CIEEM 2025 Ireland Conference - Field Trip to Beaumont Quarry

To book a place on the CIEEM 2025 Ireland Conference please use this link: CIEEM 2025 Ireland Conference 10th April

 

Summary

CIEEM is excited to run a afield trip as part of this year’s Ireland Conference.

Beaumont quarry is an old, abandoned limestone quarry that lies adjacent to Pairc Uí Rinn and Temple Hill, just southeast of Cork city centre. It is very important for local biodiversity and wildlife conservation.  Join Gill Weyman and Kerri Sonnenberg as they walk around this unique site in Cork city.

Description

Beaumont Quarry was mined for its limestone, of which many buildings in Cork City have been constructed from including the Bewick Fountain, Saint Finbarre's and the Courthouse. 

It is now owned by Cork City Council and Cork Nature Network have an agreement with Cork City Council Parks Department to oversee the management plan for the site.

The site covers 9 acres (3.6 ha) and has 10 habitat types (Fossitt, 2000). One noted important one being Dry Calcareous/neutral grassland GS1.  It is also home to the Little Robin (Geranium purpureum), a rare species, only found occasionally growing in the South and South-east of Ireland. The site has a network of caves as well as a Wet Willow Woodland (WN6). The site experiences many challenges linked to urban green spaces including invasive species, and threats to habitat loss.

Join us in Cork on the 9th April to explore this unique site.

*Booking preference will be given to those attending the conference on the 10th of April.

Your speakers:
Gill Weyman - is chair and founder member of Cork Nature Network that manages Beaumont Quarry in partnership with Cork City Council. Gill has worked in New Zealand, UK on ecological projects plus worked on Corncrakes in Ireland as a fieldworker. She has a MSc in Environmental Science, Post Grad Cert in Marine Planning and is currently writing up research on Coccinellidae in Ireland.

Kerri Sonnenberg is the Activities Manager for Cork Nature Network. She has managed a number of projects including Creative Connections in Beaumont Quarry and Marine Schools workshops. She has a wide range of experience including courses such as Leave No Trace & MTU in Nature Animation, species ID with the Field Studies Council, and is currently completing a course with UCD in Green Care.

Please let us know if you intend to meet us on site before the event elizabeth@cieem.net

The site has rough terrain and is only accessible to those with good mobility. Please wear weather appropriate clothing. There is no toilet on site, so please arrive at Fota Island Resort prior to meeting time to use the facilities prior to travelling to Beaumont Quarry.

Knowledge Level

Suitable for all

Prior Knowledge

None

Tickets