Dodder Action

Why bee hives won’t be a part of the St Mary’s Priory rewilding project.

When we share that Dodder Action is facilitating the nature restoration in Tallaght Village, people often ask if we are introducing honey-bee hives. Many are genuinely surprised when we say "no". Here is why we are focusing on habitat, not hives:

Honey-bee keeping isn't rewilding. While keeping honey bees has great educational and agricultural value, managed colonies require human intervention. Rewilding is all about restoring natural, self sustaining ecosystems with minimal human interference.

High densities of managed honey bees can actually outcompete Ireland's native wild bees and solitary pollinators for food, sometimes negatively impacting on local wild populations.

The Havens for Nature booklet states "...keeping beehives is not a biodiversity action – it will not help wild pollinators. In fact, too many honeybees can actually cause competition for food with our struggling wild bees."

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Book in for this Milltown Heritage Event on Saturday 26th on these q/r codes!

Brian Tansey photographed this Kingfisher in Milltown yesterday. CLEAN UP his river banks next Saturday 19th, meet 10 am opposite Wilde and Green or in Rathfarnham/Terenure Saturday 19th, meet old footbridge to Bushy Park nearest Tescos. Bring gloves if you have them, we have the rest.

It's Festival time! If you're near Rathfarnham village on SUNDAY 27th September why not drop down. The date on the previous poster was incorrect.

RATHFARNHAM VILLAGE TIDY TOWNS BIODIVERSITY SERIES

This series of Biodiversity Walks and Talks is brought to you by Rathfarnham Village Tidy Towns in conjunction with South Dublin County Council.

Join Clare Hamilton and Codie Preston on Wednesday 16th September for this free Bat Walk and Talk. Book your tickets on Eventbrite.

🌱 Another great day of progress at St Mary’s Priory! 🌱

Today, Dodder Action volunteers were back at the Priory, continuing the work of transforming the grounds into a haven for nature.

💚 We continued digging and preparing the ornamental flower borders, while removing invasive plants that have taken hold.

🌿 And we reached an important milestone — 1,000 native bluebell bulbs have now been planted! 🌱💙 A small step today that will bring a spectacular splash of colour and provide valuable habitat for pollinators in the years ahead.

But what makes days like today really special is the people who come together to make it happen.

We were delighted to be joined by local parishioners, as well as members of Rathfarnham Tidy Towns and Clondalkin Tidy Towns.

And a special thank you to Eugene, who travelled all the way from Beaumont to lend a hand. That's some commitment! 👏

This is what community-led nature restoration is all about — people coming together, sharing skills, getting their hands dirty and giving a little bit of land back to nature.

A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered today. Every bulb planted, every invasive plant removed and every hour volunteered is helping to bring the St Mary’s Priory Rewilding Project to life. 🌳🦋🐝

1,000 bluebells planted. More borders prepared. More nature on its way.

And we're only getting started! 💚