Welcome to Ballinahown Village – A Community in Harmony with Nature
We are delighted to welcome you to our vibrant and caring community here in Ballinahown. Our village takes great pride in nurturing a strong connection between people and the natural world around us.
Our shared spaces are thoughtfully planted with species that are both native to our region and included on the National Pollinator Plan list. By choosing pollinator-friendly plants, we are doing our part to support biodiversity and ensure a healthy environment for bees, butterflies, and other vital wildlife.
Our planting has also been chosen by the support of ecologist Dr Catherine OConnell who wrote our biodiversity action plan .
There are 85 measures in our biodiversity plan and we are continually pushing ourselves to complete these measures – working with the stakeholders involved.
Our major project this year was working on the parish grounds and plants new areas of flowers and shrubs – all pollinator friendly and native Irish where possible.
Our extensive plant list below highlights the scale of planting undertaken in 2025.
The areas planted in the church grounds include the plants listed separately below – a QR code is included at the plant location to help others see what we have planted and learn from our approach – while we are learning ourselves.
We are also embracing a more nature-focused approach to managing our green areas. You’ll notice that many grassy spaces are left uncut to encourage wildflowers and provide habitats for pollinators and other species. Meandering paths are carefully mown through these areas, inviting walkers and children alike to explore, connect, and enjoy the simple beauty of our landscape.
In Ballinahown, people and nature grow together – side by side, season by season. Thank you for being part of our journey toward a more sustainable and harmonious future.
Together, we thrive.
Together, we bloom.
Climate Action Awareness Campaign
All plants have been planted with purpose care and love.
Grotto – Church Grounds
This grotto area features a curated selection of the following plant species:
- Achillen Moonshine
- Astrantia Major Vena
- Astilbe Bressington Beauty
- Allium Millenium
- Dianthus Flashing Lights
- Euysimum Bowles Mauve
- Geranium Rozanne
- Campanula Muralis
- Leucanthemum Madonna
- Nuepeta Cats Pajamas
- Phlox Landy Stripe
- Pulmonaia Blue Ensign
- Rudbeckia Goldsturm
- Salvia Caradonna
- Sedum Cape Blanco
- Thymus Praecox
- Polystichum Aculeatum Herrenhausen
- Abelia Grandiflora Kaleidoscope
- Arbutus unedo Compact
- Buddleia Nanho Purple
- Choisya White Dazzler
- Hydrangea Paniculata Petite Star
- Hypericum Hidcote
- Parahebe Avalanche
- Potentilla Lovely Pink
Rainwater Garden – Community Carpark
In this rainwater garden area we have planted the following:
- Strawberries
- Alchemilla Mollis (ground cover)
- Bergenia Cordifolia
- Achillea Cerise
- Salvia Caradonna
- Geranium Rozanne
- Rudbeckia Goldsturn
- Geum
- Scabiosa
- Nepeta
- Iris (rainwater garden)
Butterfly Garden – Helen’s Pink House
This butterfly garden was planned for this area as one directly to support butterflies in the garden in a very specific way – all the plants chosen support butterflies and are perennials or shrubs. For more information on the Butterfly Garden, click here.
Plants I’ve sown in the garden are listed below:
- Buddleja dav. ‘Pink Delight’
- Buddleja dav. ‘Empire Blue’
- Buddleja dav. ‘Royal Red’
- Ceanothus imp. ‘Victoria’
- Verbena bonariensis
- Allium ‘Millenium’
- Scabiosa ‘Butterfly Blue’
- Hebe ‘Pink Candy’
- Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’
- Sedum Herbstfreude (Autumn Joy)
- Leucanthemum ‘Banana Cream’
- Achillea ‘Moonshine’
- Echinacea purp. ‘White Swan’
Learn more about our choice of plants, pictures and how we care for them in our plant guides below:
Ballinahown Tidy Towns 2025 Plant Guide
Ballinahown Tidy Towns 2025 Plant Guide for Additional Planted Areas