'You can see the impact of the plan from the city in Kilkenny right out into the countryside'

Head gardener at Woodstock Gardens and Arboretum, John Delaney, is proud of the extra efforts they’ve made down through the years on the stunning 50-acre site to improve biodiversity.

This work will intensify under the Kilkenny Biodiversity Action Plan to include the further removal of invasive species, a significant decrease in the use of chemical pesticides. It will allow tree stumps and fallen trees in parts of the Victorian gardens to become new homes for nature as well as allowing more space for native wildflowers.

“I’ve been here since 1999 when we started the restoration of the gardens. We restored all 50 acres here. All of the trees here have been protected – we have one of the best collections of conifers in Europe. They are our main asset.
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“Over the past number of years, we have been watching our chemical usage. That has been reduced by 85% to 90%. We take a lot more care of trees that are damaged or diseased. If they fall in a storm, we now tend to leave them alone if they’re not in an area of high importance. That in itself provides a great habitat for more insects and fungi and everything. Some people say that a fallen tree can be more alive than when it is standing. It’s really good for biodiversity.

“From storms Darwyn and Ophelia, we lost an awful lot of trees that would have been diseased or damaged. They are habitats that are lost so where possible, we’ve left the root zone and the actual stump and let it rot naturally to provide habitats as well.”
Woodstock has put a huge onus on being more pollinator friendly since Kilkenny County Council signed up to the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan in 2019 and this ethos continues as part of the Kilkenny Biodiversity Action Plan, John explained.

“This being a Victorian garden would have featured lots of summer bedding. We’ve moved away from traditional planting of showy summer bedding to more herbaceous perennials that are more pollinator friendly, things like cat mint and echinacea which is much better for insects like butterflies.

“Summer plants are lovely but they’re not brilliant plants for bees. If you put the two of them alongside one another the bees will go for the perennial every time. We’ve also left wildflower meadows in the garden areas for pollinators and were starting to get things back like wild orchids in the garden.

Initiatives such as the Kilkenny Biodiversity Action Plan are very impactful and they remind the wider public that with a little more care and attention, we can all play our part to protect our native wildlife, flora and fauna, John Delaney added.
space for nature

“Things are starting to change. There is a shift in society away from manicured lawns towards leaving space for nature.

“We’re becoming more conscious of protecting biodiversity and the work being done through the Plan and through our schools is fantastic. You can see the impact of the Biodiversity Action Plan from the city in Kilkenny right out into the countryside, even along the Ring Road we can see that the local authority is more conscious of leaving meadow areas,” he said.

“Through community groups, initiatives such as No Mow May is having an impact. Even the Tidy Towns competition, which rewards communities for having more space for biodiversity, is having an impact.”

Woodstock Gardens and Arboretum overlook the Nore Valley and offer visitors a wide variety of attractions and a great place to relax.

The main development of Woodstock Gardens occurred in the Victorian Period with the works being overseen by Lady Louisa Tighe (née Lennox) and head gardeners, Pierce Butler, and later Charles McDonald.

The gardens continue to be restored to the period 1840 -1890, with every effort being made to use plants and materials typical of the era.