First phase of wetland development works completed in Turvey Nature Park

Fingal County Council has just completed the first phase of a wetland development project in the Turvey Nature Park in Donabate. In this phase completed this year, an existing wetland area was extended and a new 2-acre wetland area was created. A new Sandmartin Hut was also installed which is the first of its kind in Ireland.

Building on this progress next year the Council intends to construct another two large wetland areas to create a connected series of freshwater ponds and wetlands in the Nature Park. It is envisaged that this will attract a wider range of plants and animals to the park.

Hans Visser, Fingal’s Biodiversity Officer is delighted with the results and commented: “A new Sandmartin Hut was also installed, which is the first of its kind in Ireland. We hope to attract Sand Martins as a new breeding bird in the park and will be monitoring the use of the new nesting site by Sand Martins in the years to come”.

The wetland development works and path upgrading works will also give visitors a better opportunity to experience the wetland and its associated wildlife up close.

The development of the wetland is part of the Councils commitment to address biodiversity loss and Climate Change. The project was grant aided by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) under the National Biodiversity plan Local Authorities Biodiversity Project fund.