Plenty to explore in natural heritage

EVEN in a drenching summer in Ireland, there’s no shortage of things to do if you wish to enjoy our natural heritage.

A friend, who walks regularly at weekends all year round, come hail, rain or snow, is dead right when he says you have nothing to fear from the elements once you are appropriately clad and have proper footwear.

This is the International Year of Biodiversity – a term meaning all life on earth – and you don’t have to go too far in this country to experience biodiversity in all its glory. Simple things are beautiful by definition, reminding us of poet Patrick Kavanagh’s memorable line, ‘ordinary things wear lovely wings’.