Edit since publication:
BERTRA BEACH WORLD SAND DUNE DAY EVENT – POSTPONED DUE TO YELLOW WEATHER WARNING
We are disappointed to announce that due to adverse weather conditions forecast for Saturday June 25th, we have taken the decision to postpone the family event on Bertra Beach for World Sand Dune Day to ensure the safety of our participants. We apologize for any disappointment caused.
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LEAVE NO TRACE IRELAND, BERTRA CONNECTED AND HELLY HANSEN TO MARK WORLD SAND DUNE DAY WITH PROGRAMME OF EVENTS FOR ALL AGES AT BERTRA BEACH, CO. MAYO
Saturday 25th June
Friday 10th June 2022
On June 25th, Leave No Trace Ireland in collaboration with Bertra Connected and Helly Hansen are marking World Sand Dune day with a packed programme of educational and fun events at Bertra Beach, located 12 km from Westport, Co Mayo.
The programme for the community coastal event will focus on awareness around the value of sand dunes, the potential damage that can be caused to dunes from human activity, what we can do to protect them, the impact of ocean bound materials and a celebration of the marine biodiversity we can find along our coasts.
The Bertra Beach World Sand Dune Day event is part of the ongoing partnership between Bertra Connected and Leave No Trace Ireland with support by Helly Hansen in raising environmental awareness for the responsible use and enjoyment of the outdoors and a renewed appeal not to walk on the fragile dunes at Bertra. The event is also part of Leave No Trace Ireland’s wider programme of education and public information on the importance of care and respect for our outdoors, in this case, sand dunes, and how we can protect them. Sand dunes provide natural protection from coastal flooding and winds during storms, and they act as a natural buffer against the impact of erosion, protecting areas and communities behind them.
Sand dunes are internationally recognised as Special Areas of Conservation and are a vitally important habitat for numerous rare plants and animals, such as lizards, toads and ground-nesting birds.
However, the habitats and ecosystems of sand dunes are fragile and need to be protected from the damage caused by human activities, such as wild camping and setting of campfires, running, walking, climbing and jumping on dune faces, and off-the-lead dogs. By following the Leave No Trace Principles we can all show we Love This Place and help Protect Our Dunes by staying off them, keeping our dogs on a lead, using marked pathways and following the direction of local signage.
Leave No Trace Ireland is engaged in ongoing collaboration on the Protect Our Dunes Campaign with the Atlantic Seaboard North Climate Action Regional Office (CARO), Mayo County Council, NUI Galway, Clean Coasts, Failte Ireland, LGMA, Local Authorities Ireland, Donegal County Council and the Maharees Conservation Association .
The Coastal Community Event at Bertra Beach promises be fun filled with something for everyone to enjoy from Seashore Safaris, Competitions, refreshments and Leave No Trace workshops.
Please register in advance to avoid disappointment. Use the links below to register for the session(s) you wish to attend.
PROGRAMME
9:30 – 10:15 Arrival and registration
Head over to our Leave No Trace team on the day and let us know you’re here.
10:15am – 11:30am Family Seashore Safaris (suitable for ages 8+)
Join our marine biologists, Padraic Creedon and Edmond Aylward, on a Family Seashore Safari. Explore all of the marine life living right on our shore and learn about what we can do to protect them.
We’ll have two Seashore Safaris running from 10:15am. Each session can take up to 15 people. Please register for one of the sessions using the links below.
Register for Family Seashore Safari Group 1 here
Register for Family Seashore Safari Group 2 here
11:30 – 12:00 Refreshments
Registered for a session?
Bring your own coffee cup and receive 1 free beverage!
12:00 – 13:00 Family Sand Dune Building Competition
A sand castle competition with a twist, because building a sand castle is great fun, but building a sand dune to protect it? Even better!
Build your own beautiful sand castle, then using sand and seaweed, build your own sand dune to protect your castle from the elements. A creative and fun way to learn about the importance of our sand dunes. Helly Hansen vouchers to be won on the day!
Register for the Family Sand Dune Building competition here
14:00 – 15:00 Leave No Trace on the Seashore for ages 16+
Join Padraic and Ed to learn how we can protect our fragile sand dunes and apply the Leave No Trace Principles at the coast.
Perfect for residents, community groups, decision-makers, and those with an interest to learn more about environmental care and marine conservation.
We’ll have two Seashore Safaris running from 2pm with up to 15 people per group. Please register for one of the workshops using the links below.
Leave No Trace on the Seashore for ages 16+ Group 1 here.
Leave No Trace on the Seashore for ages 16+ Group 2 here.
Prizes and merchandise on the day too!
We’ll also have some beach clean opportunities in between the sessions. Any waste gathered on the day will be collected by Mayo County Council.
For further information please contact: Rachel Shawe – [email protected]
Media Contact: Grace Fox – [email protected];
Note to editors:
Bertra Connected is an environmental conservation organisation rooted within the heart of the community with a collective aim to protect the future of Bertra Beach and its environs in Co. Mayo.
Leave No Trace Ireland is Ireland’s only outdoor ethics programme, which promotes the responsible use of the outdoors. Through education, research and partnerships, Leave No Trace Ireland enables and supports individuals, communities, organisations and companies in reducing the environmental impact of outdoor activities.
About Helly Hansen
Founded in Norway in 1877, Helly Hansen continues to develop professional grade apparel that helps people stay and feel alive. Through insights drawn from living and working in the world’s harshest environments, the company has developed a long list of first-to-market innovations, including the first supple waterproof fabrics more than 140 years ago. Other breakthroughs include the first fleece fabrics in the 1960s, the first technical base layers in the 1970s, made with Lifa® Stay Dry Technology, and today’s award winning and patented H2Flow™ temperature regulating system.
Helly Hansen is a leader in technical sailing and performance ski apparel, as well as premium workwear. Its uniforms are worn and trusted by more than 55,000 professionals and can be found on Olympians, National Teams, and at more than 200 ski resorts and mountain guiding operations around the world.
Helly Hansen’s outerwear, base layers, sportswear and footwear are sold in more than 40 countries and trusted by outdoor professionals and enthusiasts around the world. To learn more about Helly Hansen’s latest collections, visit www.hellyhansen.com.
