COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

QUESTION NO. 3

QUESTION: Councillor P. Cosgrave

"To ask the Manager to have the two large thorn bushes removed from the green area beside the rear wall of 65 Glenbrook Park Rathfarnham. There are large thorns on the bushes that are a severe danger to children playing on the green area. The bushes were requested to be removed five years ago by residents. The bushes are not a native species?"

REPLY:

The shrubs in question (Berberis sp.) form part of the planting on the open space in Glenbrook Park. While they have thorns, they are not considered to represent a danger to children given the size of the open space. While the bushes are not native, there are a number of native thorny shrub species which are commonly found on public open spaces around the county e.g. Hawthorn and Blackthorn.  It is not considered that these shrubs pose a danger to children and in fact they could be considered to be a means for children to become acquainted with their environment and the many positive opportunities as well as dangers that it poses and that will equip them in life skills in the future.  The shrubs also provide a useful habitat for nesting birds as the thorns give some protection from predators.