COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 14, 2020

QUESTION NO.3

QUESTION: Councillor Carly Bailey

To ask the Chief Executive whether pocket forests of native broadleaf trees are being considered for the county and if so to ask for more information on this plan and to ask that engagement with communities be sought to seek collaboration with SDCC on a very worthwhile and rewarding project.

REPLY:

Pocket forests area mini urban forests of native woodland planted using a method invented by a Japanese botanist, Miyawaki in the 1970s . The forests located in small areas – 100 square metres – grow very quickly and act as an oasis for biodiversity.

The Council have received a request from a local community group regarding examining the possibility of using this method in the parks.

The Council’s tree management strategy for the period 2015 to 2020 ‘Living with trees’ is being reviewed at present and will be replaced with a new policy document from 2021.  The strategy currently deals with the planting and maintenance of trees in on-street locations, it does not consider trees in park or urban woodland settings.  These areas will be included in the scope of the review of the strategy and will form part of the new strategy.  Work is due to be carried out to establish the extent of existing woodlands in SDCC ownership, these areas will be mapped in the strategy and this will help to identify areas where there is potential for urban woodlands to be extended or newly developed. The concept will be examined in this context and also as part of developing greater biodiversity and amenity value along the Green Infrastructure of the County.