by birds such as Siskin and Redpoll. Alder wood was used for shield making in ancient Ireland. It doesn鈥檛 rot in water, so is suitable for building structures such as sluices and boats.
T谩 an Fhearn贸g le f谩il ar fud na h脡ireann. Go minic b铆onn s铆 le f谩il i gceantair fhliucha n贸 thaise, agus in aice le haibhneacha agus lochanna. T谩 dath d煤dhonn ar an gcoirt agus 铆 scoilte, agus t谩 cruth ar n贸s cro铆 ar na duilleoga de bharr go mb铆onn barr na duilleoige bearnach.
F谩sann cait铆n铆 agus buairc铆n铆 ar Fhearn贸ga. Cuireann na cait铆n铆 neachtar ar f谩il d鈥檉heithid铆 agus itheann 茅in cos煤il leis an Sisc铆n agus an Dearg茅adan Coiteann s铆olta na mbuairc铆n铆. D鈥櫭簊谩idt铆 adhmad na fearn贸ige chun sciatha a dh茅anamh in 脡irinn fad贸. N铆 lobhann s茅 san uisce agus mar sin t谩 s茅 oiri煤nach chun strucht煤ir a th贸g谩il ar n贸s comhla铆 agus b谩d.
3. Common Pippistrelle Bat
The Common Pipistrelle bat is the most commonly observed bat in urban areas. It eats flying insects, using echolocation to find its prey. Common Pipistrelles can eat as many as 3,000 midges, moths and mosquitos per night, despite weighing only 5-6g.
All bats hibernate (the correct term is 鈥渢orpor,鈥) over winter. They are most active in late spring, summer and early autumn, when insects are most abundant. These bats will roost during the day in tree holes and crevices, and in dense vegetation (e.g. thick old ivy) but will also use small crevices in buildings, such as under roof tiles.
Feictear an Ialt贸g Fheascrach n铆os minice n谩 aon ialt贸g eile i gceantair uirbeacha. Baineann s铆 leas as aimsi煤 贸 mhacalla chun teacht ar fheithid铆 eitilte mar choth煤 di f茅in. Is f茅idir le hIalt贸ga Feascracha suas le 3,000 m铆olt贸g, leamhan agus muisc铆t a ithe in aon o铆che amh谩in, b铆odh is nach bhfuil ach 5-6g de mhe谩chan iontu.
D茅anann gach ialt贸g codladh geimhridh (an t茅arma ceart n谩 鈥渕airbhit铆鈥). Go d茅anach san earrach, sa samhradh agus go luath san fh贸mhar is m贸 a bh铆onn siad gn铆omhach; sin na tr茅imhs铆 is m贸 ina mb铆onn feithid铆 le f谩il go fl煤irseach. T茅ann na hialt贸ga seo ar an bhfara i rith an lae i bpoill sna crainn agus i scoilteanna, agus i dti煤s an fh谩sra (m.sh. sean-eidhne谩n tiubh) ach baineann siad 煤s谩id as scoilteanna i bhfoirgnimh chomh maith, faoi th铆leanna sa d铆on mar shampla.
Chun a thuilleadh a fhoghlaim faoi ialt贸ga, f茅ach ar www.batconservationireland.org, a 煤s谩ideadh mar ch煤lra eolais sa t茅acs seo.
4. Wildflower Meadow
UCC wildflower meadow was sown in 2018, and species composition has varied in abundance and diversity since then. Plant species in and around the meadow include clover, black medick, knapweed, ox-eye daisy, yarrow, poppy, dandelion, yellowrattle, ragged robin and many more. This diversity of species provides food and habitat for a variety of insects, birds and bats.
To maintain the meadow, ensuring it supports a diversity of native wildflowers, it is cut every September with a sickle bar mower. The meadow cuttings are left to lie on the ground for three to four days to allow the seeds to drop off. Cuttings are then raked and removed from the meadow by hand. This ensures the fertility of the soil is kept low, providing the right conditions for wildflower diversity to flourish.
S铆ola铆odh m贸in茅ar na mbl谩thanna fi谩ine ag COC i 2018, agus th谩inig athr煤 ar fhl煤irse agus ar 茅ags煤lacht a chuid speiceas 贸 shin. I measc na speiceas planda at谩 sa mh贸in茅ar n贸 thart timpeall air 谩ir铆tear seamhair, d煤mheidic, m铆nscoth, n贸in铆n m贸r, athair thal煤n, poip铆n, caisearbh谩n, gliogr谩n, lus s铆oda agus tuilleadh nach iad. Sol谩thra铆onn an 茅ags煤lacht speiceas seo bia agus gn谩th贸g do raon 茅ags煤il feithid铆, 茅an agus sciath谩n leathair.
