Turning faith communities into Havens for Nature in Mayo

FAITH communities across Mayo are being encouraged to play a leading role in tackling the biodiversity crisis with the launch of Havens for Nature: Supporting Biodiversity in Faith Grounds, a new booklet commissioned by the Heritage Council in collaboration with local authority biodiversity and heritage officers.

The project was developed with guidance from Jane Mellett, church outreach manager at Trócaire and a member of the Laudato Si’ Working Group.

The booklet invites churches and faith groups to return at least 30% of their grounds to nature by 2030, helping to create a nationwide network of wildlife-friendly spaces in towns, villages and rural areas. Many faith grounds already hold significant potential for biodiversity, often sitting at the heart of their communities.

Churchyards, graveyards, parish centres and other faith-owned lands can support pollinators, birds, wildflowers and other wildlife with relatively small changes in how they are managed. The booklet outlines practical steps for identifying areas suitable for nature, managing land sensitively, involving volunteers, and communicating biodiversity actions with local communities.

Reflecting the diversity of faith life in Ireland, the booklet includes examples from Catholic, Church of Ireland, Sikh and Buddhist communities, demonstrating how different types of faith-owned land can contribute to biodiversity recovery.

By adopting the 30% by 2030 target, faith communities in the county can make a meaningful contribution to local biodiversity while also creating more welcoming, peaceful spaces for people.

At St. Patrick’s Church in Newport, a redesign of exterior lighting has improved conditions for bats and other nocturnal wildlife.

Working with dark-sky specialists, the parish replaced its floodlights with LED fixtures that limit glare and skyglow. The new system provides safe access for visitors while protecting existing bat flight lines and reducing overall energy use.

Sheila Murphy, Mayo biodiversity officer, said: “We’re available to support faith communities in enhancing biodiversity on their sites, by looking at practical ways to care for existing features such as mature trees, native hedgerows and stone walls. From there, simple, low-maintenance actions like reducing mowing, planting locally sourced native trees, and using more wildlife-friendly lighting can make a real difference for pollinators, birds and bats, while still respecting built heritage.”

Speaking at the launch, the Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, said: “The launch of the Havens for Nature booklet shows how religious grounds and graveyards, places that often combine historic structures and important natural habitats, can be managed in a way that brings people together to support nature at community level.

“I’ve often remarked on the incredible diversity of wild plants in the grounds of churchyards. These places can host ancient seed banks that have been protected from re-seeding and spraying, and are just waiting for the opportunity to grow into a natural wild meadow. They also offer foraging and nesting opportunities for birds, small mammals, pollinators, and other insects, among a host of other species.

“I’d like to commend the local authority biodiversity officers, heritage officers, the Heritage Council and most of all the faith bodies on their work in coming together to create this booklet and their efforts to lead by example in the creation of wildlife-friendly spaces in communities across the country.”

Virginia Teehan, Heritage Council CEO, said: “This guide comes out of real work already happening on the ground. It shows how faith communities can take practical, informed steps to help biodiversity within their own community and feel empowered to do so in ways that suit these sites.”

Havens for Nature: Supporting Biodiversity in Faith Grounds is now available to faith communities across the county. The booklet can be accessed online here.