Donabate Biodiversity Plan

As part of the Fingal Development plan, Donabate Tidy Towns has been working with Fingal Co. Co (in particular Hans Visser the biodiversity officer) on a Biodiversity Plan for the peninsula.

This plan will we hope ensure the protection fo all of our residents, human and furry for generations to come. Here is a summary of the 10 point plan.

104 Appendix XIIIc: Town Biodiversity Plans
1~ Replace annual bedding schemes with perennial planting, comprising of species that will flower throughout the summer and early autumn, will attract bees and butterflies and have a low maintenance requirements. These bedding schemes are located at: · Entrance to Donabate next to Petrol station · Entrance to Donabate via Turvey Avenue · Village Green · The hand corner

2~ Create a new low maintenance perennial plantings schemes at the village pump in the main street To provide flower rich planting schemes that will benefit wildlife and the town aesthetics.

3~ Develop a demonstration site in one of the estates for wildflower meadow development at a location identified in County Council’s grassland management programme as Grade 7 To develop an attractive flower rich meadows by reducing the grass cutting frequency to once or twice a year

4~ Plant a variety of climbers such as Honeysuckle, Ivy and range of Clematis on side walls of open spaces at Beverton and Cois Inbher to provide a range of colours during the year, prevent graffiti and provide a feeding and nesting site for wildlife within the housing estates

5 -Carry out ecological study of the wetland near St. Ita’s together with local primary school To find out what plants and animals live in the wetland at St. Ita’s

6- Develop a conservation plan for the wetland near St. Ita’s To identify the actions required to protect the wetland and promote practical conservation action

7 Protect woodland in St. Itas and prepare a conservation plan for these woods To identify the actions required to protect the woodland and promote practical conservation action

8 Collect tree seed from local hedgerows and woodlands and grow these on in schools and Turvey park To promote the protection and replanting of hedgerows in Donabate

9 Carry out a hedgerow survey in Donabate to assess the status of remaining hedgerows within Donabate and prepare a list of conservation actions for the individual hedgerows

10 Initiate a campaign of bird, bat and insect box making for gardens throughout Donabate. To encourage people to enhance their gardens and open spaces for wildlife