Dodder Action remove 63 large bags of rubbish from Whitestown Stream

Dodder Action remove 63 large bags of rubbish from Whitestown Stream

By Mary Dennehy

DODDER Action volunteers took on another stretch of the Whitestown Stream last Saturday, filling more than 60 large bags with rubbish – alongside pulling items such as roadwork barriers, electrical items and rotted meat from the wildlife corridor.

In recent weeks, a hardy core of 10 volunteers have been cleaning sections of the Whitestown Stream, which, flowing through Tallaght, is a tributary of the Dodder.

Dodder Action Whitestown Stream

Volunteers cleaning Whitestown Stream on Saturday, February 23 (Pic: Dodder Action)

Speaking with The Echo, Dodder Action volunteer and Firhouse resident Wladek Gaj said that 63, 100-litre bags of rubbish were removed from the stream and its banks.

Rubbish included clothes, plastic sheeting, toys, rotted meat, household waste, nappies, glass and plastic bottles, a hoover, electrical items, assorted timber, 30 footballs and toys.

Large roadwork barriers, which were blocking the stream, were also removed.

Branding the area the ‘bottle swamp’, volunteers removed all waste from the water – and in the process discovered frogs living under the rubbish.

“We reckon the waste had accumulated over the past six months”, Wladek said.

“This area has been totally cleared now, making it a better habitat for wildlife – including the frogs we discovered living under the rubbish.

“This is a wildlife corridor, there’s quite a lot going on and birds like the Dipper will come back if the area is kept free of rubbish.”

Dodder Action Whitestown Stream 1

This little Dipper was snapped watching Dodder Action volunteers  (Pic: Brian Tansey) 

The 63 bags of rubbish were transported 100 metres by volunteers over rough terrain to a collection point on Whitestown Drive.

“We are always looking for volunteers, and appealing to anybody who would like to help [clean the Whitestown Stream and Dodder] to get in touch”, Wladek said.

The team of volunteers are set to return to Whitestown Stream on Saturday, March 9 at 10am.

If you’re interested in volunteering and helping to safeguard your local environment, visit Dodder Action Facebook page HERE page for more.

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