International Biodiversity Week will be marked this weekend by Fermanagh District Council. Taking place each year in May, this is the week when countries all over the world aim to increase understanding and awareness of the issues, both local and global, that affect biodiversity. And to mark this occasion Fermanagh District Council and Cavan County Council are working in partnership to celebrate the natural wonders we have on our own doorsteps. A number of free, interactive and fun workshops will take place on Bank Holiday Sunday 27th May from 10:00am until 3:00pm in the classroom at the Marble Arch Caves reception building. This will be followed by story telling and a time trail in the Cavan Burren, Blacklion, which will commence at 3:00pm meeting at the road gate outside of the Burren.

Martina Magee, Environment Officer with Fermanagh District Council said, "For many of us, biodiversity is probably a term with which we are not very familiar. Biodiversity is an abbreviation for biological diversity. It is the variety of all living things and embraces all living plants, animals and the ecosystems upon which they depend; it includes everything from the largest tree down to the smallest insect, as well as you and me."

The workshops will be ongoing from 10:00am until 3:00pm and during this time all participants will have the opportunity to learn the skills to make bird and bat boxes, create a bird cake and test their biodiversity knowledge in a series of fun, interactive games and quizzes for adults and children alike.

Interactive and fun workshops in the Marble Arch Caves will be followed by story telling and a time trail in the Burren Forest, Blacklion. This time trail will explore the evolution of our landscape and the transition of the area from ancient to modern times.

For the time trail people are advised to bring warm waterproof clothing and stout footwear. There is no charge for this day.

For further information contact Martina Magee on 028 66 325050 or via e-mail at martina.magee@fermanagh.gov.uk or Anne-Marie Ward on 00353494378600 or via e-mail at amcurley@cavancoco.ie