Ep 15. Bringing Biodiversity Back into your Garden or Balcony- Collie Ennis

Collie Ennis is a fellow podcaster (check out The Critter Shed!), Science officer with the Herpetological Society of Ireland and a research associate at Trinity University Dublin. He’s also a great laugh to have the chats with and a fountain of knowledge. We delve into all things critter related in this episode.

In particular we cover:

• How Collie came to work with critters.
• How important invertebrates are to biodiversity.
• Why invertebrates are struggling today.
• How climate change is affecting them.
• The hidden species of Ireland from newts to toads.
• How to easily turn your garden or balcony into a haven for invertebrates on rented or owned land.
• What happened at the Tallaght Wetlands.
• Advice as a community member on how to protect a local patch of land, vital to species, threatened by development.
• Working with neighbours to turn estate greens into bio-diverse areas.
• Growing food in a garden full of bugs.

Mentioned:

• Herpetological Society of Ireland.
• All-Ireland Pollinator Plan (Jane Stout).

You can follow Collie on Twitter or Instagram and don’t forget to checkout The Critter Shed podcast (who are on Twitter and Facebook).

Let me know what you think of this episode and don’t forget to rate, review and share!

What to do for Invertebrates on your land:

1. Provide a water source either level with the ground or with a ramp of rocks around it so animals can get to and fro. Place in an underwater plant from a local canal or pond.
2. Plant vines (like Clematis) around your garden so frogs can climb in and out. You can also knock a brick or small hole out of your garden wall on either side so animals like hedgehogs can come and go either direction.
3. Plant wildflowers recommeded by the Pollinator Plan. If you’re renting, plant pots with over flowing plants like nasturtiums.
4. Pile old decking for bugs like bumble bees. (Let it rot!)
5. Bring in some rotting wood (from deciduous trees, not pine)and fallen leaves for insects to feed from.
6. On a balcony, place out a bucket or tray of stagnant water. Plant some wildflowers in pots.
7. Sit back and enjoy the life around you!

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