25/09/2026
Rathdrum Tidy Towns Awarded €4978 LEAF Grant for Biodiversity Project.
Funding will support swift boxes, pollinator planting and a community citizen science day
Rathdrum Tidy Towns is delighted to announce that it has been awarded €4,978 under the 2026 Local Environmental Action Fund (LEAF) to support a new community biodiversity project in Rathdrum.
This generous grant has been made possible by a partnership between Wicklow County Council (WCC) and IPB Insurance , supporting community-led projects that take practical action for the environment, including initiatives focused on biodiversity, climate action and sustainable development.
The Rathdrum project will focus on creating additional opportunities for wildlife while encouraging local people to discover and learn more about the natural environment in their own community.
The grant will fund three key elements:
Swift boxes and swift callers will be installed at suitable locations in Rathdrum, providing additional nesting opportunities for swifts and helping to support these much-loved summer visitors.
Spring-flowering bulbs and pollinator-friendly plants will be planted in the new meadow at St Marys and St Michaels Church bringing colour to the area while providing valuable sources of food and habitat for bees and other pollinating insects in early Spring.
An ecologist will be engaged to lead a community citizen science day, giving local residents the opportunity to explore the biodiversity of Rathdrum, learn about the species found there and take part in recording local wildlife.
Speaking about the award, Gerry Fitzgerald, Chairman of Rathdrum Tidy Towns, said:
“We are delighted to receive this LEAF grant. It will allow us to put some really positive and practical biodiversity initiatives in place in Rathdrum and, importantly, involve the wider community in the process.
“The swift boxes and callers will hopefully encourage more swifts to nest in the town, while the spring bulbs and pollinator-friendly planting at the Church will provide valuable resources for insects and other wildlife.
“We are particularly looking forward to the citizen science day. Having an ecologist work with the community will give people an opportunity to discover what is living and growing around us and to learn how we can all play a part in protecting biodiversity.
“We hope that families, young people, older residents and anyone with an interest in nature will come along and get involved. You don’t need to be an expert — the whole idea is to explore and learn together.”
The project will build on Rathdrum Tidy Towns’ ongoing work to enhance the town and its natural environment, with the Church Meadow providing an important green space for both the community and local wildlife.
The group is keen to encourage residents from Rathdrum and the surrounding area to get involved. Details of the citizen science day and other opportunities to participate will be shared locally as the project gets underway.
Rathdrum Tidy Towns hopes that the project will not only provide tangible benefits for local wildlife, but also encourage a greater appreciation of Rathdrum’s natural heritage and inspire people to take an active role in supporting biodiversity in the town.
The Local Environmental Action Fund (LEAF) is a partnership between IPB Insurance and Ireland’s 31 local authorities. The 2026 fund supports Tidy Towns and other voluntary community groups undertaking practical projects focused on climate action, biodiversity and sustainable development.
Rathdrum Tidy Towns has been awarded €4978 under the 2026 LEAF scheme to deliver its community biodiversity project.
