County Wicklow Public Participation Network

03/09/2026

Could Your Organisation Benefit from Volunteers? 🙋🙋‍♂

Volunteers bring energy, skills and fresh perspectives to not-for-profit organisations, helping services grow and communities thrive.

Whether support is needed with administration, events, fundraising, social media, driving, befriending or hands-on activities, the Wicklow Volunteer Centre can help organisations connect with people who are eager to make a difference.

Organisations with volunteer opportunities are encouraged to get in touch with Wicklow Volunteer Centre and share their available roles.

Let Wicklow Volunteer Centre help find the helping hands your organisation needs!

https://volunteerwicklow.ie/
Bray Office: Yvonne @ 085 862 1525 [email protected]
Wicklow Town Office: Fiona @ 086 325 8803 [email protected]

03/09/2026

An Evening of ecology and poetry along the Avonbeg River

Join poet Jane Clarke and the East Wicklow Rivers Trust for an evening of ecology and poetry along the Avonbeg River in the beautiful Glenmalure Valley for Culture Night.

Date: 18th September from 18.30 to 20.00.

Places are limited so please book at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/culture-night-avonbeg-river-poetry-and-ecology-walk-tickets-1997497136707

This event has been supported by Wicklow County Council and the River Basin Management Service.

Join East Wicklow Rivers Trust ecologist Faith Wilson and poet Jane Clarke for a relaxed walk along the Avonbeg river for Culture Night.

03/09/2026

✨ Free YSI Programmes for Youth & Community Groups

Young Social Innovators (YSI) offers a range of free programmes for youth and community groups, supporting young people to explore the issues that matter to them and take meaningful action in their communities.

Through creative and hands-on learning, participants can develop valuable skills including confidence, communication, teamwork, leadership and critical thinking, while building a stronger sense of belonging and active citizenship.

Whether a group is looking for a longer programme, a short-term project or a one-off workshop, YSI has flexible options to suit different groups and needs.

👉 Youth workers and coordinators are encouraged to explore what’s available and discover how YSI can support young people to turn their ideas into positive change.

https://www.youngsocialinnovators.ie/programmes-initiatives/

03/09/2026

Bray Saturday Morning - Join the team of volunteers

We’ll be meeting this Saturday at 10.30am at the main entrance to the People’s Park.

We have a few jobs on the to do list so the more volunteers we have the more we can get done!

We’d like to tidy up around the various entrances.

We also need to do some work on the area around the leaf litter cage at the main entrance. Unfortunately, this area has now become a site for dumped garden waste including a dead cherry tree. There are also black bags in the cage and lots of branches. Unfortunately this contamination means the leaf composting can’t happen as intended and we need to clear it out and start again. Thankfully there are plenty of fresh leaves which can be put in it when we get it cleared out.

Finally, depending on numbers, we’ll be doing some litter picking in the area. We’d particularly like to send a small group over to the Bray North Roundabout to tackle litter there and over the N11 bridge. It’s particularly bad at the moment and is very visible as you enter the town.

All equipment will be provided so just come along on the day. Thankfully the weather looks like it will be better this weekend compared to last week!

Hopefully you can join us.

03/09/2026

🌼 The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2026–2030

The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan (AIPP) brings together sectors and communities across the island of Ireland to create a landscape where pollinators can survive and thrive. Its implementation is coordinated by the National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC).

While pollinators remain in decline, encouraging data from the Citizen Science Bumblebee Monitoring Scheme show that declines appear to have stabilised over the past five years. Local pollinator populations are also increasing in areas where action is being taken to support them.

The ambition of the AIPP, however, is to go beyond simply stopping declines — it aims to reverse them. The evidence so far is an encouraging sign that action is making a difference, but more needs to be done.

Now entering its third phase, the AIPP aims to create a landscape with pockets of nature every 200 metres. Building on the successes of previous phases, the new plan seeks to increase pollinator numbers and create a healthier, more biodiverse landscape for both pollinators and people.

👉 View the new Pollinator Plan:https://pollinators.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AIPP-2026-2030-WEB.pdf

02/09/2026

Join West Wicklow Environmental Network for a Bat Talk & Walk 🦇🌙

WWEN are delighted to let you know about our next event, a Bat Talk and Walk.

DATE: Friday, 11 September, 2026

TIME: 7.30pm to 9.30pm

VENUE: Stratford Lodge, Old Primary School, Church Lane, Baltinglass.

EIRCODE: W91 KX75 (It’s the Eircode for the new school next door to our venue)

REGISTRATION: This is a free event but registration is required as numbers are limited. You can register by email to [email protected] or by completing the form on https://forms.gle/HPWXbZZ1tLKgYJL9A

The Bat talk and walk event will be led by Justin Ivory, Community Water Officer. Justin will give us a Presentation / Quiz on Ireland’s nine bat species before heading outside shortly after sundown. We will explore the area near Baltinglass Abbey and the Slaney River, a short walk from the hall. Using bat detectors, we will learn how to recognise various bats by their pattern and frequency of clicks, taking into account the habitats locally. This promises to be a very interesting and informative event on Irish Bats and their fascinating lives.

Please dress appropriately for the Irish weather and wear suitable footwear.

Attendees under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

01/09/2026

Social Justice Ireland launches their response to Budget 2027.
Wednesday, 7th October at 11am in Buswells Hotel, Dublin 2.

Less than 24 hours after Budget 2027 has been announced, Social Justice Ireland will launch their analysis. This is the first comprehensive analysis of the Budget and will cover aspects such as Poverty, Healthcare, Housing, Just Transition, Welfare, Taxation and others.

Join in person or view the launch online.

Social Justice Ireland launches our response to Budget 2027. Wednesday, 7th October at 11am in Buswells Hotel, Dublin 2. Less than 24 hours after Budget…

31/08/2026

📢🌱Biodiversity Fund Open for Applications
Closing Date: 4pm Friday 2nd October

Communities are invited to apply for funding to protect and restore local biodiversity through a new grant round from Community Foundation Ireland and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Funding is available under two strands:

* Biodiversity Action Plan Development Grants (€6,000 to €10,000) for communities seeking to work with an ecologist to assess local biodiversity, identify priorities and develop an action plan.

* Biodiversity Action Plan Implementation Grants (up to €12,000) for communities ready to put an existing plan into action.

The programme combines the commitment and local knowledge of communities, clubs and landowners with ecological expertise to increase understanding of local biodiversity and support practical conservation measures.

https://www.communityfoundation.ie/newsroom/communities-invited-to-protect-nature/

31/08/2026

🌿 Rathdrum Biodiversity Project - Launch Event

Rathdrum Tidy Towns is launching its new Community Biodiversity Action Plan with ecologist Amy Jennings of Glendalough Organics.

Local people are invited to get involved in activities such as bee, amphibian and bird monitoring, and installing swift and bat boxes.

📅 Saturday 5th September @ 10am
📍 Rathdrum Library

If you are interested in getting involved pop along to their event on the 5th Sept or contact the group via their social media pages.

28/08/2026

🍂 See what’s coming up with Wicklow PPN this Autumn/Winter!

Check out our round-up of Wicklow PPN upcoming events, opportunities and important updates for our member groups and the wider community.

There’s lots to get involved in, so take a look and see what’s coming up over the months ahead.

👉 Click the link to read the latest PPN News: https://countywicklowppn.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/ppn-news-of-events-etc-28th-august-2.pdf