New Ross School Wins National Pollinator Award for Community Wildflower Project

St. Mary’s Secondary School in New Ross, Co. Wexford has been named the 2026 Golden Bee Champion in recognition of its outstanding community-led biodiversity initiative.

The award, part of the Pollinator Project supported by SIRO and delivered by Biodiversity in Schools, recognises schools that demonstrate creativity, collaboration and long-term commitment to protecting Ireland’s pollinators.

The school was honoured for its “New Ross Wildflower Project”, which has grown far beyond the classroom to create a network of pollinator corridors across the town and surrounding area.

Faced with limited space on campus, students from St. Mary’s partnered with more than 40 local businesses, sports clubs, schools and community groups, including McDonald’s, Oaklands Lake fishing shop, New Ross District Council and Tidy Towns. Each partner agreed to dedicate sections of land to native Irish wildflower planting.

Students also worked with South-East biodiversity business Connecting to Nature, which supplied native wildflower seeds and supported planting efforts, while expert guidance was provided by John F. Kennedy Arboretum head gardener Kevin Naughton.

To raise awareness, students designed and installed signage across participating sites and produced seasonal planting and maintenance guides for the community partners involved.

The initiative forms part of a nationwide programme aimed at supporting the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan. In 2026 alone, almost 300 schools took part in the Pollinator Project, creating around 50 acres of wildflower habitat and reaching more than 83,000 students across Ireland.

Announcing the award, SIRO said the project shows how local action can deliver meaningful environmental impact while empowering young people to lead on biodiversity.

Biodiversity in Schools described the New Ross initiative as a model of how schools can drive real environmental change through community collaboration, even with limited on-site space.

Teacher Mr Fitzharris said the project began with a small wildflower garden at the school but quickly expanded as students engaged directly with local organisations.

“Each student approached businesses and groups in the town and encouraged them to dedicate small spaces to biodiversity,” he said. “It has grown far beyond what we could have achieved within the school alone.”

He added that the students are “incredibly proud” to have their work recognised at national level.

The Pollinator Project continues to expand nationwide, with organisers saying the pollinator-friendly spaces created will have a lasting environmental impact for years to come.