COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM / TEMPLEOGUE / FIRHOUSE / BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

HEADED ITEM NO.5

HEADED ITEM: L. Magee

Tree Planting Programme 2023/’24.

REPLY:

The attached programme gives details of trees to be planted under the 2023/'24 winter tree planting programme for the Rathfarnham / Templeogue / Firhouse / Bohernabreena area.  The Council's Public Realm Section also intends commencing a programme to plant mini-woodlands around the county and the proposed locations for the first of these are as follows -

  1. Dodder Valley Park at Mount Carmel.
  2. The open space adjacent to Firhouse Educate Together school.
  3. Ballycragh Park.

The Council has mapped the entire Green Infrastructure of the county, this is a key objective of the Green Infrastructure Strategy and County Development Plan. The mapping exercise has identified areas where green infrastructure is fragmented and in need of further connectivity. Through this extensive exercise, the Council has identified locations where mini woodlands could be planted to link existing green infrastructure together. Mini Woodlands are small, dense, rapid-growing plantations of entirely native species in an urban setting. They assist wildlife in moving from one area to another, encouraging genetic diversity as well as providing a natural refuge in urban areas. Using native species mini woodlands are designed to mimic a natural habitat with a canopy tree layer, a sub tree layer, a shrub layer, and a ground layer. To date, the Council has planted three mini-woodlands in Greenhills Park, Mill Lane in Palmerstown and Sean Walsh Park. Ground preparation for an additional site has taken place in Dodder Valley Park and planting is expected to be completed there by Spring 2024.