Sustainability Highlights
- Naturalised planting and mulching across all beds
- Tree-planting programme featuring native Irish yews
- Evolving grass management supporting pollinators
- Habitat protection: stumps, branches, woodland layers
- Water monitoring and reduced waste
- Upcoming biodiversity pond and Tranquillity Garden
Caring for the Landscape
Stewardship here is guided by a long view. Many of the actions taking place in the gardens are designed to support the estate for decades to come. Over recent years, the team has introduced more naturalised planting and increased the use of mulch across the beds, building soil health and reducing the need for watering or chemicals.
Grass management is evolving too, with areas now left to grow longer through the summer to support pollinators, an approach that has already brought more bees, butterflies and wildflowers into the landscape.
The gardens’ tree-planting programme is one of the most visible signs of this long-term care. New Irish yews now stand where future generations will see them at full height, offering structure, habitat and a sense of continuity. Returning visitors often remark on how the gardens mature and change over time, a reminder that planting for the future is one of the most meaningful contributions a garden can make.
Behind the scenes, small but important improvements are shaping how the estate manages its resources. Water meters help the team understand usage more accurately, and mulching has replaced the removal of large amounts of garden waste. Plans for new biodiversity areas, including a wildlife pond and a sensory-focused Tranquillity Garden, are already in motion. These projects are designed to enhance the visitor experience while strengthening the ecological value of the grounds.
Visitors often notice the rookery above the trees or the quiet presence of wildlife moving through the gardens. What they may not know is that the team intentionally leaves elements such as old stumps, fallen branches and natural woodland layers in place. These features support fungi, insects and birds, forming the unseen foundation of a healthy garden ecosystem. It’s a light-touch approach that respects the natural life of the estate and avoids unnecessary disturbance.
Much of the serenity visitors feel here is shaped by these thoughtful, light-touch choices.
An Invitation to Slow Down
For many, the most memorable part of Duckett’s Grove is the feeling it creates – the spaciousness, the stillness, the chance to step away from daily pace. The team hopes visitors walk away with a sense of this tranquillity and an appreciation for the care that allows it to exist. Everyone is welcome to wander, linger on the lawns, explore barefoot, or simply sit and listen to the quiet. Duckett’s Grove is a place tended with patience and intention. Its sustainability journey is unfolding steadily, anchored in heritage, biodiversity and a deep respect for the natural character of the estate.
In 2024, managers and owners across Carlow Garden Trail, of which Duckett’s Grove is a member, undertook the accredited Level 6 Certificate in Sustainable Destination Practice with Munster Technological University. As part of the programme, participants completed independent assessments of their current practice and developed future-focused Sustainability Action Plans. Together, they share a commitment to progressing their sustainability journey in a practical, collaborative and accountable way. Their shared intention is to offer welcoming visitor experiences that support the long-term wellbeing of Carlow’s people, heritage and natural environment.
