An Rannóg Bonneagair agus Athraithe Aeráide Infrastructure and Climate Change Department

Dean Eaton Acting Environmental Awareness Officer Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

Tel: 01 204 7900 Fax: 01 230 0125

Email: deaton@dlrcoco.ie 20th February 2016

Dear Residents, I have taken over the role of Environmental Awareness Officer on an acting basis from Kate Hynes who is moving onwards and upwards. Whilst continuing in my role supporting schools in the DLR area I am available to provide assistance to resident groups and encourage you to contact me should you require assistance. Attached you will find the latest newsletter, which I hope you’ll find both interesting and informative. Key Dates/Events National Spring Clean The 18th annual National Spring Clean (NSC) takes place throughout the month of April. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council supports the NSC by providing clean-up supplies. See newsletter for further details. Tidy Districts Competition The Tidy Districts Competition is typically launched in late March with an early May deadline. Judging takes place during June/July with the award ceremony in September. Participants of the 2015 competition will receive their Green Waste passes for Ballyogan Recycling Centre with this newsletter. National Tree Week Sunday 6th – Sunday 13th March Various planting events will be taking place throughout the county, including the creation of a Native orchard of rare fruit trees. What’s going on? I would love to hear about your actions, please email Dean Eaton deaton@dlrcoco.ie if you have a story you want to share. Dean Eaton Acting Environmental Awareness Officer

Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council Resident Association Newsletter

Spring Newsletter 2016

National Spring Clean Since 1999 April has marked the launch of the National Spring Clean campaign, providing an impetus for residents to tidy their estates. Back in 1990 around 155,000 people participated in 1732 organised events. Last year 519,000 people participated in a total 5199 events. To register your Spring Clean please visit http://www.nationalspringclean.org/ or phone 400 2219

Please note: litter presented for collection must be placed in the blue bags provided by the Council. Should you wish to receive litter pickers, gloves and the councils blue clean-up bags please email environ@dlrcoco.ie or phone 01 2054817. Schools must collect these supplies from our Dun Laoghaire or Dundrum Office.

Green waste (grass cuttings, leaves, hedge trimmings, branches, etc.) - will not be collected by the Council. This material can be disposed of at Ballyogan Recycling Centre from €7 per load. Limited passes available to Tidy Districts Participants.

Please note it is vital that you give us plenty of notice so that we can collect the waste promptly. Should your clean-up date change for any reason please email environ@dlrcoco.ie or phone 01 205 4817 as early as possible to ensure Council staff are aware of your change of plans.

Once you have decided on a clean-up date please notify the Council by emailing environ@dlrcoco.ie or phoning 01 2054817. Groups when registering are asked to confirm where and when the community clean-up (blue) bags will be placed for collection. Our clean-up crew will then endeavour to collect the litter as soon after your clean-up as possible.

A limited supply of community clean-up (blue) bags, litter pickers and gloves are available from the Council.

Brimstone Butterfly Project Towards the end of November last year the Marley Grange Residents Association with the support of over 20 volunteers planted 200 Alder Buckthorns and 150 other native trees along the Little Dargle River. Their aim is to create a habitat to support the rare Brimstone Butterfly whose larvae feed on the Alder Buckthorn. This project is one of four Biodiversity in Action projects being undertaken by resident groups in the DLR area. The photograph to the left shows An Cathaoirleach Cllr Barry Saul alongside some of the volunteers including members of the Cabinteely Tidy Towns team.

Brimstone Butterfly Expansion Project During National Tree Week the Council with the assistance of Shankill Tidy Towns and local schools will be planting 600 Alder Buckthorns in the hope of further expanding the range of the Brimstone Butterfly. Sites in Kilboggett Park, Shanganagh Park, Blackrock College, St. Gerard’s School campus and Mount Anville Junior Montessori School have been selected to receive these trees. Expert advice is being provided by naturalist Dale Treadwell.

Native Orchard Shankill Tidy Towns will be planting an orchard of 150 rare fruit trees in Shanganagh Park towards the end of March. This is the second of the Biodiversity in Action projects. It is hoped these trees will help safeguard varieties that have fallen out of favour over the years. The Irish Seed Savers Association based in County Claire offers for sale similar fruit trees. By planting rare native fruit trees it is possible to safeguard their continued survival. To find out more you can visit their website http://www.irishseedsavers.ie/index.php

National Tree Week Between Sunday 6th – Sunday 13th March organisations across the country will be planting trees in recognition of National Tree Week. But what benefit do trees provide? The University of Calcutta identified the value of a 50 year old tree during the course of its lifetime: €30,000 worth of oxygen. €60,000 worth of pollution control. €30,000 worth of increased soil fertility and erosion control. €35,000 worth of water cleaning. €30,000 worth of natural habitats for our pollinators. Not to mention the aesthetic beauty and climate control.

Irish Peach – one of the best flavoured summer apples.

National Pollinator Plan The National Pollinator Plan is an all-Ireland initiative with the aim to make the island of Ireland pollinator friendly. Pollinators play a key role in our ecosystems. In taking action to protect them, we start a chain reaction that has positive benefits for the general health of our environment. Bees and hoverflies don’t just pollinate crops, they also help maintain the diversity of wildflowers that we have in Ireland. With pollinators under threat in Ireland and globally it is essential that we take action to support our pollinators. Maintaining pollination service requires providing a sufficient abundance and diversity of food plants across the landscape for our pollinators from early spring to late autumn.

Kilcross Estate Management The third Biodiversity in Action project is being undertaken by the Kilcross Estate Management forum. Their intention is to create a pollinator friendly estate and to draw upon their experience to inform other community groups to follow their lead. Special planting and education events will be taking place during the spring and summer to help achieve their aims. Residents are being encouraged to plant native species in their gardens and to allow the Dandelion (an essential early spring source of nectar) to flourish during the spring.

Earth Hour 8.30pm Saturday 19th March marks the 10th Earth Hour. Organisations and individuals will be switching off (non-essential) lights and electrical appliances for 1 hour as a symbol of their commitment to the planet. Groups and businesses have organised Candlelit Céilidh’s, Candlelit Concerts and Romantic Candlelit meals in the past. If you want to get involved more information can be found here https://www.earthhour.org/

Exploring Nature Events A series of FREE nature events have been organised within the DLR area. Details can be found on the DLR events page (see here http://events.dlrcoco.ie/home). Learn about nature friendly gardening in Marley Park or reap the benefits of a Nature for Health walk and talk in Barnaslingan Woods. If you have young children/grandchildren, they might like to learn animal tracking in Fitzsimons Woods or make their own bird box in Shanganagh Park. Full details can be found in the leaflets available from County Hall.