With Green Flag award-winning gardens and an exhibition all about bees, Turlough Park in Co. Mayo is the perfect place to celebrate National Biodiversity Week from 15 to 24 May 2026.

Here are six great ways to connect with our natural world at Turlough Park.  

1. Minibeast Safari 

Sign-up for our Minibeast Safari and Pond Dipping workshop from 3.30pm to 4.30pm on Thursday, 21 May. Suitable for children aged four years plus, find out about the habitats of Turlough Park and discover some of the minibeasts who make their home here! This workshop is facilitated by Michael Chambers from Wild Nephin National Park. Booking required. FIND OUT MORE

2. Green Heritage

Did you know Turlough Park is a Green Flag award-winning garden and a designated Green Heritage site? The awards recognise commitment to sustainability, biodiversity and community pride. Why not take some time during National Biodiversity Week to reconnect with nature with a walk through the leafy gardens of Turlough Park. Keep an eye out for the information points dotted throughout the grounds to learn more about some of the tree species that grow here. FIND OUT MORE

3. Woodland Explorers

The grounds of Turlough Park are home to lots of different habitats with woodland, gardens, lake and river areas. The Museum's 'Woodland Explorer' activity booklet is a great way for younger visitors to learn more on a nature trail through the gardens. Use your keen senses and skills to complete a series of fun nature challenges to finish the trail! Pick up a free Woodland Explorer activity booklet at Museum Reception. FIND OUT MORE

4. Cycle the Greenway

Turn your Museum visit into a day-long excursion using green transport to get here! Start your day out with a cycle from Lough Lannagh in Castlebar and follow a 10km Greenway along the Castlebar River all the way to the gardens of Turlough Park. Bicycle parking is available next to the carpark at the Museum. FIND OUT MORE

5. Explore Irish bees

Discover the remarkable diversity of Irish bees at The Murmur of Bees exhibition on Level D of the main exhibition galleries. The exhibition features examples of every bee species found in Ireland, alongside bees and other insects from around the world. Learn about the differences between honeybees, bumblebees, and the astonishing variety of solitary bees that play a crucial role in our ecosystems. FIND OUT MORE

6. Meet Beir Bua

Did you know that bears roamed our landscape thousands of years ago? Reflect on the ways in which our ecosystems have changed over time at the Beir Bua exhibit on Level A of the main exhibition galleries. Presented as part of The Murmur of Bees exhibition, Beir Bua is an Alaskan brown bear from the Natural History Collection in Dublin, on temporary display in Turlough Park. FIND OUT MORE