Working with Nature Awards

Eanna Ni Lamhna qualified as a scientist in the 1970’s and did her post graduate thesis on the ecology of sand dunes and saltmarshes which was published in the Journal of Life Sciences. She set up the Irish Biological Records Centre in 1974 and is responsible for the original distribution maps of mammal and insects. She lectured postgraduates on sustainability for 20 years in TU Dublin. Her publications include a series of five studies on Irish Air Quality, nine books including Wild Dublin and her most recent – The Great Irish Biodiversity Book.  She was President of An Taisce from 2004 – 2009 and more recently President of the Tree Council of Ireland. She is a judge of Environmental initiatives undertaken by local groups on a county level such as Pride of Place and Love Where You Live. She is a highly respected radio and television broadcaster on environmental issues.  She writes the weekly Eye on Nature column in the Irish Times. She is a Co. Louth woman and has a husband, three children and seven grandchildren. She was awarded an honorary doctorate in Science by the University of Galway in November 2024 – the first Irishwoman to be awarded a D Sc. by that university.

Alex Slazenger is the head gardener at Powerscourt.  Ever since Alex was a child, growing up on Powerscourt Estate, his dream was to become a custodian of Powerscourt Gardens.  The gardens and river walk were both his playground and inspiration for his love of nature.  Watching things grow and develop led to his desire to make this his career, so subsequently he studied horticulture at the National Botanic Gardens, leaving with a BSc.  After working in the industry for 12 years, doing everything from maintenance, landscaping, and nursery production, he was appointed Head Gardener at Powerscourt.  He has been instrumental with his gardening team in developing and implementing sustainability initiatives including a Rewilding program on the Estate.