"Biodiversity" means biological or species diversity. It is the total variety of all life on earth and people are an integral part of it. We depend on biodiversity for quality of life. Healthy ecosystems provide us with clean water and air, food security, medicines etc.

Our boglands provide vital carbon sinks whilst also playing host to numerous species of flora and fauna. Our hedgerows provide much-needed corridors for wildlife at a time when our hedgehog and farmland bird population is in decline. 

Biodiversity is also deeply intertwined with our folklore, as highlighted in many of the stories recorded by Ireland's schoolchildren in the late 1930s Schools' Collection (Dúchas) - National Folklore Collection.

As the famous German-American entomologist & ecologist, Thomas Eisner, once said: "Biodiversity is the greatest treasure we have. Its diminishment is to be prevented at all cost". 

• New Ross Swift Survey Talk - Join Tara Adcock of Birdwatch Ireland for a talk on survey work they are currently carrying out for Wexford County Council in New Ross Town.
• Wild Bee Festival 2026 - a weekend of talks, walks and workshops aimed at the community sector to raise awareness of pollinators, and actions that can be taken to help them. 
• "Inside the Gate" Open Farm Day - You are invited to step inside the farm gate this August as two Wexford farms open their farm gates as part of 'Inside the Gate', a nationwide family-friendly open farm day organised by Farming For Nature. 
• Launch of All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2026-2030 - learn about the All‑Ireland Pollinator Plan 2026–2030, a five‑year biodiversity strategy which aims to create ‘pockets of nature every 200 metres’ across Ireland. The plan has 50 strategic aims, 75 success metrics, and support from 129 partner organisations. 
• Community Foundation Ireland's Biodiversity Fund - find out more about when this fund is due to open and who is eligible to apply. 
• Wexford Naturalists' Field Club (WNFC) September Lecture "Natural Flood Management" by Dr. Mary Bourke, Trinity College Dublin - Learn about the importance of natural flood defences from Dr. Mary Bourke whose research and advocacy efforts aim to mitigate the impact of climate change and extreme weather events on communities and the environment.
• Did you Know? - scroll down to see this month's little nugget of information!🐞 

Until next month! 

The Climate Action Wexford Team. 

Learn more about this inspirational bird and how the community of New Ross can help support them locally. 

Swifts spend most of their lives in flight, drinking, feeding, mating and even sleeping in the air. Non-breeding Swifts can spend up to a year or more in continuous flight.  They are among the fastest of birds, able to reach speeds of over 110km per hour. 

• Date: Tuesday, August 18, 2026
  
  
• Time: 6:00pm - 6:45pm
  
  
• Location: New Ross Library 

Booking essential - please click here for details of how to book.

It is necessary to check in at the library desk before the event commences.

Should you require any additional supports to enable you to fully participate in this or any library event, please contact New Ross library on 053 9196722.

Community Foundation Ireland’s Biodiversity Fund is running again this year in partnership with the National Parks & Wildlife Service.

It will be opening on Monday August 24th and closing on Friday 2nd October.

Information on the grant round will be available on the ‘Applying for Funding’ page on the Community Foundation Ireland website in the lead-up to the opening date.

The Biodiversity Fund has two strands:

1. Applicants who want to work with an ecologist to create a Community Biodiversity Action Plan (CBAP) with an ecologist.
2. Applicants who want to implement actions/recommendations contained in their CBAP.

CBAPs are housed here on a site managed by the National Biodiversity Data Centre.