Environmental group claim they are ‘completely ignored’
Group members, Niall Callery, Jeannette Cunningham, David Smullen, with Seán Crowe TD, after their monthly clean-up day in the park Photo by Brian MacCormaic

Environmental group claim they are ‘completely ignored’

AN ENVIRONMENTAL group claim they have been ‘completely ignored’ by South Dublin County Council after the local authority began works, including tree felling, in a forested area of Tymon Park in recent weeks without notifying them.

The Friends of Tymon Park group, formed in 2019 by locals, nature lovers and regular park users who united to promote Tymon Park and its amenities, claim the council has failed to communicate with them about the works.

According to Brian MacCormaic from Friends of Tymon Park, the group has a positive relationship with the council, particularly when working in collaboration to maintain the park’s Green Flag status, but they’ve been left disappointed by a perceived lack of communication about recent works.

The Echo understands that a number of trees have been felled and gaps cut into hedgerows in sections of the park near Tymon Lane and the M50, adjacent to the National Basketball Arena, in the last three weeks.

For the Friends of Tymon Park, the council’s actions have been compounded by the group’s concerns that the works could be disrupting the habitats of wildlife in that section of the park.

In an email sent by the group to South Dublin County Council and seen by The Echo, they outlined their concerns about the removal of a number of trees from a section of the forested area of the park and its potential impact on wildlife.

“The seclusion of this forest has allowed a variety of wildlife habitats exist, including badger setts, fox dens, hedgehogs, and our resident buzzard,” the Friends of Tymon Park committee wrote.

“This is also a favoured hunting ground for sparrowhawks. In addition, many of our more secretive bird species have been observed here, such as goldcrest, wren, siskin, black cap, redwing, chiffchaff, other warblers and other species.

“The destruction of this avenue of trees and shrubbery has removed an invaluable wildlife corridor.

“The trees also act as a filter against noise pollution from the M50 motorway, not only for the wildlife, but for all park users on the Tymon North side.

“It is surely within the invention of the council to devise, in this extensive park, a cross country course/route that avoids damaging these vital natural assets and impinging on sensitive areas of biodiversity.”

In a statement to The Echo, South Dublin County Council confirmed that approximately 20 trees had been removed from the site as they were “found to be dead or dying” or had damaged trunks.

The council stated: “This type of woodland maintenance is good practice and will help to ensure the health of the woodland into the future.

“The hedge trimming work carried out in the same area of the park was also routine and good practice.”

In relation to the presence of wildlife habitats at the site, the council said the work was being carried out within the time period allowed by the Wildlife Act and that no damage had been caused to habitats.

“The council is satisfied that no habitats have been destroyed and no badger setts have been damaged while carrying out the work.

“Replacement planting of trees will take place in the park in due course,” stated the local authority.

While Mr MacCormaic credited the council with helping to maintain the park, he said that the council’s decision to carry out this work without notifying them has been disappointing.

“There was no notification about these works, which is very unfair,” Mr MacCormaic told The Echo.

“[The council] likes to have communication with us when it comes to things like the Green Flag – and we’re always delighted to do it – but something like this comes along and they completely ignore us. It’s insulting.”

Voicing his frustration at the situation, Mr MacCormaic added: “We the people of South Dublin own the park, the council represents us and the depot is supposed to be working for the good of the people.

“We’re happy to work with the council, but we need two-way communication from them.”

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