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Building Biodiversity
Habitat Mapping
Early in 2020, Castleknock TidyTowns hired Wild Work (a biodiversity company) to carry out a biodiversity place mapping survey of the village to better understand the various species of animals, birds and insects who also call Castleknock home. Castleknock is home to urban foxes, hedgehogs, badgers, a whole variety of garden birds as well as butterflies, bees and other insects. Since then we have followed the advice we gained and promoted more sustainable living (and gardening) to protect habitats and build biodiversity.
Planting For Pollinators
Planting specifically with pollinators in mind is a key activity which Castleknock TidyTowns has undertaken in close partnership with Fingal County Council. Ten new pollinator-friendly perennial flower beds have been added which CTT volunteers maintain. We have planted under pedestrian barriers and on waste ground to create food-source corridors for pollinators.
Tree Planting
Since 2019 our volunteers have planted over 2,000 trees across Castleknock. A selection of Rowan, Sweet Cherry, Bird Cherry, Hawthorn, Alder, Willow, Beech and Copper Beech plus Whitethorn and Beech hedging have been planted across Castleknock in various green spaces (with FCC prior approval). We have also planted three Open Orchards, namely at Park Avenue, Auburn Avenue and Ashleigh.
Bulb Planting
Bulb planting is an activity that we undertake each Autumn in Castleknock. Daffodils make a bright show on the approach roads, e.g. on Castleknock Road (at the Castleknock Gate of the Phoenix Park and around the Deer Sculpture) and on Auburn Avenue. Tulips, Alliums and Camassia extend the colour after the daffodils fade and result in areas being more appealing so they can remain un-mown for longer. We have also planted snowdrop bulbs under all of the trees along Auburn Avenue - snowdrops are often seen as heralds of Spring, and as symbols of hope.
Poly Tunnel
In 2024, thanks to a partial grant from Fingal County Council and generous donations received through a GoFundMe campaign, we purchased a polycarbonate poly tunnel (6m x 4m). The Castleknock Lawn Tennis Club very kindly allowed us to located the poly tunnel within their grounds and Brady's of Castleknock agreed to supply the water. Volunteers will produce plants from seed each Spring and also propagate new plants at this location too. The poly tunnel will enable tender plants to be over-wintered safely. The plan is for CTT to become 100% self-sufficient with plants grown locally for the planters and baskets in Castleknock village by 2030.
Leaf Mould
When Autumn comes, our volunteers collect fallen leaves in leaf bays (cages) which we have erected in various locations throughout the village. You can see some bays along Auburn Avenue where the leaf fall is most abundant each year. In less than one year leaf mould is created and this nutrient-rich material is spread at the bases of trees, in pollinator beds and in planters to improve the quality of Castleknock's soil and growing potential.
Reduced Mowing
Over a number of years, CTT has actively supported FCC's reduction in the mowing frequency of grass verges and green spaces to create mini-meadows within the urban environment. CTT has promoted 'No Mow May' and encouraged residents to allow verges and areas of their gardens to simply grow wild. These steps help to provide resources for insect pollinators, while being more cost-effective and less labour-intensive than sowing a site with a seed mix. Sowing 'wild flower' seeds purchased in supermarkets etc. can pose certain risks as they may introduce plant species which may be new genotypes. If you wish to see wild flowers grow in your garden, leave an area un-mown and nature will do the rest. Otherwise, always source Irish certified seed.
Little Wild Gatherings
In 2024 Little Wild Gatherings were introduced by CTT with the aim of reaching parents of young children to introduce concepts of sustainability and 'doing more with less'. Two sessions were held, one in Spring and one in Autumn and were hugely popular with both the children and parents who took part. The plan is to host more of these educational and interactive sessions again in the near future.
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Wild Garden Competition
Since 2019 we have encouraged our volunteers and local residents to avoid the use of pesticides, herbicides and insecticides. We promoted sustainability in the garden and each year promote water butts and composting. In 2023 we held our first competition for the best garden in Castleknock. Denis and Rita McGowan won CTT's Glorious Garden 2023 competition for their beautiful, sustainable garden. See photos of the winning and shortlisted gardens here: https://www.castleknocktidytowns.com/post/winner-ctt-s-glorious-garden-2023
In 2024 we held CTT's first Wild Garden Competition and also added a Best Estate category too. Louise and Patrick Kiernan took the top prize and Fairhaven won as the Best Estate. Check out this year's winner and runners up here: https://www.castleknocktidytowns.com/post/ctt-2024-wild-garden-competition-winners.
Swift Nesting Boxes
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Swifts are a species in decline around the world so it is wonderful that some swifts have chosen Castleknock as their Irish summer home. During CTT's habitat mapping project, swifts were observed at St Brigid's National School and also at St Brigid's Church. Swifts come from South Africa each year just for the summer where they breed and raise their young.
To encourage a larger population to nest in the buildings in the three Castleknock primary schools and Castleknock College, CTT purchased and installed triple swift-nesting boxes from Castleknock TidyTowns's funds (with part-funding from Fingal County Council).
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William O’Halloran of Wild Work visited Castleknock in June 2020 and made a video of the areas of importance for biodiversity. The video is just under 40 minutes long and shows William exploring Castleknock and pointing out the main areas of interest. You can also download his full written report at the button below.