84 projects | 32 counties| 350,000+ beneficiaries | €900,000

About AXA Parks

AXA Parks

AXA Parks are thrilled to have provided grants to 84 projects across 32 counties that benefit over 350,000 people.

It’s all part of AXA Parks, an initiative to support sustainable, community-led projects creating or improving green spaces in their localities.

Spanning the length and breadth of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and including everything from sensory gardens and walking trails to wildlife preservation, the selected projects are diverse in nature but are unified in their mission of preserving and enhancing local environments and improving the health and wellbeing of their communities.

Some successful projects
Dodder action group

Stepping Stone Forests

Children growing in tandem with nature – County Dublin

By involving the school children, and other members of the community in the entire forest planting process we hope to engender a lasting appreciation of the value of trees and of the biodiversity that these forests will support.

- John Kiberd Stepping Stone Forests Co-ordinator

Dodder Action Group in Dublin and the Stepping Stone Forests project aims to create five small mini woodlands of native Irish trees and shrubs planted on the grounds of schools in the Tallaght catchment area of Dublin. Comprising local community volunteers, school staff and children, the project is a real community effort which will see local children grow and develop in tandem with the forests that they have helped to plant. Pride in their local community is so evident in the group’s enthusiasm.

AXA Parks Grant Certificate
Friends of asylum seekers

Clonakilty Friends of Asylum Seekers

Helping families living in Co. Cork

Originally just a small area of raised beds our community garden project has grown into a much-loved and well used space. AXA’s support will focus on creating a sensory aspect in the form of a winding pathway to help address emotional resilience and supporting impacted children cope with the challenges they face.

- Kitty Sisson Service Coordinator, Clonakilty Friends of Asylum Seekers

Improving the quality of life and health of families living in the Clonakilty area who are seeking asylum is at the heart of a project in County Cork. This project will further develop the existing community garden by developing a sensory area, primarily for the centre’s children with a particular focus on supporting the educational needs.

AXA Parks Grant Certificate
Creggan Country Park

Nature on your Doorstep

Creating urban wildlife corridors – County Derry

Our focus is to create urban spaces rich in biodiversity in order to bring people of all ages closer to nature, so they can enjoy outdoor recreation and environmental education.

- Karen Healy, Environmental Officer, Creggan Country Park

Set up for the community, by the community Creggan Country Park sits on a 100-acre site. The ‘Nature on your Doorstep’ project aims to bring people of all ages closer to nature through outdoor recreation, and new learning opportunities. At the heart of the project is creating urban wildlife corridors which will seek to improve local biodiversity and improve existing outdoor educational facilities to provide access for all in the local community and visitors alike.

AXA Parks Grant Certificate
Groundworks

Groundworks

Helping the older generation and the physically challenged connect with nature - Belfast

With help from AXA Parks we will engage more members of the local communities in particular the funding will help us to improve access for the older generation and those who are physically challenged by installing outdoor seating and wheelchair friendly raised beds.

– Lizzie Whyman, Horticulture Lead, The Meanwhile Gardens

Groundworks uses previously unused urban wasteland to create productive community gardens. The focus is on teaching people gardening skills - how to grow vegetables and fruit, as well as the benefits of being outdoors and eating healthily. The gardens provide a fantastic opportunity for communities to connect with nature, food and each other. The garden welcomes volunteers, new and seasoned gardeners, as well as organisations and companies who would like to get involved.

AXA Parks Grant Certificate
Going further together
Shrub planting

AXA Parks is part of AXA’s wider climate strategy which aims to take proactive, measured steps towards a more sustainable future. This vision is supported by a long-term commitment to programmes that endeavour to drive meaningful change at both a local and global level.

During 2021 and 2022, AXA helped over 750,000 car customers offset 100% of their carbon emissions as part of its Carbon Neutral Car Insurance programme. Another countrywide programme is currently in the process of planting 200 hectares of trees in the Republic of Ireland.

For more information on successful projects

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