Eco Notes June 2025
Building a nature reserve
A recent article in thejournal.ie (Read the article in full here) describes how Gilly Taylor and Brian O’Toole established a nature reserve at Wildacres. Below are verbatim extracts, with Gilly’s permission, where she describes so vividly both the urgency of our biodiversity and climate crisis and the wonder of watching biodiversity return to previously sterile land.
“Biodiversity is not the poor relation of climate; it is the twin sister. We need to solve both crises simultaneously to ensure sustainability. And the good news? We have the solutions. Change is possible. The challenge? We need to implement those solutions faster.
“The first couple of years were tough because the land had been a desert for wildlife for decades, having been intensively grazed. The place seemed dead, devoid of bird song and the buzz of insects. We excitedly started planting native woodland and hedgerow, creating wildlife ponds and blocking land drains, initiating the natural regeneration of wildflower meadow, restoring and repairing the riparian zone along the riverbank.
“It wasn’t too long before the magic began to happen. Frogspawn appeared in the ponds in giant gelatinous rafts, iridescent dragonflies showed up and showed off their dazzling aerobatic displays, wildflowers reawakened after years of slumber from the soil seed bank, birds moved in variety and abundance, including Great Spotted Woodpecker and Kingfisher. Insects gradually became more prolific, and wild mammals such as Pine Marten and Otter, although elusive, started to expose themselves on our trail cameras.
“Every positive action for biodiversity makes a difference. Putting a window box of native wildflowers on your windowsill provides pollen and nectar for pollinators; putting a bird bath on your balcony provides drinking water and bathing facilities for our feathered friends; planting a native hedge in your garden provides shelter and food for insects, small mammals and birds. Even creating a wildlife pond on your farm provides habitat for all manner of flora and fauna, while planting native trees in your community space or around your business premises will sequester tonnes of carbon for hundreds of years. The time to act is now.
No Mow May – Let it Bloom June – Help it Fly July. For anyone who owns a lawn mower – using it only to cut pathways and borders in your grassy space, throughout spring and summer, is the simplest action to take to bring biodiversity back. The stunning native perennial wildflowers and wild grasses that thrive in the uncut areas will attract a host of pollinators such as butterflies and bees, and other important creatures. And the beauty is, it gives you more time to relax and watch nature coming back. There’s no need to buy wildflower seed mixes, fertiliser or chemicals. Just maybe a scythe to cut in the autumn after flowering has finished, and the seed is set for next year.”
If you’d like to check out their summer tours and workshops see What’s On at Wildacres.