Booklet offers tips on gardening for biodiversity
EVERY home should have a copy of a delightful little book called ‘Gardening for Biodiversity’ published last week. The little gem comes at a time when people are busy in their gardens but probably have more time and/or more hands on deck this year due to Covid-19.
The new 40-page, full colour, book offers practical tips for all ages to bring gardens to life. It focuses on fun and practical family-friendly projects, but the wider message is that we all have a responsibility to act to halt biodiversity loss.
And if you are more into nature watching in the garden than actual gardening, the booklet has a wealth of information about all the life forms to be seen, so it is an introductory guide to garden wildlife.
First some background. Back in 2018, the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht published an updated version of the National Biodiversity Action Plan to cover the period 2017-2021. One of the aims of the updated plan was to make targeted funding available via a grant scheme for local authorities to implement different aspects of the plan.
Different local authorities came up with different ideas and 38 projects were funded. ‘Gardening for Biodiversity’ was the initiative of Laois County Council.
The brainchild of Juanita Browne, the book was produced by Laois County Council with the assistance of Local Authority Heritage Officers across Ireland, with support from the Department’s National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Heritage Council. Taking a very practical approach, the book details projects to help wildlife of all kinds under a range of headings, with tasks suitable for everyone from the total beginner to the more ambitious DIY enthusiast.
Using the booklet, families can play their part in encouraging nature, inviting birds, butterflies, bees and wildflowers into their gardens. And small steps could make a huge difference to the country’s biodiversity, with a massive total of 145,000 hectares spread among our two million gardens.
With clear instructions by author Juanita Browne and stepby-step drawings by illustrator Barry Reynolds, the guide offers the gardener lots of options to help our biodiversity. A colouring book for children using the beautiful garden wildlife illustrations by Barry Reynolds has also been produced.
‘Gardening for Biodiversity’ and the colouring book for children are available to download free of charge at https://www.chg.gov. ie/how-irish-families-can-cultivate-nature-in-their-own-gardens/ or at https://laois.ie/gardening-for-biodiversity/. Free hard copies may be ordered from your local authority Heritage Office.