The difference we made
Following a comprehensive campus audit and planning workshops, we recommended a phased, landscape-scale programme that re-imagined the University’s 130 acres as a connected mosaic of habitats aligned to the Biodiversity Action Plan. Working closely with Estates, ecologists and student groups, we “opened up” conventional lawns into meadow networks by shifting to seasonal cut-and-lift regimes, stitching these areas together with native hedgerows and pollinator corridors.
We introduced swales and wet meadow pockets to slow and cleanse surface water, repurposed leaf litter and green waste into compost to feed planting, and specified durable Irish limestone and fine gravel for discreet desire-line paths that protect roots while improving access. Pollinator-friendly schemes—bulb drifts, heathers, herbaceous borders and flowering shrub structure—were layered for nectar from early spring through late autumn, complemented by bee bricks, bird and bat boxes at key nodes.
Invasive species were methodically managed and replaced with locally appropriate natives; simple interpretation and campus wayfinding make the changes legible and educational. The result is a resilient, low-input landscape that supports the University’s All-Ireland Pollinator Plan commitments and Green Flag standards, while offering students and staff richer daily contact with nature—living proof that careful maintenance, not just new build, can transform place.
