Appeal for buzzing creativity in Laois on Abbeyleix green space

Some designs from 2025 created by Laois people in Abbeyleix.

placeholder image — Some designs from 2025 created by Laois people in Abbeyleix.

Abbeyleix Tidy Towns invites local people to get creative with their lawns to help the pollinators

Following the success of last year’s initiative, the organisers say this year's competition will once again celebrate creativity, community spirit, and biodiversity.

Participants are invited to reimagine their lawns by letting them grow wild throughout the summer, while mowing creative pathways or pollinator-themed designs. The organisers say this fun, family-friendly competition is part of the wider Abbeyleix Pollinator Project, supporting the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan and local biodiversity efforts.

The competition encourages households, schools and community groups to create simple lawn art designs that support biodiversity by allowing areas of grass to grow while using mowing to form shapes and patterns. Previous years have seen a wide range of creative entries, from spirals and wildlife shapes to large-scale field designs.

The competition will run throughout the summer, giving participants time to develop their designs as the season progresses. There is a €200 cash prize plus voucher prizes.

Participants are encouraged to share their progress over the season and to focus on simple, bold designs that work at scale and support pollinators.

Robbie Quinn, Chair of Abbeyleix Tidy Towns, invited local people to get creative.

“We are encouraging people to think about how their gardens and spaces can support biodiversity. This competition is a simple and creative way to reduce mowing, support pollinators and create something really eye-catching at the same time,” he said. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Abbeyleix Tidy Towns reminds participants are encouraged to share their progress over the season and to focus on simple, bold designs that work at scale and support pollinators.

Entries and updates can be submitted to: [email protected] or shared via social media (Abbeyleix / Instagram).

Abbeyleix Tidy Towns will also look to arrange drone photography of selected entries where possible.