Chun an m贸in茅ar a chothabh谩il, ag cinnti煤 go dtaca铆onn s茅 le raon 茅ags煤il de bhl谩thanna fi谩ine d煤chasacha, gearrtar 茅 gach M铆 Mhe谩n F贸mhair le lomaire barra corr谩in. F谩gtar mionrabh an mh贸in茅ir ina lu铆 ar an talamh ar feadh tr铆 go ceithre l谩 chun ligean do na s铆olta titim de. Ansin d茅antar an mionrabh a r谩c谩il agus a bhaint den mh贸in茅ar de l谩imh. Cinnt铆onn sin go gcoime谩dtar torth煤lacht na hithreach ag leibh茅al 铆seal, rud a shol谩thra铆onn na d谩la铆 cu铆 le go mbeadh rath ar an m贸in茅ar 贸 thaobh 茅ags煤lacht na mbl谩thanna fi谩ine de.
5. Grey Wagtail
The Grey Wagtail is a charming bird, commonly seen bobbing up and down or flying along the river at UCC. Grey Wagtails live along streams and rivers. They often build nests under bridges, and feed mainly on aquatic insects, caught on the ground or in flight.
The Grey Wagtail can be recognised by a number of physical characteristics, but its bright yellow underside and rump is the major giveaway. This yellow is less intense in females. Grey Wagtails have a grey head and back, and pale-yellow eye-stripe, with dark grey wings and tail. Adults have a black throat patch.
For more information, see:
https://birdwatchireland.ie/, which informed this text.
脡an gleoite is ea an ghlas贸g liath, agus 铆 le feiscint go minic ag bogadach suas agus anuas n贸 ag eitilt feadh na habhann in COC. Maireann na Glas贸ga Liatha in aice le sruth谩in agus aibhneacha. T贸gann siad neadacha faoi dhroichid go minic, agus itheann siad feithid铆 uisceacha a mbeireann siad orthu ar an talamh n贸 nuair a bh铆onn siad ag eitilt.
Is f茅idir an Ghlas贸g Liath a aithint tr铆 mhe谩n tr茅ithe fisici煤la 茅ags煤la, go h谩irithe dath bu铆 an taoibh 铆ochtair agus an ghead谩in. N铆l an dath bu铆 chomh l谩idir sin sna h茅in bhaineanna. T谩 ceann liath agus droim liath ar na Glas贸ga Liatha, agus str铆oc bhu铆 茅adrom ar na s煤ile mar aon le dath d煤liath ar na sciath谩in agus ar an eireaball. T谩 paiste dubh ar an scornach ag na h茅in fh谩sta.
Le haghaidh tuilleadh eolais, f茅ach ar:
https://birdwatchireland.ie/ a 煤s谩ideadh mar ch煤lra eolais sa t茅acs seo.
6. Treecreeper
Currently widespread in Ireland, Treecreepers live in hedgerows, forests, urban green spaces and farmland. They are speckly brown above and white below, with some white streaking on the head. Treecreepers have a distinct, down-curved bill, which they use to probe for insects in bark. These birds 鈥渃reep鈥 up along trees in a hopping motion. They have a high-pitched call, similar to that of a Goldcrest or Coal Tit, and a delicate high-pitched song.
For more information, see:
, which informed this text.
Faightear na Snaganna go fl煤irseach in 脡irinn agus maireann siad i bhf谩lta sceach, i bhforaois铆, i sp谩sanna glasa uirbeacha agus ar thalamh feirme. T谩 siad donn agus breac ar an taobh uachtair agus b谩n ar an taobh 铆ochtair, agus t谩 str铆oca b谩na ar a gceann. T谩 gob ag na Snaganna a sheasann amach agus 茅 cuartha s铆os. 脷s谩ideann siad 茅 chun teacht ar fheithid铆 sa choirt. Bogann na h茅in seo go mall suas na crainn agus iad ag preabadh. T谩 cantain ard sh茅imh acu mar aon le glao ard at谩 cos煤il leis an nglao a dheineann an Diairm铆n n贸 an Meant谩n Dubh.
Le haghaidh tuilleadh eolais, f茅ach ar:
https://birdwatchireland.ie/ a 煤s谩ideadh mar ch煤lra eolais sa t茅acs seo.
7. Beech
Beech is naturalised in Ireland and is not considered native. A deciduous tree, it has smooth, grey bark, purple-brown twigs and long, tapered buds. Beech trees produce edible nuts, encased in a spiny shell. Catkins appear in April/May. Reaching 30-40 metres in height, beech trees grow in a generally straight manner, and are planted widely in Ireland as both individual decorative trees and as hedging. Mushrooms such as boletes and Chantarelles can often be seen growing at the base of beech trees in forests. Due largely to the dense shady canopy cast by beech trees, it can be difficult for other species to grow beneath them.
