COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN, NEWCASTLE, RATHCOOLE, SAGGART AND BRITTAS AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

QUESTION NO.13

QUESTION: Councillor W. Carey

To ask the Chief Executive to outline the policy on grass cutting in various districts and to enquire if the policy is consistent across the county ? Is there a "no mow may" policy in place for some some districts and not others. is this a viable policy for the upkeep of estates along streetscapes and small greens ? NB. the recent heavy growth on grass verges etc that was left unchecked particularly in the Bawnogue area has been viewed negatively throughout the district. Can the manager add comment to the policy?

REPLY:

The No Mow May is an annual campaign which is encourages everyone to put away the lawnmower during the month of May to help our native wildlife. The initiative which started by Plantlife in the UK has gained traction among many homeowners in Ireland due to the promotion of it by the National Biodiversity Data Centre in partnership with An Post.

In South Dublin County Council, the Pollinator Action Plan sets out a broad range of actions that SDCC are committed to implementing over the next five years.  All actions are based on reversing declining bee populations in Ireland.  Two of the actions which relate to grass management are the Long Flowering Meadows and Short Flowering Meadows.

The Long Flowering Meadow involves a restructuring of mowing patterns and timings with a one cut per annum grassland management regime. Currently the Public Realm Section manages approximately 167 hectares as natural meadows (long flowering meadows).  The cutting of the meadows is an important part of their healthy management.

Some of the meadow areas are cut at the tail end of the flowering season in late summer and early autumn.  This mimics traditional hay meadow management techniques.  Other meadow areas are left to overwinter and cut in Spring.  This provides nesting and overwintering habitats for many insects. 

The Short Flowering Meadows involves restructuring of mowing patterns and timings to approximately 5 cuts per annum.  Short flowing meadows are designed to suit public open spaces in residential areas where long flowering meadows may not be practical.  This is an objective of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan and an environmentally enhancing way of managing public open space.  The cutting and collecting programme allows short flowering species to flower and set seed, while also aiming to reduce the overall competition from grass species as the ground is depleted of nitrogen.

Short flowering meadows were first trialled in 2022 on 8.81 hectares throughout the county.  Due to its success the initiative has been expanded to approximately 18 hectares in 2023.  South Dublin County Council intend to continue identifying suitable areas in public open spaces throughout the County to expand the short flowering meadow programme. 

Delivery of pollinator supportive meadow mangement is a key action in SDCC's Climate Change Action Plan and the strong support of local elected members and local communities in the delivery of both the Pollinator Action Plan and the SDCC's Climate Change Action Plan is very much welcomed. 

Some information on SDCC's actions in this regard is available on SDCC's website at this link: Pollinators - SDCC