COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

MOTION NO. 26

MOTION: Councillor L. O'Toole

"That this Committee requests the Chief Executive to examine the possibility of introducing a project where the community will be provided with additional bulbs (daffodils) in line with the ‘bulbs not bonfire’ initiative. In addition to this request to examine areas where the grassland could be replaced with Wildflowers which would reduce the demand on grass cutting in areas and contribute to the environment.

(Please see attached detailed email and accompanied photos)

“I’m looking for the SDCC to donate 1000s of Daffodil bulbs to the communities of Lucan/Admanstown and Ronanstown so that we can plant them along the main roads in Lucan in order to brighten up the place and help offset antisocial behaviour and to get community estates out to take pride in the local area. 

The place is littered with rubbish due to lack of bins at locations like bus stops and particularly along long stretches of footpaths where you can never find a bin so people just throw it on the ground or over the wall in to many of the estates.  

On a separate matter, SDCC has thousands of acres of grassland that could be planted with Wildflowers to help the environment, help improve bee and insect numbers and allow for more bee keeping. It would also help to offset any spraying SDCC does and to help the heritage and wildlife in SDCC areas. I’d like to see some of grass in the Fforster Estate among the Ballyowen Road planted with Wildflowers to create a wild meadow effect. This would look amazing from the road. By doing the above also would save SDCC thousands of Euro in grass cutting expenses each month and year. 

By not cutting the grass and planting wildflower you also create a better place to live within. 

Finally, planting bulbs along each road is needed to lift peoples spirits. Additionally, a number of the roundabouts (Willsbrook Road and Castleroad along with Griffeen way towards the park) could be planted with Wildflowers again to create a wonderful visual effect all summer long. Can I just say also that a lot of the footpaths in Lucan have vegetation growing outwards causing people to be forced out in to the cycle paths. All streets need maintenance in this regard. If the above can’t be done then I’ll do it and let the vegetation in piles to be collected by SDCC. 

Thanks for your help and I will meet with anyone in SDCC to get them a tour of the areas I’ve in mind to help improve. “

REPORT:

South Dublin County Council through the Social Credit Scheme is piloting a new initiative the “new community minor landscaping scheme” This scheme is to assist groups to enhance the green space in their communities in an environmentally conscious manner and to encourage biodiversity through the planting of native seeds and bulbs appropriate to the area.

As part of this initiative community groups can apply through the SCS to gain support from a facilitator in the form of a workshop, that would allow them to improve their areas in the most efficient and cost effective manner possible by upskilling in appropriate native planting, maintenance and propagation.

An initial meeting is held with each group to allow them to outline how the area might be improved, to establish what their priorities are, and to assess what skills are already present in the group. Through this assessment the facilitator makes a recommendation outlining the materials and supports needed for groups. The groups are provided with the knowledge and skills to maintain the area (which is a commitment given by the groups involved) with the support of SDCC.

The "Bulbs not Bonfires" is also provided through the Council’s Social Credits Scheme but is a separate reward to the community minor landscaping scheme. The "Bulbs not Bonfires" scheme rewards community groups for undertaking specially pro-environmental/non bonfire orientated Halloween activities and projects. 

Community groups, environmental groups, resident associations and schools can apply in October outlining a plan to create a Safe Halloween.

The growing of wildflowers has significant benefits in terms of enhancing biodiversity. Wildflower meadows do not establish overnight and can take several years to be successful. They establish better on infertile soils and would not be suitable to high profile fertile areas such as roundabouts or Fforster estate. There are a number of wildflower meadows in the Lucan EA located in regional and local Parks eg, Griffeen Valley Park, Lucan Demesne, Vesey Park and Waterstown Park. The Public Realm Section would be open to exploring options for establishing wildflower meadows in residential areas however it would need to be driven and supported by an interested residents association, community group or tidy towns group.