Friends of the Earth plan to create a nature garden at Bloom in the Park
Friends of the Earth (FoE) plan to create a nature garden at Bloom in the Park to highlight the vital role of bee-friendly gardening to support these essential pollinators.
FOE will be partnering with permaculture expert and RTE SuperGarden finalist Suzie Cahn to build a nature-friendly ‘postcard garden’ at the event. Bloom in the Park is Ireland’s largest family, food and gardening festival, Bloom and will run from June 1-5.
Permaculture is a holistic system of agricultural and social design principles centred around working with natural ecosystems to provide food, shelter, water & other needs with minimum labour & without depleting the land.
FoE’s nature education garden will showcase how you provide food, shelter and nesting places for important pollinators like bees and other insects.
Bee populations have declined in recent years due to the loss of natural and semi-natural habitats to intensive farmland, forestry and urbanisation, according to the National Biodiversity Data Centre. Population decline has been witnessed across all habitats from grasslands to woodlands, peatlands, and mature hedgerows.
The garden will also include plants that attract beneficial bugs, with clear planter boxes on display to allow visitors to see the soil and worm tunnels.
A pond life tank will also showcase the importance of water in providing habitat for froglets and insects in their first stages of life.
“The entire premise of our Friends of the Earth garden is, not surprisingly, Earth-Friendly,” said Cara Augustenborg, chair of FoE Ireland.
“The structures are made from recycled materials and the plantings will be chemical free to provide food and habitat for beneficial insects and worms.
“Re-connecting with nature and protecting pollinators is essential to a sustainable future. And Bloom is an ideal place to build support for that message.”
The garden will also use peat-free compost to raise awareness about the issue of the use of peat in horticulture among home gardeners.
FoE volunteers will be available to provide top sustainable gardening tips and to provide visitors with information about the People4Soil initiative.
The campaign, run by the Environmental Pillar, is calling on the European Commission to pass a Soil Directive to safeguard Irish and European soils.
If you wish to help FoE to build their bee-friendly garden, you can donate here: https://www.foe.ie/joindonate/donate.html
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