1. Habitat Heroes Clonegal National School Biodiversity Project 2015 - 2016

2. Who can become a Habitat Hero? YOU WHY - because you care

3. HABITATS these are the ‘homes’ that the wild creatures need to live in HEROES the heroes are YOU because you want to help wild creatures who are important in our world

4. Become a Hero and a Champion Just like us all creatures need a place to live When humans need to build things we often deprive wild creatures of their homes But we can become CHAMPIONS and help create ‘homes’ for wild creatures Wild creatures need their own kind of homes in order to be healthy and happy.

5. Organism = a living thing. Plants and animals are living things. Habitat = is a place where a group of organisms live together. An example is a marine habitat. Ecosystem = is a physical place that includes all living elements such as plants and animals and non-living physical elements such as rocks, water, air and soil. In an ecosystem all the living and non-living elements function together as a unit. An ecosystem can be very small, like a school pond or very big like an ocean. Biodiversity

6. Take the first step and open your eyes Take five minutes outside each day and look at what is going on in your school garden and at home in your own garden What plants do you see? What animals do you see? How can you help creatures feel safe in your garden?

7. Some of the habitats where you can be a hero Make or improve habitats for creatures in your school garden and at home Create awareness by talking about habitats with your family and friends BirdsBees ButterfliesHedgehogs BatsLadybirds

8. Plant the right flowers

9. Encourage ladybirds in the garden Look after bumblebees

10. Who are these creatures?

13. Make a Hedgehog home Name your heroes Could this be Harry or Harriet ?

14. Lichens are found everywhere in ireland. They grow on rocks, walls, trees, bushes, on sawn timber and even on glass. Some lichens grow really fast, others grow very slowly. You will see lichens grow on walls and trees as blotches of different colour. Some are white or grey or yellow. Some look like mini shrubs, especially if they are on trees. The playground in your school probably has lichens growing in it. Maybe they are on the wall, especially the top, or on some of the trees. There are over 1100 different types of lichens in Ireland. This is a very large number for such a small country. Ireland has a fantastic lichen biodiversity. http://ispynature.com/home.php?m=lichens-ie Lichens Lichens are indicators of pollution and let you know about the environment around you. Some lichens hate pollution and will die. For example, if the air is polluted Usnea will die. (Lichens.ie) Usnea - is thread-like and grows in tufts on branches

16. Sample projects Put up a bird box Make a home for a hedgehog Create a home for solitary bees Make a home for bumblebees Be kind to the earth and do not use chemicals Class 1Class 2 Class 3Class 4 Class 5Class 6

17. Identifying Habitats 

19. Create a habitat for bees

20. Creating a home for Bees Many bees require an undisturbed location for nesting sites. Some use openings in walls or hollowed out canes from roses or raspberries. Others burrow tunnels into soil. Spend time outside watching what visits your garden, creating a list of the types of insects you see. Provide refuge with food, water and shelter for creatures large and small.

21. CREATURE COMFORTS Set up Habitat guides in your classroom

22. HABITAT HERO AWARD Name: ________________________ For their project on ----------- For creating habitat awareness about ----- For the poem/essay on ------------- For your great conduct in creating awareness Clonegal National School Date: ___________________________