A sustainability initiative designed to offset the environmental impact of the 2025 Businesswoman of the Year Awards – a Community Orchard Project in Ballincollig – has been launched by Network Ireland Cork.
Spearheaded by Cathy Fitzgibbon, president of Network Ireland Cork, this initiative represents a meaningful way to give back to the city, creating a diverse, permaculture-inspired orchard that enhances biodiversity, supports pollinators and leaves a lasting environmental legacy for Cork.
Organisers Green Spaces for Health and the Cork Biodiversity Hub, will oversee the implementation of the project with support from the Cork ETB Horticulture Department at the Kinsale Road Campus, whose students will assist with the planting and maintenance.
SELF-SUSTAINING ECOSYSTEM
Speaking about the initiative, Cathy Fitzgibbon, president of Network Ireland Cork, said that the initiative will ‘give back’ to future generations
“Our awards celebrate the achievements of women in business, but they also give us the opportunity to lead with purpose. Developing this initiative allows us to create something tangible – a space that will grow and give back to the environment and future generations for years to come. As the 42nd President of Network Ireland Cork, my focus this year has been on legacy and succession planning for the branch and this project perfectly reflects that ethos, creating something enduring that will continue to benefit Cork’s community long into the future.”
The orchard, designed by Donal Chambers of the Kinsale College Permaculture Course, located near Ballincollig Regional Park, will feature a mix of native Irish fruit trees and shrubs designed to attract and sustain local wildlife. Areas of the site will be managed to allow wildflowers to bloom naturally, encouraging pollinators and creating a vibrant, self-sustaining ecosystem.
Adding to this vision, Maria Young from Green Spaces for Health noted: “As much diversity as possible would be my desire – to have a permaculture orchard that thrives alongside nature, where wildflowers are free to bloom and biodiversity can truly flourish. It’s about creating a space that’s both productive and restorative.”
The Network Ireland Cork Community Orchard will serve as a living legacy, embodying values of sustainability, collaboration and care for future generations. The planting is scheduled for December 2025 / January 2026, with participation from Network Ireland Cork members, local volunteers and community partners.
For updates on the project visit https://networkireland.ie/page/CorkBranch
