Clara Bog Visitor Centre & Nature Reserve

Clara Bog Visitor Centre Timetable of Events for 2013

The Clara Bog Visitor Centre opened on the 1st May and will remain open until the 31st October this year. Admission to the Centre is free and suitable for all ages. Attractions at the centre include interactive multimedia displays, audio visual presentations and picture board information. Visitor Centre opening times are as follows: Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm including bank holidays and Saturdays from 10am to 1pm.

Clara bog is considered the best remaining example of an active raised bog in Western Europe. It contains a very unique flora and provides a habitat for birds like the Curlew whose numbers in Ireland are now critically low. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) have recently installed interpretive panels at various points along the 1km bog boardwalk which will greatly enhance people’s understanding and appreciation of the bog environment.

This year regular weekly events include free guided tours on the boardwalk each Wednesday at 12 noon; meet at the Visitor Centre first. After a busy week why not kick back and relax with our Family Film Fridays at the Visitor Centre at 3pm. Also at the Centre, on every second Saturday morning, beginning 11th May, we will host nature art & craft sessions for children from 10am to 12pm and on the remaining Saturdays there will be themed wildlife walks led by NPWS staff exploring the rich and varied habitats of Clara. Saturday walks will commence on May 18th and every second Saturday thereafter, meeting at 10:30am at the Visitor Centre.

Two kid’s summer camps will run from July 23rd to 26th and from July 30th to August 2nd. The camps are suitable for ages 7 to 12 years old. Our emphasis is on discovery and learning while having fun and encouraging the children to nurture nature. All children will directly participate in activities and over the four days they will be involved in team building exercises such as creating mini wildlife havens to enhance biodiversity, exploring life under the microscope and field trips to interact with wildlife. They will also have an opportunity to explore their own creativity during art and craft sessions. At the end of each camp we will reflect on our recent experiences with nature and what we have learned from them. Places are limited so please, book early to avoid disappointment. For further information and bookings please call or email the Visitor Centre.

During Heritage Week (17th to 25th August) we will be star gazing on the bog, training up mini-rangers with our NPWS conservation rangers, probing the past with dirt-diggers, enjoying wildlife on guided walks and hosting a local history lecture.

Other up and coming events are an evening bat walk around Clara town, the dawn chorus, learning how to better manage our green waste with a Dr. Composter, family fun days and an evening lecture series. Guided tours of the Bog can also be organised, just contact the centre and speak with one of our guides. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for some special events celebrating International Bog Day on July 31st.

Most of our events and tours are free with the exception of the kids’ summer camps.

For more details about our activities you call the centre on 057 9368878 and speak to one of our guides or email: claraguides@environ.ie

Alternatively, like and follow us on Facebook where we regularly update our activity at: www.facebook.com/ClaraBog

Directions: The Visitor Centre is co-located with the library on the Ballycumber Road (R436), Clara, Co. Offaly. Clara Bog lies south-east of Clara town, about 2km from the Visitor Centre on the regional road linking Clara with Rahan.