COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

HEADED ITEM NO. 12

HEADED ITEM: M. Keenan

Report on 2017 Tree Management Programme

In the period January 1 – November 30 2017, tree maintenance involving tree pruning and removal, was carried out on just over 2,500 trees across the county. This figure includes tree maintenance works completed on over 790 trees in the Lucan and Palmerstown Areas.

Throughout 2017 to date, the Council has had two full-time tree crews in operation with one primarily carrying out tree maintenance north of the N7 and the other operating south of the N7.  Recruitment of 5 new staff to enable the formation of a third full-time tree crew took place in May and June of this year.  These staff are currently deployed within the existing tree crew structures in order to gain practical experience while undergoing the necessary training and skills development to advance the formation of a third full-time tree crew.  During the period January to March, two additional seasonal tree crews were also deployed in the delivery of the tree maintenance service across the county. Seasonal tree crews are again being deployed in accordance with staff availability over the ongoing winter and forthcoming early spring period.

In line with the Council's Tree Management Policy 2015-2020 "Living With Trees", the focus of the 2017 Tree Maintenance Programme has been on a planned programme of works for entire roads or whole estates. The objective of this approach is to enable efficiency and productivity of the tree maintenance crews and advance a proactive programme of cyclical pruning targeting priority locations where intervention is most needed and where it will yield greatest community benefit.

The following is a list of estates in the Lucan and Palmerstown Areas where a complete programme of tree maintenance involving removal or pruning of all trees that were identified as requiring works was carried out during 2017. In advance of commencing works within an estate or road, a full survey of all trees at the location is carried out to inform the programme and scheduling of tree pruning and removal works for all trees in the estate or road that are identified as requiring tree maintenance.

Some of these locations surveyed are noted as having trees in close proximity or in conflict with overhead electricity wires. In such locations, the schedule of tree maintenance works require to be undertaken by an ESB approved arborist suitably qualified in the specialist skills of utility arboriculture. The Council has recently completed the tender process to seek the services of a suitably qualified arborist to undertake these works which is scheduled for completion in early 2018.

Tree Inspections & Maintenance of Whole Estates Completed during 2017

Estate / Road	Status
Airlie Heights	Tree survey complete.
Ardeevin	Tree survey complete. Overhead ESB wires in conflict with trees at some locations. Works on these trees scheduled to be completed by contract in early 2018.  Works on all other trees identified as requiring works is complete.
Abbeywood	Work complete
Ballyowen	Work complete
Cherbury Park	Work complete
Culmore Road	Tree survey complete. Overhead ESB wires in conflict with trees.   Works scheduled to be completed by contract in early 2018.
Elmbrook	Work complete
Hermitage Park estate	Tree survey complete
Hillcrest	Tree survey complete
Mount Andrew	Tree survey complete
Palmerstown Avenue	Tree survey complete. Overhead ESB wires in conflict with trees.   Works scheduled to be completed by contract in early 2018.
Palmerstown Court	Tree survey complete
Riversdale estate – mature trees on open space area	Tree survey complete. Tender in preparation for required works
Willsbrook Park – trees categorised as Priority 1 in Arborist’s report	Programme of work in progress
Woodville and Esker Lane	Tree survey complete
Woodview	Work complete
Woodview Heights	Tree survey complete

Emergency Tree Works

In addition to the planned whole estate and road programme, reactive and emergency works are carried out on individually located trees as necessary in order to manage risks to the public. This service is for dangerous trees such as trees with large hanging branches, where a tree is in danger of falling, or where a tree has actually fallen. If a tree is identified as posing an immediate and present danger, action will be taken to make the tree safe. Emergency works are also carried out where a tree is rendered hazardous as a result of severe weather conditions.

Arising from storm Doris in February this year, the Council’s tree maintenance crews removed 28 trees from across the county. Storm Ophelia on October 16th last necessitated the removal of 58 trees across the county and remedial tree pruning works were carried out on a further 32 trees. The clean-up operation post storm Ophelia, which took precedence over the Council’s planned Tree Maintenance Programme for a period of approximately 3 weeks, also involved removal of fallen branches and other debris from over 90 reported locations.

Emergency and reactive tree works will normally take priority over the planned programme of tree maintenance works in estates and it must be recognised that there is consequent impact on progress with the planned programme. Emergency tree works were carried out on a total of over 150 trees during 2017.

Tree Planting

A programme of tree planting is currently in progress involving the planting of c.120 trees in the Lucan and Palmerstown Areas in fulfilment of tree planting commitments under the 2017 tree planting programme.  Locations for this tree planting include Arthur Griffith Park, Beech Park, Beech Grove, Chalet Gardens, Glenaulin and Lucan Heights estates.

The tender process is currently in progress to procure a further 140 trees for planting in the Lucan and Palmerstown Areas during spring 2018. Locations for this tree planting include Ardeevin, Airlie Heights, Cherbury Park, Esker Lawns, Elderwood Road, Fforester Green, Kew Park, Kennelsfort Road Upper, Manor Road, Palmerstown Avenue & Drive, Riversdale Grove, Turret Road, The Oval/Woodfarm Avenue, Woodview Heights and Whitethorn Gardens.

Participatory Budget 2017

A budget of €5,000 is available from the 2017 Participatory Budget for native apple tree planting in the Lucan electoral area. A number of locations have been reviewed to identify suitable sites for community orchards including Willsbrook Park, Lucan Demesne, Griffeen Park, Vesey Park and Waterstown Park. It is planned to carry out this tree planting project in early 2018 in conjunction with local community groups.