The Great North Bull Island Causeway Cleanup

North Bull Island is a unique site in Ireland and also in an International context not only in terms of its amenity value to the people of Dublin but also in terms of its wealth of habitats that exist side by side with public recreation. It was declared a Bird Sanctuary in the 1930's, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1981, a Nature Reserve in 1988 and a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. It also qualifies for designation as a Nature Heritage Area, Special Protection Area and Special area of Conservation and was declared a Special Amenity Area in 1994.

Stephen Hyland is organising a cleanup of both sides of the causeway on 3rd April from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. when the tide will be out. Dublin City Council will be supplying gloves and refuse sacks.

He needs volunteers. Come on! You know you want to!!

Don’t be shy! Come out and lend a hand (or two).

You can contact Stephen at stiofan777@yahoo.com  

Countdown 2010 – International Year of Biodiversity

2010 is a very special year for the environment worldwide. The United Nations has declared that this year is the International Year of Biodiversity. This idea started in Ireland in 2004 in Malahide, County Dublin, and has grown worldwide! Ireland will be taking part with many activities planned to help people to realise how important biodiversity is, and how to halt the loss of it. Ireland’s Biodiversity Week will be around the International Day of Biodiversity, which is 22 May 2010. 

What is biodiversity? Why are we losing it? 

Biodiversity is all living things and how they work together to survive in nature.  Even though Dublin is a capital city, it is very rich in biodiversity. Nature in our city can be seen in our rivers, parks, gardens, graveyards and Dublin Bay.  In Dublin, we have some places, plants and animals which are very special and rare in Europe. 

Dublin City Council has a Biodiversity Action Plan to help protect our environment. It describes all about the areas of the city where you can find wildlife and get in touch with nature. To read this plan please click here

What you can do:

• Celebrate Biodiversity Week on 17-22 May 2010. Check out the national website: www.noticenature.ie  for events around the country and this website for upcoming details.
• Visit a local park to see nature in action – butterflies, birds, frogs, red squirrels, fishes, badgers and hedgehogs are all out there!
• Visit the North Bull Island Interpretative Centre to find out more on wildlife in Dublin Bay.
• Participate in counting biodiversity – do a count of garden birds where you live and post it online to Birdwatch Ireland for the Dublin survey. 
• Read books from your local DCC library on wildlife in Dublin/Ireland.  If you can recognise the biodiversity in your area, it’s a start!
• Keep your dog on its lead if you’re walking in wildlife areas, like beaches, that might have nesting birds
  
  
  
  

National Tree Week 2010- 7th-13th March 2010 (Seachtain Náisiúnta na gCrann 2010 - 7-13 Márta 2010)

National Tree Week will be held from 7th – 13th of March 2010. This year’s theme is ‘Twenty ten –plant again’. Each year The Parks and Landscape Services Division of Dublin City Council gets involved with local schools and communities to carry out tree planting projects. 

Why not celebrate Tree Week with a walk in one of the city’s many parks. You can learn about Ireland’s native trees by following a Native Tree Trail. There is one located in Bushy Park, Terenure and another in Markievicz Park, Ballyfermot. Click here for more details.

For more information on National Tree Week and a complete list of events in the city and beyond please visit The Tree Council’s website at www.treecouncil.ie  or contact Sean Redmond, Parks and Landscape Services Division or email sean.redmond@dublincity.ie

Dublin’s Parks and Gardens bid to join European Network

Dublin City Council has been included in the European Garden Heritage Network. 

Dublin City Council is the first Local Authority in Ireland to apply for membership of this Network.  The European Garden Heritage Network (EGHN) comprises about 112 parks and gardens around Europe and promotes the heritage of landscapes and highlights the beauty and diversity of parks Europe wide. Dublin City Council’s St. Anne’s Park, Raheny and Merrion Square Park, have been accepted by the EGHN and thus promote Dublin as an attractive City to visit. 

The participation of Dublin City Council in the European Garden Heritage Network initiative is a very positive step in promoting our city. The quality of life in Dublin is hugely enhanced by our beautiful, well maintained parks and rank among the very finest in Europe. Dublin has much to offer the European Garden Heritage Network and indeed to gain from membership.

Photos below:
1st photo:  The Lord Mayor, Eibhlin Byrne, plants a flowering Katsura tree to celebrate DCC's hosting the EGHN and bringing the Network to Ireland at St. Anne's Park.  She is joined by Jens Spanjer, EGHN Co-ordinator and Manager of Schloss Dyck House and Park in Germany, and Guiliano Nalli, Mayor of Trevi, Italy.

2nd and 3rd photos:  Members of the European Garden Heritage Network, representing over 100 parks and gardens across Europe open to the public, were hosted by Dublin City Council Parks and Landscape Services Division on 20 and 21 April at the Mansion House for a workshop to plan future activities for 2010.

Bushy Park Masterplan Update

Dublin City Council Parks Department commissioned MosArt to prepare a Landscape Masterplan and Management & Development Plan to ‘identify management, maintenance, development and landscape design objectives’ for Bushy Park. The brief required a set of consolidated guidance documents to provide the direction for future design and management decisions relating to the Park. The project was divided into two stages with the first one being a combination of professional evaluation and public consultation. The second stage was the development of design and management objectives based on the findings of stage one.  

MosArt recently presented their Landscape Masterplan to the South Central Area Committee. Download the presentation or read more about Bushy Park.

Guidelines for Open Space and Landscape Development Works

The Parks and Landscapes Services Division of Dublin City Council have issued general guidelines for the development of open space to ensure quality standards are met. Persons preparing planning applications, including landscape professionals, should be aware of the specific European and national standards relating to open space and landscape development works. Read the guidelines.