COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 10, 2022

QUESTION NO. 10

QUESTION: Councillor Yvonne Collins

To ask the Chief Executive whether nesting bird surveys are incorporated into the Council's management of long flowering meadows under the Pollinator Action Plan

REPLY:

In line with the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan the primary function of the meadows is to provide habitats and food for pollinators, this involves a restructured mowing pattern with a one cut per annum grassland management regime. Currently the Council's Public Realm Section manages over 160 hectares as natural meadows (long flowering meadows). Regular cutting of the meadows is an important part of the healthy management of these areas. Some of the meadows are cut at the end of the flowering season and this mimics traditional hay meadow management techniques, while other meadows are left to overwinter and are cut later in the spring. This provides nesting and overwintering habitats for local biodiversity. Precautions are taken prior to cutting long flowering meadows such as walking and visually surveying the meadows before they are cut to ensure nesting birds are not disturbed. In addition to this the Council encourages the public to engage and report locations of nesting birds if they are aware of them and the Council will take every precaution to avoid disturbing nesting birds.