The Search is On to Find Ireland’s Best Biodiversity Gardens

Ireland’s native wildlife is under threat, and gardens have become an essential habitat in the race to protect our declining biodiversity, i.e. the number and variety of different plants and animals that coexist in a given area.

Corrin Hill Ice Cream, in conjunction with BirdWatch Ireland, has launched a campaign to raise awareness about the simple steps we can all take to look after the environment by making the most of biodiversity in our gardens.

Gardeners can play a huge role in protecting our native wildlife by making some simple changes to the way they manage their gardens.  For example, simply planting native plants in a garden will provide more food and shelter for birds, butterflies and many other creatures, and reducing the amount of garden chemicals used, or eliminating them altogether, has enormous benefits to a wide range of struggling species.

Corrin Hill and BirdWatch Ireland believe that gardeners who make special efforts to protect and encourage wildlife deserve proper recognition.  They encourage anyone who has a garden that is brimming with birdsong, butterflies and other wildlife to nominate it.  Entries can be made in five different categories: suburban garden, balcony, public space, rural garden and school gardens.  Gardens will be shortlisted in each category and regional and national winners will be selected.  Prizes include award plaques and funds to spend on the garden itself.

“We decided to become involved with the conservation of biodiversity because of the clear link that it has with our ice cream”, said Thea Murphy of Corrin Hill.  “We are proud of the fact that our ice cream is produced from local milk from lush pastures in North Cork. Traditional, sustainable Irish farming methods have a vital role to play in safeguarding our biodiversity and environment.  Maintaining hedgerows and grazing is essential for the survival of many species of flowers and insects.  Corrin Hill proudly supports such traditional farming methods, as well as environmentally friendly farming schemes such as REPS.”

Commenting on garden biodiversity, Oran O'Sullivan, CEO of BirdWatch Ireland, said, "Gardens have a major role to play in maintaining biodiversity.  There are over 1.5 million households in Ireland and 93,000 new dwellings were completed in 2006 alone.  It is ironic that some traditional farmland species that have decreased in the countryside can actually thrive in the garden environment.  Gardeners in new housing estates on green field sites can lessen the impact of development by planting gardens and open space with wildlife in mind.”  Local authorities also have an important role to play in creating wildlife corridors with native plant schemes, he said.

Full details of how to enter are available on all packs of Corrin Hill Ice Cream and on the Corrin Hill website.

You can also download the competition entry form here.