Recently, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has begun designating grass verges around the community as ‘Nature Wildlife Areas’.
The campaign is a part of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan that aims to “implement pollinator-friendly action but also raises the value of these areas for biodiversity, improving diversity of plants; providing wildlife corridors for our mammals and birds.“
Anne Murray, a biodiversity officer for the local council told the Dublin Gazette the project strives to “manage greenspaces” and “alter mowing regimes and reduce pesticide use to allow a greater diversity of species to grow.”
There are currently 89 sites in the DLR area that are designated for ‘Nature Wildlife Areas’ such as Glenageary Roundabout, Kilbogget Park, Barton Road East and Deerpark.
A Killiney local, Simon Palmer, says that he finds the programme encouraging.
“Last summer I saw the council had stopped cutting the grass on Killiney Hill.
We’ve a massive green on Seafield Court so I suggested the areas around our green would be perfect to be left wild.“
“It’s great to see that they’ve taken up my suggestion.”
Palmer has also designated the grass verge outside of his home as a ‘Bees playground’ where he won’t spray pesticide or cut the grass.
Murray says that project is being ran by the parks staff and “these Nature Wildlife Areas will be managed in this way for the foreseeable future.”
“We wish to add sites year on year. We would also appreciate if residents associations come forward with sites they would like us to consider next year which we can assess and add to our nature wildlife areas,” she says.
