COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, January 27, 2025

QUESTION NO.

QUESTION: Councillor K. Keane

"That this committee ask the manager is there any plans to rewild the upper section of Kiltalown Park?"

REPLY:

The council has no plans to rewild the upper section of Kiltalown Park.

In recent years, SDCC have implemented a long-flowering meadow management in the upper section of the park. This approach involves restructuring mowing patterns with a grassland management regime of one cut per year. Some areas are cut at the end of the flowering season in late summer or early autumn mimicking traditional hay meadow management, while others are left to overwinter and cut in spring providing vital nesting and overwintering habitats for insects.

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 wildflowers to set seed and reduces competition from grass species, depleting nitrogen levels in the soil. These meadow initiatives are key actions in the Council's Climate Change Action Plan.

In 2024 the Council managed 195 hectares of meadows including 175 hectares of long-flowering meadows and 20 hectares of short-flowering meadows which have been successfully implemented across the county and well-received by residents and elected members. More information is available on the SDCC Pollinator webpage: Pollinators - SDCC