COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

QUESTION NO. 14

QUESTION: Councillor William Joseph Carey

To ask the Cheif Executive to outline any plan by SDCC to match actions by DCC, Fingal and Dunlaoghaire/ Rathdown Councils for the planting of pollinator friendly bulbs in line with our Pollinator Plan Planting Programme and to provide costings and commitments to achieving this goal and to further commit to providing resources for pollinator planting along our approach roads and other suitable areas.

REPLY:

South Dublin County Council is a signatory to the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, which contains many actions that support pollinators. South Dublin County Council has implemented projects and initiatives of varying types in support of biodiversity, many of these actions are in partnership with community groups, local resident associations and Tidy Towns Groups, with the support and encouragement of elected members and Council Staff. Some of these projects are detailed further below. These projects are supported by South Dublin County Councils policies and plans that incorporate biodiversity and pollinator supporting criteria. SDCC's County Development Plan has policies and objectives which outline the Council’s commitment to biodiversity; in particular Chapter 8, Green Infrastructure, and Chapter 9, Heritage, Conservation, and Landscapes are particularly relevant. The Council also included actions from the National Pollinator Plan within the adopted Climate Change Action Plan; (please see actions listed under 'nature based solutions'). The Council’s Heritage Plan also supports biodiversity and the Councils Tree Management Policy 'Living with Trees' puts the management of trees within a structure that supports the retention and expansion of the Councils tree canopy as well as encouraging the planting of native tree species. A Biodiversity Action Plan will also be completed later this year.

The main action undertaken by the Council that benefits pollinators involves a restructuring of mowing patterns and timings. This reduced frequency of grass cutting allows wildflowers to flower and set seed, providing additional opportunities for pollinating insects which are currently challenged by habitat loss and chemical usage. South Dublin County Council have audited some of these wildflower meadows with insect surveys and they display a wide variety of insect life, in some cases quite rare species have been discovered (reference Tymon Park). In order to create the wildflower meadows; altered mowing regimes have been in place in a number of the Council’s larger parks for the benefit of pollinators and biodiversity for a number of years; commencing with 13 separate areas in Tymon Park totalling 18 ha and 3 areas along the Dodder Valley Park totalling 5 ha. These areas were chosen for their particular soil types, the nature of their botanical composition, and their contribution to the amenity enjoyment of these parks. In 2019 these areas of wild flower meadowland were increased to 90 hectares; at various locations within our parks across the county and this is maintained for 2020.

This has proven to be a popular and highly successful action; with orchids in the thousands being counted. The use of the 'Managed for Biodiversity' signs assisted with spreading the message and the results have in general been positive. Most residents supported the initiative and requests were received that other areas also be looked at for similar reduced mowing for 2020 with much positive comment and feedback being received from members of the public.

It is intended to carry out ecological surveys in 2020 in these meadows and evaluate our success to date in terms of supporting insects and wildlife. This will allow us to also evaluate other locations for this reduced mowing approach. These wildflower meadows are highly important for pollinators as a lot of the meadowland species are native or naturalised and support local pollinators. Within the Clondalkin LEA there are a total of 23 hectares where grassland mowing is being managed this way. Corkagh Park accounts for the largest number of sites (8 No @ 8.72 ha) followed by Rathcoole Park (6 No @ 4.31 ha). The site adjacent to the Grand Canal in Bawnogue is approximately 8 hectares. Rathcoole Park was particularly commended for the presence of orchids within the meadowland during the summer of 2019.

South Dublin County Council has also implemented a maintenance regime to control Invasive Alien Species for the past 4 years; this innovative and proactive approach puts SDCC at the forefront of control of Invasive Alien Species. While this action is not within the pollinator plan it does support nature based actions to address Climate Change and is an important measure in supporting Ireland's' native ecology (which in turn supports pollinators).

Bulb planting also has a part to play and SDCC planted bulbs in the open space at Rockfield Drive / Boot Road in 2018 following liaison with the local residents association and this area has flowered well in recent years. One of the winning projects in the Clondalkin Participatory Budget scheme brightened up the Bawnogue area using flowers and this afforded an opportunity to plant pollinator friendly bulbs on four roundabouts on St Cuthbert’s Road and an area opposite Scoil Nano Nagle at Ashwood. Planting was carried out in Winter 2019/Spring 2020 and the roundabouts planted are at Westbourne, Kilmahuddrick, Kilcronan & Melrose. The bulbs which flowered well this year will continue to do so each year.

The options of planting additional areas with pollinator friendly bulbs at other location in the county will be examined having regard to the availability of the necessary resource.