‘Country club for insects’ opens in Co Limerick

Ireland’s first “bespoke insect lodge” has opened in Co Limerick.

Described as a kind of country club for insects, the lodge will provide breeding and hibernation facilities for various insects at a specially developed butterfly meadow, at Nestlé’s Wyeth Nutrition site in Askeaton.

The insect lodge and 1,800 sq m butterfly meadow are located next door to a new wood, which will contain almost 2,000 indigenous trees when completed in a few months time.

It is hoped it can create ideal conditions for insects to come forth and multiply, thus enhancing local biodiversity and encouraging an increase in the number and varieties of native Irish butterflies in the area.

New seeds for the meadow have already been sown by children from Askeaton National School. The development is a part of Wyeth’s efforts to reduce its environmental footprint at the Askeaton plant, where the company manufacturers infant formula.

“Natural pollinator creatures of butterflies, bees and birds are integral to the food we grow” said Brian Shiel ofWyeth. “Their habitats are under threat and we’re delighted that we can play a small role in reversing this trend. By restoring the natural habitat of the area we will hopefully see an increase in indigenous species of insects and butterflies in the local Askeaton area.”

All trees involved in the development of the wood are listed by the Native Woodland Trust as native to the Irish landscape and include alder, aspen, birch, hazel, holly, oak, rowan, Scots pine and willow.