In 2013, in preparation for adding the new pedestrian section onto New Bridge, a survey recorded 23 different lichens and recorded the Daubenton’s Bat catching insects along the river.
Daubenton’s Bat is called the ‘water bat’ and is easily recognised in flight by its low, level flight just above the surface of the river. It skims like a hovercraft above the water in search of caddisflies, mayflies and midges, and may even scoop prey from the water surface using its big feet.
Two non-native plants can be seen here: Ivy-leaved–Toadflax and Himalayan Balsam.
Ivy-leaved–Toadflax can be seen clinging to the mortar of the walls. Though this species was introduced from the Mediterranean in the 17th century, it is not a plant of concern and provides a lovely splash of colour on the walls when in flower. The ferns Wall Rue and Maidenhair Spleenwort also grow on the walls of the bridge. None of these plants cause any damage to the walls and it would be great if space were retained for these plants within the community and that they are retained on the walls.
The invasive plant Himalayan Balsam on the other hand is an extremely invasive species and was also recorded here during the surveys. Invasive species are an increasing problem for Ireland’s native biodiversity. Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam are particular issues in Navan, and you’ll often find them along river banks or roadsides. The first step to dealing with invasives is knowing where they are so that they can be eradicated. This is one of the actions in the Navan Community Biodiversity Plan which will be released in summer 2021.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Get in touch with Wild About Navan to help map our invasive species and protect local wildlife. You can also find more information at www.invasivespeciesireland.com.