Lough Boora Discovery Park presents an ever-changing canvas where sculptures emerge from the landscape against a backdrop of wildflowers, grasslands, lakes and wetlands in the heart of Ireland. Local and migrant wildlife seeks out this haven for nature and as the months pass, the sounds and sights of the park evolve with a myriad of colours and shapes.
Activities vary throughout the year, from a cool and crisp morning cycle in the winter to a long summer’s walk in the twilight. Anglers cast their rods into the park’s lakes so long as the ice hasn’t set, with avid bird watchers scoping out the resident and migratory species from the local bird hides.
Discover and explore the wonder of Lough Boora throughout the seasons.
Autumn
The thorny Brambles produce their Blackberries, Elderberries are in full bloom and the Devil’s-bit Scabious brings its vibrant violet hues to autumn at the park. Grab your bike and your bird watching gear to explore the cycle trails as the Merlin, Hen Harrier and migrant birds start to land in Lough Boora. The Bullrushes and many varieties of Mushrooms dot the wetlands and grasslands.
Visit Lough Boora during the autumn months and spot the:
- Grey Partridge
- Merlin
- Hen Harrier
- Irish Hare
- Otter
- Fox
- Millenia Grasses
- Vibernum
- Hawe Berries
- Scots Pine
- Tikslus Spruce
- Lodgepole Pine
Winter
Grab your camera and your warmest clothes! Winter in Lough Boora is a magical time when grasslands change colour from green to brown as they are touched by the morning frost. Wildlife frolic around the frozen lakes and wetlands and frosty snow clings to bare branches and raw grasslands. The sculptures stand out in striking contrast against the cooler tones displayed across the site. Hearty pine and spruce trees weather the chilly climate, adding another dimension to the rugged landscape.
Visit Lough Boora during the winter months and spot the:
- Whooper Swans
- Starlings
- Golden Plover
- Curlew
- Wigeon
- Teal
- Millenia Grasses
- Vibernum
- Hawe Berries
- Scots Pine
- Lodgepole Pine
Spring
Come and enjoy the fresh spring air in Lough Boora. This is a time of year with plenty to see as the park comes to life after the dull of winter. The trees and flowers begin to bud and grow and evenings begin to grow longer. Lough Boora offers a perfect environment for photography as the warm sunset offers some intriguing shadows and angles to the sculptures and landscape.
Visit Lough Boora during the spring months and spot the:
- Robin
- Red Shank
- Green Shank
- Heron
- Hares
- Rabbits
- Napweed
- Catkins
- Viola
- Dandelion
Summer
Come for a walk, cycle, fishing or even a picnic as Lough Boora offers a perfect venue for a summer day out. There is plenty to see and do for all ages and abilities at this time of year. Take in the summer sunshine as you walk around and spot the raspberries, strawberries and blackberries. See the walkways and fields fill with colour as the bog cotton, butterfly orchids and ox-eye daisies come into season. Watch the swans gracefully move around the lakes, which become dotted with water lilies.
Visit Lough Boora during the summer months and spot the:
- Squirrels
- Hares
- Cowslips
- Bog Cotton
- Butterfly Orchids
- Water Lilies
- Ox-eye Daisy
- Willow Herb
- Strawberries
- Swan
- Partridge
Visit Lough Boora throughout the year to experience the changing landscape and biodiversity.
Please remember to respect the nature and conservation value of Lough Boora Discovery Park.