Biodiversity at the Sanctuary – March 2026

In the field, very generously leased by the Congregation, the focus is biodiversity – creating a garden space to suit a range of living beings, humans as well as plants, and all God’s little creatures. No chemicals are used, all weeding is done by hand and everything is composted (except invasive plants) as future food for the trees, plants and flowers.
The centre of the field, with an amazing labyrinth and meadow, is packed with native wildflowers. To facilitate this place of beauty into summer, it is all cut to the ground during October, as keeping a low nutrient soil is essential! Yellow rattle, a native meadow plant, was hand sown into areas of the field that had a high volume of grass in November 2025, this will prevent grass from dominating this year.

To add more diversity, native hedging shrubs were planted around the field. When matured, this will create a hedgerow effect. Cuttings from the garden have been gathered into a variety of sizes and left around the edge of the field, all providing a natural home for wildlife. A number of native shrubs were added to the existing native trees and shrubs, primarily Elder, Guelder-rose and Spindle. These shrubs will provide flowers and berries, mainly for birds and pollinators. In addition, four bareroot native shrubs were donated by Coillte to mark the 40th year of Focus Ireland (Hazel, Hawthorn, Bird Cherry and Spindle). Woodland plants such as native ivy, holly, yew, ferns and woodland grass will be sown soon in the most shaded part of the field, providing another new habitat area.
I have really enjoyed my first year as Sanctuary gardener and I am looking forward to another year. You are all most welcome to visit over the Summer and see the magic for yourselves.

Eleanor