Clonakilty Biodiversity Garden

Flynn Furney Environmental Consultants were approached by Clonakilty Tidy Towns Group, County Cork, to advise on ecological considerations for a proposed biodiversity garden for the area, at Bennett’s Mill Field. During an onsite meeting, the proposed site, Flynn Furney Environmental Consultants advised the group on the biodiversity value of existing stone walls, briars, grassland, dead wood on the site, and the adjacent river for biodiversity.

Following the site walk through, Flynn Furney Environmental Consultants were asked to design all aspects of the park, and to encompass an area in the design for the installation of a separate garden that was to be presented at the Bloom Garden festival. A design was developed that aimed to promote community engagement and to raise ecological awareness in the community, including children. The design aims to celebrate the biodiversity within the park and took account of the zonation of this area as a flood area.

The park hosts a biodiversity pond, the retention of a riparian buffer and river views, wildflower meadow, treeline, fruit trees and a community vegetable garden. This vegetable garden is a tool to teach people about the value of pollination and raises awareness of our dependency on ecosystems. The aim of the biodiversity friendly vegetable garden is to encourage horticultural education and biodiversity awareness among all age groups. It is hoped the garden will encourage users and visitors to apply the same practices to their own gardens, leading to a network of nature-friendly gardens around the town!