Athenry News & Views Spring 2026

Athenry News & Views

Minimalist Gardening For those with a vague interest in using and enjoying your land By Philip Magnier Topic: Helping Wildlife in your Garden

With humanity impinging on wildlife globally, it’s good to help nature out a little. The garden feature and plants below are simple, natural aids to the insects and birds in your garden. Note that a shallow tub of water such as an unused sink (as distinct from a pond) can also help birds, mammals, and bees with drinking and bathing water

Creating a pond in your garden – even a small one – will help creatures like insects, birds and plants thrive. This is especially true for pond life such as frogs, damselflies, dragonflies, and all the flowers that love damp earth, e.g. Yellow Flag Iris, a native to Ireland. It’s possible to dig out a pond yourself: you’ll need a really good liner to keep the water from draining away. Connacht also has several pond installers.

Dandelion: These are a wonder in themselves: yellow flowers as early as March metamorphosising into spherical seed balls after nine to twelve days. They’re important because the flowers feed early pollinators: bees, butterflies, and hoverflies. Then, soon after, the seed heads feed birds like bullfinches and goldfinches. Try leaving patches of them on your lawns before mowing.

Among garden plants, ivy might just be the most beneficial to insects year round. This includes for example providing nectar late in the year to overwintering butterflies. It’s also great for providing cover for birds and insects. It will grow anywhere but it likes shade best.

Verbena bonariensis: This long-blooming flower provides summer nurishment to the pollinator insects and in winter finches can fveed off their seed heads. It’s a beautiful flower and can bloom from June to September/ October in Ireland.

Thanks to Majella Cummins, landscape designer, who provided valuable help with this article.

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