Navan town was built around the confluence of two mighty rivers: the Boyne and the Blackwater. The higher ground near the rivers is where they set up the original town of Navan. The two rivers have a significant influence on Navan’s biodiversity. They largely retain their natural flow and bank side vegetation, and Navan is fortunate to have corridors of trees, grassland, and water running right through the centre of our town.
Poolboy Bridge crosses the Blackwater here. It is the oldest bridge in Navan town, probably dating to the 14th century. The Irish name (Poll Buidhe) means Yellow Pool and comes from the yellow clays of Flowerhill.
Look up: You might see Swifts, Sand Martins and other birds feeding on aerial insects high above the water. Sand Martins, unlike the House Martin and Swallow, make their nest in the banks of the River. Listen for the sound of the Sand Martin.
Look down: Swifts won't land to drink, but you might see them skimming the river surface having a swig. Many other animals and plants also rely on the water and habitat provided by our rivers. Having access to clean water and a healthy insect population is vital for our local biodiversity, and for us humans too.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Use environmentally safe cleaning products to reduce the impact of chemicals on the Boyne: any water going down our drains has the potential to end up straight in our rivers, especially during high rainfall when the system becomes overloaded with rainwater.
Conserve water to reduce the generation of wastewater which puts pressure on our water treatment plants. Learn more about water quality at www.epa.ie/water.