Ecology

Gardening is for Grandmom's. Grow Your Own is for for hippies.

An evolutionary look at how we, horticulture and our relationship with the landscape has changed and grown over the years.

Peter Donegan began gardening at the age of 5. When he grew up, he went on to study horticulture for 4 years. In 2001 he set up Donegan Landscaping and has won a host of design and landscaping awards for 17th and 18th century gardens and show gardens at National competition. Peter hosts and presents The Sodshow, Dublin's only garden radio show and podcast and lives in the wee town of Ballyboughal, North County Dublin with his family, his two dogs and his three hens.

The Wild Side of Spirit of Folk

Keep your eyes open and look out for wildlife!

Irish Wildlife Trust encourages all visitors to observe wildlife throughout the duration of the festival and report all sightings in our tent. Every animal species spotted during the festival will be listed on our board, the total number will be announced at the end of the festival and you will able to view the full list with pictures on our Facebook page! 

If you have your cameras with you, don’t forget to photograph wildlife around you and bring it to our stall for identification!

Go Wild with Tim and Catherine

Join the Irish Wildlife Trust for an entertaining wildlife-watching walk in Dunderry Park! 

What creatures will we find in the lake? How many different trees grow in the park? Who can spot the most species of birds during the walk? What animals are we sharing the park with?

Meet Tim and Catherine at the Irish Wildlife Trust tent  and help us find answers to all these questions! Fun for the whole family guaranteed!

GIANT Human Fish-shape and OCEAN2012 Campaign with Debbi Pedreschi

Irish Wildlife Trust, proud member of the OCEAN2012 coalition, strongly supports marine conservation and is doing its utmost to protect the seas locally and globally.

Help us make a GIANT HUMAN FISH-SHAPE photograph and show your support!

Debbi Pedreschi, IWT marine expert, will answer all your questions and help you find out how overfishing impacts you and your wallet, why you should care and how you can end it.

Ireland and its Badgers with Conn Flynn

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Badgers But Were Afraid to Ask!

Meet Conn Flynn, IWT Development Officer, and enjoy his presentation about the incredible natural history of badgers and the challenges they face in the modern world. Learn why the IWT is so opposed to the government's policy of culling and why vaccination is a better, more effective and humane alternative. 

The Organic Centre

The aim of the Organic Centre is to promote organic gardening and sustainable living through training, demonstration and the provision of information.  This year at Spirit of Folk, the Organic Centre will have have a descriptive display on composting and how it works as well as an interactive seed game where people can guess which seed grows various vegetable in an effort to encourage thinking on seed saving.