The lands surrounding Dublin Bay were originally heavily wooded before the city was developed. In Irish it was also called Droom-Choll-Coil that is, “the brow of a hazel-wood”, from an abundance of those trees growing about it. Today, our urban woodlands still provide vital habitats for many species of plants and animals and, if well managed, can increase urban biodiversity, provide valuable amenity areas and reduce pollution and noise.

To celebrate the woodlands in Bushy Park, St. Anne’s Park and Tolka Valley Park, Dublin City Council Parks, Biodiversity and Landscape Services has produced a ‘Short Guide to Three Dublin City Woodlands’, which explores the history as well as importance of maintaining these woodlands into the future. The guide was launched on National Tree Day by Dublin’s Deputy Lord Mayor, Mary Callaghan, who welcomed Minister Malcolm Noonan, TD to a tree planting ceremony at Tolka Valley Park, Finglas, which was attended by students of St. Malachy’s National School, Finglas. As well as planting native species of Scots pine, Yew and Silver birch, the students also learnt out about the different species of trees and the importance of woodlands from Dublin City Council’s Tree Officer, Ludovic Beaumont.

This project is supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the National Biodiversity Action plan (2017-2021) and Dublin City Council’s Parks, Biodiversity and Landscape Services as an action of the Dublin City Biodiversity Action Plan (2016-2020) and Dublin City Tree Strategy (2016-2021).

Images curtesy of Anthony Woods