T谩 an fhe谩 tugtha chun cine谩il in 脡irinn agus n铆 fh茅achtar uirthi mar chrann d煤chasach. Crann duillsilteach at谩 ann a bhfuil coirt mh铆n, liath, craobh贸ga corcairdhonna agus bachl贸ga fada caolaithe aici. T谩irgeann fe谩nna cn贸nna ar f茅idir iad a ithe, iad c谩s谩ilte i mblaosc sp铆onach. F谩sann cait铆n铆 orthu i M铆 Aibre谩in/M铆 na Bealtaine. Baineann fe谩nna airde 30 鈥 40 m茅adar amach; de ghn谩ch f谩sann fe谩nna suas go d铆reach, agus d茅antar iad a phland谩il go forleathan in 脡irinn, mar chrainn mhaisi煤la aonair agus mar fh谩l煤 araon. Is minic a bh铆onn muisiri煤in, leith茅id铆 bolets agus Chantarelles, le feice谩il agus iad ag f谩s ag bun na bhfe谩nna i gcoillte. Mar gheall, ar an ioml谩n, ar an gceannbhrat dl煤th, sc谩thach a chrutha铆onn fe谩nna, is f茅idir go mbeadh s茅 deacair ag speicis eile f谩s th铆os f煤thu.
8. Ivy
Ivy is an evergreen climbing plant which clings to trees, walls and other surfaces using very small stem-roots. Ivy has two types of leaf: dark green and glossy leaves with three to five lobes, and heart-shaped leaves. Ivy produces small yellowish flowers from September to November, which provide an important source of nectar for insects in autumn and winter. Ivy also produces dark purple-black berries in spring which are poisonous to people but provide food for many birds. This plant is also important for providing habitat for butterflies such as the Holly Blue, and shelter for bats which are known to roost in thick masses of mature ivy. Contrary to popular belief, ivy does not take any nutrients from trees it climbs. It simply uses trees as support.
Is planda dreaptha s铆orghlas 茅 an t-eidhne谩n a ghreama铆onn de chrainn, de bhalla铆 agus de dhromchla铆 eile agus fr茅amhacha gais an-bheaga 谩 n-煤s谩id aige. B铆onn dh谩 chine谩l duilleoige ag an eidhne谩n: duilleoga d煤ghlasa agus niamhracha a bhfuil idir tr铆 agus c煤ig mhaoth谩n acu, agus duilleoga a bhfuil cruth cro铆 orthu. T谩irgeann an t-eidhne谩n bl谩thanna beaga s贸rt bu铆 idir M铆 Mhe谩n F贸mhair agus M铆 na Samhna, a shol谩thra铆onn foinse shuntasach neachtair le haghaidh feithid铆 san fh贸mhar agus sa gheimhreadh. T谩irgeann an t-eidhne谩n sm茅ara dorcha corcairdhubha san earrach freisin; b铆onn siad sin nimhi煤il do dhaoine ach sol谩thra铆onn siad bia le haghaidh a l谩n 茅an. T谩 an planda seo t谩bhachtach freisin maidir le gn谩th贸g a shol谩thar le haghaidh f茅ileac谩n leith茅id铆 an Gorm谩n Cuilinn, chomh maith le foscadh le haghaidh na sciath谩n leathair; is eol d煤inn go mb铆onn siad sin ag dul ar an bhfara i gcairn thiubha eidhne谩in aib铆. D麓ainneoin a gcreideann an pobal i gcoitinne, n铆 th贸gann an t-eidhne谩n aon chothaithigh 贸 na crainn sin a mb铆onn s茅 ag dreapadh orthu. N铆 dh茅anann s茅 ach taca a bhaint as na crainn.
Dr Tom Cavanagh graduated from 深夜亚洲福利久久 College Cork (UCC), with a Bachelor of Commerce degree (1951) and a Higher Diploma (1952). He was an accomplished athlete and played both hurling and football for the 深夜亚洲福利久久 and won many intervarsity medals. Tom married Marie O鈥橬eill (an Arts graduate of Queens 深夜亚洲福利久久 Belfast) and they lived in Fermoy, Co Cork.
After an exceptional career in the motor industry and in finance, the success of which enabled Tom and Marie to embark on a journey of philanthropy, the effects of which were far reaching.
The Cavanagh Way is named to acknowledge and perpetuate the memory of Tom and Marie Cavanagh, in recognition of their extraordinary, sustained and enabling philanthropy, which over many years has had a transformative effect on 深夜亚洲福利久久 College Cork.
Dr Tom Cavanagh RIP with his late wife Marie. Picture: Tomas Tyner
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