Biodiversity

The Biodiversity Plan for Offaly is incorporated into the Offaly Heritage Plan 2017-21

The Biodiversity Action Strategy for Offaly - by John Feehan for Offaly County Council was adopted in 2005. Actions for biodiversity are included in the Offaly Heritage Plan as this covers natural and built heritage.

County Offaly, State of the Wild, 2007 compiled by John Feehan states the 2007 lists the knowledge about each taxonomical group in the county - A hard copy is available free from the Heritage Office . The National Biodiversity Data Centre now collates records and can be searched for the status of species in Offaly - see www.biodiversityireland.ie

List and Description of Natural Heritage Sources for County Offaly, Stephen Heery, 2020. Please email the heritage office if you know of a study not listed here.

The All Ireland Pollinator Plan provides guidelines and advice see www.pollinators.ie

Gardening for Biodiversity has a tremendouse range of ideas presented in an engaging booklet which can be downloaded or a copy can be requested from heritage@offalycoco.ie  or you can download a copy Gardening for Biodiversity by Juanita Brown

Reports Commissioned

• Offaly Barn Owl Survey BirdWatch Ireland 2021 
• Offaly Hedgerow Study, N. Foulkes and A. Murray, 2005
• Offaly Esker Study, Mary Tubridy and Associates, 2006
• Glinsk Tufa springs, -Glinsk tufa springs, Kinnitty, Co Offaly, Stephen Heery 2010
• Offaly Tufa Springs, Stephen Heery, 2007
• Flora Protection Order Species in Offaly, Fiona Devery 2007
• Bats and Bridges in Offaly - Brian Keely, 2007
• Avifauna of Bridges in County Offaly- Alex Copland, BirdWatch Ireland 2007
• Offaly Swift Survey 2017 BirdWatch Ireland 2017

Articles of Offaly Interest

Birds in Central Ireland by Stephen Heery produced for the Midland Tribune 2019

Useful Publications

• Saving Swifts by BirdWatch Ireland - Department of Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht
• Birds in Central Ireland - Mid Shannon Bird Reports covering four year periods - copies available from sheery@eircom.net.
• Conserving Hedgerows A Heritage Council supported publication - or email heritage@offalycoco.ie for a copy
• Conserving Bats A Heritage Council supported publication - or email heritage@offalycoco.ie for a copy
• Conserving and Enhancing Wildlife in Town and Villages A Heritage Council supported publication - or email heritage@offalycoco.ie for a copy
• John Feehan wrote a very comprehensive publication the Bogs of Ireland. This is now out of print but CD copies can be obtained for €10.00 by emailing Bernard Kay at bernard.kaye@ucd.ie

Author: John Feehan Published by: Offaly County Council 2009 Available From: Bookshops via Mercier Press. Currently in stock in Midlands Books, Balcony Books, Allways Outdoor  Shop, Tullamore. Birr Castle Demesne Shop or on line www.mercier.ie Price: €40 RRP 'A revelation of Offaly's wildflower beauty and diversity by one of Ireland's top ecologists and communicators of nature. His up-close-and-personal portraits give each plant a vivid and distinctive presence, aided by superlative illustrations - another landmark in books about our countryside.' Michael Viney For sample double spreads see Bog Rosemary and Honeysuckle For more information click here.