This new national awards programme celebrates individuals, groups, and organisations across Ireland making significant contributions to the protection and restoration of nature.

Brigit’s Garden has ‘received the award for their outstanding nature-based education programmes and their work to promote wellbeing through their sustainable and restorative gardens.’

The award highlights Brigit’s Garden’s unique approach to combining environmental learning with mental and physical wellbeing.

The Working with Nature Awards were created to honour those having a tangible impact in four key categories: Pollinators, Biodiversity & Rewilding, Nature Media, and Nature Education & Wellbeing.

The awards were judged by a distinguished panel, including Éanna Ní Lamhna, Biologist and Environmental Consultant; Duncan Stewart, Environmentalist and Broadcaster; and Alex Slazenger, Head Gardener at Powerscourt Gardens. These judges brought a wealth of expertise, passion, and dedication to protecting nature, ensuring that recipients were selected for both their impact and integrity.

Speaking about the honour, Jenny Beale, Director at Brigit’s Garden said, ‘We are absolutely thrilled to receive this inaugural award. It is a wonderful recognition of the hard work and passion our team has poured into creating nature-based experiences that educate, inspire, and promote wellbeing. We are deeply grateful to Powerscourt and the judging panel for selecting us as a winner.’

One standout programme is Brigit’s Garden’s QQI Level 6 Forest School Leadership course, which trains educators and practitioners in leading nature-based learning experiences.

New courses are set to begin this August in Galway and Kildare, continuing their mission to equip more people with the skills to connect children with the natural world. This award affirms Brigit’s Garden’s standing as a national leader in environmental education and reinforces its mission to connect people of all ages with nature in a meaningful, healing, and joyful way.