Aviva Ireland has opened its community garden, Home Turf, on the grounds of the Aviva stadium in Dublin. 

The garden, located beside the Lansdowne Road entrance, is open year-round and features native flora and fauna that serve as pollinators for bee species. 

The space has been designed as a family-friendly option for visitors to the stadium, with benches, children’s toys and information about the various types of trees and plants. 

This isn’t the first stadium biodiversity initiative from Aviva - the firm previously constructed an otter holt on the Dodder river, as well as the installation of bat-friendly lighting on the Dodder walk. 

Lisa Bergin, manager at Aviva, said: “Aviva’s Home Turf is a project that has been a long time in the making here at Aviva Ireland. As long-term supporters of grassroots sport in Ireland, we understand the importance of sustainable growth for a better and greener tomorrow.”

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Sports broadcaster Marie Crowe, who opened the garden, added: “Everyone has fond memories of trips to Aviva Stadium for big occasions with their families and now, with ‘Aviva’s Home Turf’, there is a new space for them to visit as part of the match day experience.

“I would encourage all those coming to November’s internationals to get down early and do likewise. It is important we all do what we can for a greener future, on and off the pitch.” 

Whatever about growth in the Aviva garden, 60% of people are concerned about not getting a return on their savings, with younger people and those aged over 55 most concerned about the declining value of their savings as the cost of living continues to surge.

That's according to the latest nationwide savings survey of 1,000 adults commissioned by Aviva Life & Pensions, conducted by iReach Insights.

The survey also found that 24% of savers don’t think about getting a return on their savings, and 16% of respondents are not concerned about returns at all.

he survey further probed people on the plans they had for their savings, with financial security as the number one savings objective, followed by saving for holidays and a rainy-day fund, and home renovations. One in ten savers put money aside with no plan in mind.

Eoin Kennedy, Aviva Ireland, said: “Our survey reveals that the ‘rate of return’ offered is the most important factor in choosing a savings option, followed by the fees charged. This is most evident amongst the youngest and oldest age groups, the groups with typically the least and most amount of savings being most worried in this regard.

“Paradoxically, despite the protracted low interest rate environment that we have experienced in recent years, a previous savings survey that we undertook found that most savers in Ireland hold deposit accounts in banks or credit unions, most of which are not getting any return.

“We would urge savers who are concerned at the lack of return on their savings to consider getting financial advice from a broker who could steer them through the myriad of options available that have the potential to provide a return, whilst taking their personal risk appetite and savings term into account.”