Tidy Towns volunteers dig in for biodiversity in Douglas

BIODIVERSITY was the focus of the second Douglas Tidy Towns work party of the year, which took place last weekend.

A hedge that was planted in 2022 at an open area of Ballybrack Woods (known locally as ‘The Mangala’) was extended with Hazels, Hawthorns, Blackthorns, and Guelder Roses.

Regular litter-picking and trail maintenance activities also took place along the much-loved beauty spot before volunteers gathered for some well-deserved refreshments, compliments of the nearby Breen’s Centra on Donnybrook Hill.

Cork City Council biodiversity officer Rosemarie McDonald welcomed the initiative, saying the species planted are “really important to a wide variety of fauna”.

“Hazelnuts provide food to small mammals such as red squirrels and wood mice,” she said. “Hawthorn and guelder rose berries provide food for local birds such as blackbirds, song thrushes, and winter visitors such as fieldfares and redwings in the autumn and winter time.”

Katie Smirnova, of Hedgerows Ireland, said that native hedgerows also “support our dwindling populations of pollinators such as bees, moths, and butterflies”.

“As well as providing nesting sites, native hedgerows may contain trees that are left to grow tall to provide perching posts for birds,” she said.

“When their leaves fall each autumn, the native hedgerows also return nutrients to the earth and increase the soil’s organic carbon.

“This supports more insects and soil invertebrates, which further helps the birds because it provides extra prey.”

Karen Loxton, community and development officer at SECAD Cork, was also full of praise for the work, saying: 

“These trees are a great choice for a hedgerow for nature and people. Each of them has a long history of being foraged for food and medicine by people,” Ms Loxton added.

The new plants will soon form part of a free event on Saturday, March 9, as part of National Tree Week. Featuring experts from UCC, Cork City Council, SECAD, and Hedgerows Ireland, the Why Hedgerows Matter in Urban Setting event begins at Douglas Community Centre at 11.30am, followed by refreshments and a short walk across to The Mangala.

It will be run by Nature Forum and Cork Environment Forum, and free tickets are available on Eventbrite.ie.

Regular Douglas Tidy Towns events continue next Saturday from 10.30am at the shed in the community centre, and all are welcome to join in.