Wild Acres Week
27th August – 4th September 2022
We are excited to announce our programme of events for Wild Acres Week 2022.
The theme for this years event is Biodiversity in Action: deepening our connection with nature.
Through a series of online and in-person events together we will learn more about the intrinsic value of nature, and our place within this wonderfully complex web of life.
“We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us.
When we see land as a community to which we belong,
we may begin to use it with love and respect.”
– Aldo Leopold (Foreword, A Sand County Almanac)
During Wild Acres Week we will explore biodiversity – why it is important, what actions we can take to help protect our environment, and how we can developed a more reciprocal and interconnected relationship with nature. Together we can discover ways to connect more deeply with the world around us.
We have invited various specialists – scientists, artists, environmentalists, and other concerned citizens – to share their insights and stories. Considering this years theme, Biodiversity in Action: deepening our connection with nature, we ask them to discuss their knowledge of biodiversity and their understanding of the interconnectedness between humans and the natural world.
An exciting line up of online and in-person workshops and talks
All events are FREE. All ages welcome!
Schedule of Events
Thursday 25th August
18:20–20:00 » Workshop: Sustainable gardening – Gardening for biodiversity
Westmeath Castlepollard with Sustainable Flower Farmer Anna Browne
More info / Register here: Westmeath Libraries
A wonderful sensory lead in to the Wild Acres Week. Anna Browne is also Biodiversity Ambassadors with our Biodiversity Ambassador Programme: an initiative by Greenhouse Culture, in association with Green Sod Ireland.
Saturday 27th August
10:30–12:00 » Online Workshop: Drawn to Nature
An online workshop with ecological artist Ashleigh Downey
More info / Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/406457042957
13:00–14:00 » In-person Riverwalk: The Carrowbeg River, Westports long wild acre
Westport, Co. Mayo with Biodiversity Ambassador Pat Fahy
More info / Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/406477825117
Monday 29th August
13:00–14:00 » Online Workshop: Traditional Healing Plants
An online workshop with Marina Levitina
More info / Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/406490061717
18:00–19:30 » In-person Workshop: Discover the wonders of the seashore
Sandycove shoreline, Co. Dublin with marine biologist, Mona McCrea
More info / Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/406496380617
Tuesday 30th August
13:00–13:00 » Tea Table Talk
Online in conversation with artist Louisa Crispin @greenhouse.culture
Chatting about her arts practice, and Flight Path Community Project
More info / Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/406515848847
Wednesday 31th August
13:00–14:00 » Online Talk: The Art of Field Notes
with ecological artist Ashleigh Downey
More info / Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/406667351997
19:00-21:00 » Online Talks: Deepening our connection with nature
Speakers include:
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- Neille McLaughlin, Co-Founder of Green Sod Ireland
- Jane Killingbeck, The Work That Reconnects by Joanna Macy
More info / Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/406672366997
Thursday 1st September
13:00–13:30 » Tea Table Talk
Online in conversation with sustainable flower farmer and Biodiversity Ambassador, Anna Browne
@greenhouse.culture
More info / Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/406679739047
19:00-20:30 » Online Talks: Biodiversity in Action
Speakers include:
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- Kate Flood, Waterlands Liaison Officer for Community Wetlands Forum
- Lorcan Scott, Wildlife Officer, Heritage Council Ireland
- Pádraic Fogarty, Ecologist and Environmental scientist
More info / Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/406687923527
Saturday 3rd September
10:30–12:00 » In-person Workshop: Family Field Explorers
with ecological artist Ashleigh Downey
More info / Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/family-field-explorers-a-workshop-with-ecological-artist-ashleigh-downey-tickets-408274488987
Sunday 4rd September
13:00–16:30 » In-person Event: Reconnection with nature
Join an ecologist, an ecological artist, and the caretaker of Redbog for a mindful meander with Nature.
Together, combining art, ecology, and slow sensory explorations we will connect with the Green Sod Ireland site at Redbog, Co. Carlow
More info / Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/406691624597
Join us for Wild Acres Week 2022
“When we deepen our connection with nature, we can then protect and preserve biodiversity well. Together…”
– Ashleigh Downey
“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”
– Helen Keller
Wild Acres Week 2022 is designed by Ashleigh Downey, Green Sod Ireland’s Environmental Arts Coordinator, and Biodiversity Ambassador Programme Coordinator. First presented in 2021, Wild Acres Week started as a co-creation with Green Sod Ireland volunteer Michelle Tighe. Thank you Michelle for your continued support. Also a sincere thank you to all the Green Sod Ireland volunteers who helped this event bloom: Cian Kiely Cuddy, Áine Lawless, Rory Maccanna, Jenny Cunningham, Natasha Davis. A huge thank you to you, and all our amazing volunteers.
Another sincere thanks to all our amazing #biodiversityambassadors for your passion, drive, and extremely important work you all do to protect wild acres and its biodiversity. Also a sincere thanks to Cian for his role as assistant coordinator for BAP; without his hard work and amazing administration skills this programme would not be possible.
Ashleigh launched the Biodiversity Ambassador Programme in 2021; a community action focused initiative by Greenhouse Culture, in association with Green Sod Ireland. We are delighted to have some of the Biodiversity Ambassadors included in the Wild Acres Week programme of event. Again, thank you.
This community focused initiative is kindly supported by Rethink Ireland.
