A recent event in Moville brought together over 100 people to discuss the urgent need to respect and restore nature.
Organised by ChangeMakers Donegal in collaboration with the Rights of Nature Campaign, The Gathering, ECO Inishowen, and Inishowen Development Partnership, the event emphasized practical steps individuals can take to combat biodiversity loss. The event was co-funded by IDP and ChangeMakers.
Landscape gardener Mary Reynolds and Rights of Nature advocate Rose Kelly highlighted the pressing environmental crisis and the importance of grassroots action.
One of the key messages of the event was the need for individuals to take responsibility for their own local environment.
Mary Reynolds, founder of the global movement, We Are the Ark, urged people to rethink their approach to gardening and land stewardship, emphasizing that every small effort contributes to the larger goal of ecological restoration.
She pointed out that the loss of biodiversity has happened gradually, making it easy to overlook the decline, but action must be taken now to reverse this trend.
Mary Reynolds, Founder of We Are the Ark and Guest Speakervat the Inishowen Development Partnership (IDP) Rights of Nature Event in Moville on Saturday 22nd of February. Photo Clive Wasson the Inishowen Development Partnership (IDP) Rights of Nature Event in Moville on Saturday 22nd of February. Photo Clive Wasson
Practical steps were discussed, particularly the elimination of harmful chemicals. Reynolds warned about the dangers of pesticides and non-organic plants, stressing that even small changes—such as planting native species, avoiding chemical treatments, and allowing natural ecosystems to thrive—can make a significant difference.
She also encouraged people to shift their mindset from consumption to restoration, advocating for a more harmonious relationship with nature.
Kate O’Callaghan, Project Worker ChangeMakers Donegal, Rose Kelly, Rights of Nature, Mary Reynolds, Founder of We Are the Ark and Guest Speaker, Myra McAuliffe, Project Coordinator of ChangeMakers Donegal and Gráinne O’Neill, ChangeMakers Donegal at the Rights of Nature Event in Moville on Saturday 22nd of February. Photo Clive Wasson
Rose Kelly of the Rights of Nature network spoke about the Rights of Nature as a powerful movement that helps people realise we are nature and of the strength of community coming together in challenging times.
Kelly encouraged individuals to overcome feelings of being overwhelmed by reflecting on the question, “What’s mine to do?”
Gráinne O’Neill, ChangeMakers Donegal, Rose Kelly, Rights of Nature and Mary Reynolds, Founder of We Are the Ark Guest Speaker at the Rights of Nature Event in Moville on Saturday 22nd of February. Photo Clive Wasson
The event concluded with a strong sense of urgency and empowerment among attendees.
Participants were encouraged to take immediate action by creating their own arks (spaces that support biodiversity), advocating for the Rights of Nature by supporting the local campaign, and fostering community initiatives.
The key takeaway was clear: everyone has a role to play, and change begins in our backyards, “patch by patch”. For those looking to make a difference, resources on how to build an Ark for nature can be found at We Are the Ark.
To find out more about local groups and actions across the peninsula, contact Inishowen Development Partnership, or if you want to know more about the work of ChangeMakers Donegal, contact IDP at 074-936228.
