Riverwood Biodiversity Group

23/06/2026

🌻 Young Gardeners Helping Nature Thrive! 🌻

On Monday, 22nd June, the 6th Class pupils from St Patrick's National School visited the Riverwood Biodiversity Group's Wildlife Gardening Exhibition Area and planted out a beautiful display of sunflowers.

The students got hands-on experience learning about biodiversity, pollinators, and the importance of creating wildlife-friendly spaces in our community. Their enthusiasm and hard work will help provide a valuable source of food and habitat for insects throughout the summer.

A huge thank you to the pupils and teachers of St. Patricks National School for their contribution to our biodiversity project. We look forward to watching the sunflowers grow and bloom in the weeks ahead! 🌱🐝🦋

22/06/2026

🌿 Put a Shape on It! 🌿

"Put a shape on it" is the mantra of Riverwood Biodiversity Group when creating and protecting habitat for our native insects, birds, mammals, and flora.

As part of the groups biodiversity efforts, we have mown a neat strip along the footpath side of the No Mow Verge on Riverwood Road. The remainder of the verge was left untouched to give nature the opportunity to flourish and what a result! We are delighted to find pyramidal orchids in abundance and even two Bee Orchids. These remarkable wildflowers are listed in the IUCN Red Data Book, and they're thriving right here in Riverwood, Dublin 15!

Our recent work also included:
🌳 Strimming around the new orchard in Riverwood Court
🌼 De-weeding and tidying the kerbside at our Pollinator Patch in Riverwood Glebe/Chase
🦋 Maintaining our Wildlife Gardening Exhibition Area at Riverwood Copse

Throughout all of this, we continue to fulfil our biodiversity mission while respecting our neighbours and keeping our shared spaces looking cared for and welcoming.

Nature can thrive when we give it a chance. Thank you to everyone who supports our efforts to make Riverwood a richer place for wildlife and people alike. 💚

Castleknock Tidy Towns Cllr John Walsh Castleknock Tidy Towns Clonsilla Tidy Towns Riverwood Residents Association Laurel Lodge Environmental Group

21/06/2026

We are delighted to release a new resource ‘How to Manage Community Gardens for Pollinators‘. This booklet, developed in collaboration with Community Gardens Ireland, provides guidance on how these important community spaces can support pollinating insects. It was launched on … Continued

18/06/2026

Protecting our gardens and green spaces in Riverwood and beyond from invasive species will be brought into sharp focus during Invasive Species Week 2026 from 22-28 June..🦝 🐿️ 🦜 🐢 🐜 🐞 🦠 🌱 🦀 🦐 🐠

🗓️ For a full list of events happening nationwide and online all next week, see https://invasives.ie/events/

Here's just one event that caught our eye!🤓
Limerick City and County Council are hosting a Free Online Webinar: Invasive Species next Wednesday, 24 June 2026.

16/06/2026

14/06/2026

🍎🍐 Fruit growing in Riverwood Court Orchard! 🍐🍎

It's lovely to see the fruit trees thriving, with plenty of fruit now developing in the orchard. The trees are looking healthy and it's wonderful to see the rewards of all the care and attention that has gone into creating this community space.

Community orchards not only provide delicious fruit but also support biodiversity by offering food and habitat for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.

Here's hoping for plenty of sunshine and a bumper crop this year! ☀️🍎

12/06/2026

🌸🦋 Exciting Biodiversity Discoveries in Riverwood Estate!🦋🌸

It's always rewarding to see the results of wildlife-friendly management, and this week brought some wonderful discoveries in Riverwood Estate!

Growing along the uncut verges, we found beautiful **Pyramidal Orchids** in bloom. These striking pink-purple wild orchids are one of Ireland's most distinctive native orchid species. They thrive in nutrient-poor grasslands and roadside verges, making uncut areas an important refuge for them. Their nectar-rich flowers attract a wide range of pollinators, including butterflies, moths, and bees.

Even more exciting was the discovery of a **Bee Orchid** plant. This remarkable orchid is famous for its flowers, which resemble a bee. Bee Orchids are relatively uncommon and are a wonderful indicator of healthy grassland habitats. Their presence highlights the importance of allowing wildflowers to flourish and reducing mowing in suitable areas.

At the pollinator patch, we also spotted several **damselflies**. These elegant insects are close relatives of dragonflies and are important predators, helping to control small insects such as midges and mosquitoes. Damselflies spend much of their lives as aquatic larvae before emerging as the colourful adults we see during the summer months. Their presence is often a sign of a healthy environment with good biodiversity.

These sightings show how simple actions such as creating pollinator-friendly areas and leaving some verges uncut can provide valuable habitats for a wide range of species.

A huge thank you to everyone supporting biodiversity initiatives in Riverwood Estate. 🌼🐝🦋

11/06/2026

🦔 Riverwood Biodiversity Group - Hedgehog Hunt Update! 🦔

After an evening search in Porterstown Park and Riverwood Estate, we didn't spot any hedgehogs, or hedgehog poo 💩 which is also valuable information for the Great Big All-Ireland Hedgehog Count and can be recorded as part of the survey.

The good news is that we did see several pipistrelle bats swooping overhead as darkness fell always a wonderful sight and a reminder of the wildlife that shares our local green spaces. 🦇

No hedgehogs this time, but every survey helps build a better picture of our local biodiversity.

Have you spotted any hedgehogs or signs of hedgehogs in your area? Let us know below! 🦔💚

10/06/2026

Discover the fascinating world of Ireland's squirrels and pine mart...

09/06/2026

🦔 The Great Big All-Ireland Hedgehog Count is underway! 🦔
The Great Big All-Ireland Hedgehog Count began on Monday, 8 June and everyone can help.
As there has been very little research carried out on Ireland's hedgehog population, this important citizen science project aims to gather information on the size and status of our hedgehog population across the country. Every sighting recorded will help researchers better understand how hedgehogs are faring in Ireland and support future conservation efforts. (hedgehogsireland.com)
We are encouraged to have a careful look around our gardens and near the edges of hedges in local green areas and submit any sightings to the National Biodiversity Centre. Hedgehogs are nocturnal, so the best time to spot them is from around 10.00 pm onwards.
🦔 Please remember:
✅ Record and submit any hedgehog sightings on the National Biodiversity Data Center website: https://records.biodiversityireland.ie/.../hedgehog...
✅ Lookaround your garden and near the edges of hedges in local green areas
✅ Hedgehogs are nocturnal, so the best time to spot hedgehogs is from 10pm onwards
❌ Do not disturb, handle or pick up hedgehogs
❌ Do not disturb nests or nesting areas
❌ Do not enter private property without permission
For more information about the count and how to take part, visit:
🦔 Hedgehog Conservation Ireland
Every sighting counts!
Have you spotted a hedgehog in your garden or local area recently? Let us know in the comments! 🦔

Castleknock Tidy Towns Clonsilla Tidy TownsRiverwood Residents AssociationTidy Towns BlanchardstownCllr. Siobhan ShovlinCllr John WalshRoderic O'Gorman TD