COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

HEADED ITEM NO. 5

HEADED ITEM: P. Realm

Tree Planting Programme 2017/2018

Trees make a major contribution to the character and appearance of South Dublin County. They provide significant economic, social, environmental, ecological and aesthetic benefits to communities and to urban and residential streets, parks and open spaces. They also enhance biodiversity and play a crucial role in mitigating climate change.

South Dublin County Council recognises the value of street trees in the urban environment and is committed to planting new trees to ensure that the visual amenity in South Dublin is assured for future generations.

Areas targeted for new tree planting are those where trees have been removed or where there is an identified need to increase the overall tree cover. Requests from Council members and local residents for new trees in their streets or areas have also been taken into consideration within the planting programme and have been prioritised according to the number of trees already on the street, including those in front gardens and on adjacent land.

The principle of planting the ‘right tree in the right place’ will apply for all new and replacement tree planting. Trees will be selected for their appropriateness of scale and proportion to their surroundings and the aesthetic contribution they make to that environment.  Planting density and species selection will be guided by available space to ensure that each tree is compatible with its new site and has every opportunity to develop into a healthy mature specimen.  The careful selection of appropriate tree species and planting locations is essential to minimise future nuisance issues and unnecessary maintenance costs. Potential sites for tree planting have been inspected to assess their suitability for new trees, considering factors such as services, sight lines, warning signs and traffic signals, distance from public lighting columns, space for future crown and root growth, etc.

Details of the proposed tree planting programme for winter 2017/spring 2018 are set out in the table below:

 

Location	No. of Trees
Airlie Heights	6
Ardeevin	12
Adj. 207 Beechpark - open space	2
Cherbury Park	8
Fforster Green – open space	6
Griffeen Valley Park	20
Kennelsfort Road	3
Kew Park	10
Lucan Demense	5
N4 Palmerstown Junction	5
Palmerstown Avenue	13
The Oval, Palmerstown	20
183 Whitethorn Gardens	2
Whitethorn Park open space - screen planting	3
Willsbrook Road	3
Woodview Heights	7
	Total 125

In addition to the above, a further 116 trees will be planted during November 2017 in fulfilment of tree planting commitments under the winter 2016/spring 2017 tree planting programme.  Locations for this tree planting include Arthur Griffith Park, Beech Park, Beech Grove, Chalet Gardens, Glenaulin Road and Lucan Heights.  This programme was planned for delivery in two phases with the first phase completed in December 2016 and the second phase planned for delivery in February/March 2017.  The procurement process for the supply and planting of the second phase of tree planting was completed and the contract to undertake the works was awarded in March.  However, the Council was advised by the supplying tree nursery that survival of the trees could not be guaranteed due to early emergence of leaves and leaf growth of the trees being at a more advanced stage than normal for the year due the exceptionally mild weather of the past winter and early spring period.  For this reason, the proposed winter 2016/spring 2017 tree planting at the locations listed above was deferred for implementation at the earliest opportunity during the next planting season in November.