South Dublin County Council (SDCC) are delighted to announce that Tymon Park has won the prestigious 2022 / 2023 Pollinator Award for the Best Town Park in Ireland as part of the Green Flag scheme. The Pollinator Award is jointly run by An Taisce Environmental Education and the National Biodiversity Data Centre. The award assesses the pollinator-friendly management of parks against the recommendations of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan. Over the past number of years SDCC have greatly increased the amount of natural meadows in parks and open spaces across the County including in Tymon Park. Presently Tymon Park has over 41 ha (100 acres) of long flowering meadows with 160 ha (395 acres) county wide.
As well as managing the meadows and carrying out survey work to ensure the management is effective Public Realm have been communicating this work to the public using videos highlighting the work that is being undertaken and the importance of these actions. All of the staff involved are delighted to have their hard work recognised with this major national award.
Kate Chandler, Community and Engagement Officer for the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, said: “It is encouraging to see another year of strong applications to the Green Flag Pollinator Award. One third of our wild bees in Ireland are under threat due to a loss of food and shelter, and so we’re thrilled to see the range of activities taking place across the country to support them.”
In addition to this SDCC has been awarded five Green Flag Awards from An Taisce Environment Education Unit. Waterstown Park, Sean Walsh Park, Tymon Park, Corkagh Park and Rathfarnham Castle Park were all awarded Green Flags Awards . The Green Flag Award scheme aims to encourage the provision of good quality public parks and green spaces that are managed in environmentally sustainable ways. The Green Flag Award Scheme encourages high environmental performance and good management. Parks and green spaces are judged against eight key criteria.
SDCC would like to take this opportunity to thank all the parks staff, the Council’s Heritage Officer, community volunteers and residents’ groups who played an active role in parks around the County and whose hard work and dedication contributed to these awards.
For further information on the pollinator actions see www.sdcc.ie/en/services/environment/pollinators/
Pic: Ben Ryan
