Bí URBAN IS A NATURE-BASED SOCIAL ENTERPRISE IN THE HEART OF STONEYBATTER

Redefining what it is to be urban is our mission

Using citizen science and community-based action, we aim to preserve and redevelop biodiversity in the urban environment.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

Unlike charities or not for profits who focus on a single issue, our mission is pitched to improve life for all members of society. Everyone, no matter their age, gender, race or ability, is entitled to live in a healthy environment. Similar to the way insects pollinate plants, humans pollinate ideas. Local knowledge and the behaviour of each individual are essential components in the development of public health.

All our projects are centred around collaborating with nature to solve complex urban issues while reconnecting communities with their local biodiversity. Access to nature is a human right, one we are deprived of for the most part in cities. We aim to change that for both the health of ourselves, and our environment.

THE TEAM

Stephen Averill

Kaethe Burt O'Dea

Sadhbh Burt Fitzgerald

A little history

Bait hive project, 2015

Creating the Bí Urban hub on Manor Street, 2016

Bí Urban was started by Kaethe Burt O’Dea in 2016. The community hub was developed as a space where events, workshops and projects surrounding urban regeneration could take place. The aim was to engage & inspire community-lead action, and spark discussions around how we can work collectively to change our city for the better.

The creation of Bí Urban was the result of 9 years of research and proactive work with local biodiversity, having it’s start in 2005 when Kaethe Burt-O’Dea founded Desireland, a home for her collaborative work with clients that developed project specific action research to support the development of innovative health care strategies.

Desireland works on two levels: The consultancy develops and manages healthcare research programmes for clients, and the principles that emerge in the process of this professional work are then further developed in not for profit community based demonstration projects.

Bí Urban is one of the projects that emerged out of Desireland’s creative research. Other examples include the Sitric Community Garden, an urban composting demonstration site and Community Garden, and SPUDS, a proactive response to the decision to trial genetically modified (GM) blight resistant potatoes in Ireland. Both of these projects have contributed to the development of the Lifeline.