Beekeeping and producing honey are topics that are often fraught with misconceptions. Pollinators and especially bees, deservedly so, have had quite a bit of media attention in recent years. Some relevant and accurate coverage and some not so much. Yes, Bee’s certainly are in big trouble. ‘More than half of Ireland’s bees have undergone substantial declines in their numbers since 1980. The distribution of 42 species of wild bees has declined by more than 50%’. National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC) Headlines frequently used are “Save The Bees” “Bees in Trouble” etc. Often and mistakenly, the ..read more

Delighted to be selected as finalists in the Leadership in Biodiversity category of the Business & Finance ESG awards taking place 18th April 2024 ..read more

What a pleasure to be interviewed by Catherine Cleary for the Pocket Forest Podcast March 2024 following the planting of our Pocket Forest at Wildacres. Pocket Forest Podcast https://www.pocketforests.ie/our-podcast ..read more

Honoured to be nominated for the Eco Group of the Year category at the Outsider Magazine Awards in February 2024   ..read more

Very proud to be one of the 21 ‘Sustainable Irish Names to Know Now’ in House & Home magazine Jan/Feb 2024       ..read more

One of many frogs at Wildacres We have recorded large amounts of frogspawn this Spring, having noted it in 26 of our now, 35 wildlife ponds. This is so heartening to see, a real “Good News” Biodiversity story. We have found frogspawn in nearly all our ponds   Exciting to see the volume of frogspawn When we checked we found masses of fresh frogspawn, a lot of which was well above the waterline, deposited on the grass. Rescuing frogspawn above waterline   As this would quickly desiccate in the sun, we collected all the spawn which was not in water. The result was five full buck ..read more

  It is that time of year again when our wonderful native Ivy is in blossom. Not the sort of display of blossom that is going to turn heads or win a Gold at The Chelsea Flower Show. Well, unless the judging panel was made up of a team of Solitary Bees, Bumblebees, Honeybees, Butterflies, Moths, Bats, Birds and much more! Because Ivy is one of those rare plants that caters for a huge range of species. It is without doubt, one of our most important native plants, in relation to the amount of biodiversity it supports. Unfortunately, like a lot of the plants that are vital for biodiversity, s ..read more

  Professor Jane Stout (TCD) filmed on location at Wildacres Watch on RTE Player – A Note for Nature ..read more

  Well, they would be in our Belfry if we had a Belfry! Though we are just as happy to report they are present and flitting around in good numbers on Wildacres Nature Reserve. Daubentons Bat (Myotis daubentonii) hunting over open water. Catching insects from the water surface. Adobe Images.   Even more heartening is the fact we have had confirmed that we have eight of our nine native Bat species present. We were thrilled to learn that included the deemed to be now rare, Natterers Bat. Flying Rare Natterer’s bat (Myotis nattereri) at night – distinctive white belly. Adobe Images ..read more

  What stunning native wildlife we have here in Ireland often just waiting for us to discover it and unlock a world of fascination and beauty. As is the case with our wonderful dragonflies, which can be seen during Summer and into Autumn on freshwater bodies all around the country. One of those dragonflies that can be spotted in many such locations at the moment, is the dazzling Emperor Dragonfly. It can be seen on larger ponds, on lakes and canals during June, July and August. They are highly active on warm sunny days patrolling their territories, hunting and ultimately looking for a mat ..read more