Three Fingal Biodiversity projects to receive €41,000 in funding

Rogerstown Park aerial

Fingal County Council is to receive €41,000 in funding for three projects under The National Biodiversity Local Authority Biodiversity Scheme.

The projects are located in Howth, Donabate and Portrane and all promote actions contained in the National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) 2017-2021 and the Fingal Biodiversity Action Plan that is currently being prepared.

In Donabate, funding of €25,000 will be made available for the  development of three new ponds in the Turvey Nature Park.  The aim of this project is to allow the natural hydrology of the site to re-assert itself and to develop new brackish and freshwater wetland habitat.

In the Howth Head Special Area of Conservation, a grant of €12,000 will enable the clearance of Rhododendron from 1.2ha of heathland at the Ben of Howth.

In Portrane, €4,000 has been made available in funding for the removal of the invasive Seabuckthorn stands from the dunes and the removal of Spartina from a saltmarsh area.

Welcoming the awarding of the funding, the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr David Healy, said: “The allocation for control of invasive Rhododendron ponticum in Howth is in line with the work of the Council to protect the heathland in accordance with the Howth Special Amenity Area Order. The removal of invasive Seabuckthorn from sand dunes and Spartina from salt marsh both in Portrane reflects our commitment to protecting the natural coastal defences, which is even more important as we face the impact of sea level rise. The rewetting project in Rogerstown and Turvey will help to support the habitat which is so important for estuarine bird species."

Fingal County Council’s Biodiversity Officer, Hans Visser, said: “We are delighted to receive this grant funding which will assist us in carrying out three very important nature conservations projects in Donabate, Howth and Portrane. The grants cover 50% of the funding and Fingal County Council will provide the other 50% and it is our intention to have these works completed in 2021.”