Committee member Sarah-Jane, who pulled together the submission made on behalf of Sustainable Skerries in May 2022, writes:
The overall draft plan as published appears to be a comprehensive and well thought out document on which Fingal should be complimented. We are pleased to see that the latest draft has taken into account many of the comments addressed in our previous submission such as the need to support and encourage organic and regenerative farming, the need for surfaces in new developments to be water permeable, nature-based flood mitigation measures, the creation of community bike and car-sharing initiatives, and the cessation of development in areas impacts by sea level rise and coastal erosion. We further welcome the inclusion of changes suggested by councillors including the removal of allotments as an example of rewilding, the inclusion of the 15 minute town, car-free neighbourhoods and the increased target of open space to 18%.
There are, however, a number of outstanding points of concern that we raise in our submission while also requesting more explicit detail and tangible targets with timelines for many of the existing objectives. At a macro level, we recommend that any further revisions reflect deeply on the true compatibility of extensive economic growth and truly sustainable development in Fingal, particularly in relation to the development of new industrial and retail parks, Dublin airport and the marine sector. We ask that the plan places greater emphasis on the infrastructure and skills that will build resilience across the communities of Fingal in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss while empowering them to restore nature, bridge the circularity gap and create food and energy security.
We now invite our elected representatives to do their best when it comes to finalising the Fingal Development Plan!
And here is our submission in full:
Submission on the Draft Fingal Development Plan 2023-2029
By Sustainable Skerries, May 2022
General comments and Introduction
This submission is made by Sustainable Skerries, a committee of the Skerries Community Association. Our view is that any development needs to be not only sustainable, but regenerative. While we have consulted with local residents to inform our views, we do not intend to speak for “the” Skerries community.
We are pleased to see that the latest draft has taken into account many of the comments addressed in our previous submission such as the need to support and encourage organic and regenerative farming, the need for surfaces in new developments to be water permeable, nature-based flood mitigation measures, the creation of community bike and car-sharing initiatives, and the cessation of development in areas impacts by sea level rise and coastal erosion. We further welcome the inclusion of changes suggested by councillors including the removal of allotments as an example of rewilding, the inclusion of the 15 minute town, car-free neighbourhoods and the increased target of open space to 18%. The overall draft plan as published appears to be a comprehensive and well thought out document on which Fingal should be complimented. There are, however, a number of outstanding points of concern that we would like to raise in relation to the following chapters of the draft FDP.
As we outline in our submission below, we would welcome the inclusion of greater detail on timelines /delivery dates, definition of certain terms, and more explicit examples for many of the objectives presented across the plan.
Thank you for taking the time to consider our submission.
Chapter 2: Planning for Growth
We very much welcome plans for compact growth and regeneration to facilitate population growth and the promotion of densities along public transport corridors. We also welcome plans to develop a comprehensive network of signed pedestrian and cycleways linking residential areas to one another, to the village centres, schools, recreational hubs and railway stations. Plans to re-use and rehabilitate existing housing stock in rural areas in preference to new-build and to direct rural generated housing demand to villages and rural clusters with access to quality public transport are also welcome. These developments are positive moves towards reduced car usage (and therefore reduced congestion, emissions and air pollution) and accessibility to efficient public services for all.
The plan proposes to retain existing tree-lined approaches to all towns and villages to preserve their special character. We ask that this is carefully planned to avoid the retrospective removal of mature trees that are later discovered to be unsuitable for footpaths.
In terms of zoning, we ask that agriculture should be situated close to where people are living (e.g. land around Skerries town) so that growth is self-sustaining. Areas with high quality soil surrounding towns should be identified for development of further sustainable agricultural practices to build resilience in the area of food security within Fingal and the rest of Ireland. In this, organic and regenerative agriculture should be supported and prioritised wherever possible.
Chapter 3: Sustainable Placemaking and Quality Homes
In this chapter we welcome plans to prioritise sustainable active transport modes and to encourage the development of car free neighbourhoods and streets. The promotion of a clean air and noise reduction approach to public realm in town and village centres through pedestrianisation of streets and/or restriction of through traffic where possible and appropriate is also a positive aspect of the plan. The promotion of suitable, appropriately sized enterprises within rural villages to minimise the need for commuting is another welcome step towards reducing congestion, emissions and pollution. We were also pleased to see that the plan will ensure that new residential development incorporates energy efficiency measures and promotes innovative renewable energy opportunities, for example by passive solar design, natural ventilation, and vegetation (green roofs etc) on buildings and makes most effective and sustainable use of water, aggregates and other resources. To ensure this is implemented we wish to see this written into building regulations and strictly enforced to avoid retrospective requirements for retrofitting.
Given the intensive use of natural resources and the emissions created from building materials we encourage the measures to support the refurbishment and retrofitting of existing buildings and recommend that this be extended to all areas of Fingal where appropriate. We also welcome efforts to preserve greenbelts in Fingal in order to safeguard valuable countryside. The additional requirement that safe access to a new house be designed so that it avoids the need to remove long or significant stretches of roadside hedging and trees is also a welcome step toward preserving wildlife and natural resources.
Given the alarming recent findings regarding sea level rise in Dublin which is occurring faster than expected (rise in Dublin-Bay is occurring at approximately double the rate of global sea-level rise, Parnell and colleagues, 2022), it is essential to uphold the new requirement that no new houses are permitted on High Amenity zoned lands which are located between the sea and the coast and even to extend this to building houses beyond this proximity to the sea in conjunction to projected sea-level rise. Furthermore, those living in high-risk areas to sea-level rise, potential flooding and coastal erosion (e.g. Balbriggan, Skerries, Loughshinny, Rush, Portrane, Donabate and Malahide) should be supported and consulted with in order to create plan for community adaptation and, in some instances, relocation.
We further recommend the inclusion of additional details for the following objectives:
Objective SPQHO2: Prioritises sustainable active transport modes by providing safer cycle lanes and community public transport services (particularly when the concept of a 15 minute town is not viable) that meet the needs of its residents. This is particularly important when no provision has been made for new shops and schools close to the new housing developments
Objective SPQHO4: Enhance the visual amenity of existing town and village centres, minimising unnecessary clutter and proliferation of street furniture and provide guidance on public realm design, including wirescape, shopfront design, street furniture (including native and / or pollinator friendly / ecologically valuable plants and trees), signage and the adequate provision of bins and recycling options.
Objective SPQHO9: Focus new residential development on appropriately zoned lands within the County, within appropriate locations proximate to existing settlement centres where infrastructural capacity is readily available, and along existing or proposed high quality public transport corridors and active travel infrastructure in a phased manner alongside the delivery of appropriate physical and social infrastructure. Active travel options should also be provided while liaising with the Transport Infrastructure Ireland to ensure public transport options to and from new developments to local amenities such as shops and libraries.
Objective SPQHO19 Promote and encourage schemes which promote innovative ways of addressing dementia friendly issues in the built environment, such as the provision of community managed gardens.
Objective SPQHO29 Ensure residential new builds include the provision of infrastructure for the harvesting of rainwater where it is feasible and cost-effective. (E.g. the provision of a rain-water harvesting system for every new dwelling)
Chapter 4: Community Infrastructure & Open Space
We welcome the focus within the plan on expanding community resources available to all and the provision of appropriate recreational, community, social and educational facilities for children, teens and young adults which is essential for a thriving community. The plan further aims to facilitate the development of new schools, the re-development of existing schools and extensions planned as part of the Government’s School Building Programme. These would be very positive and necessary developments for the communities of Fingal and we further strongly recommend that any new community facilities and schools, or the re-development of existing facilities and school, prioritise the provision of access to unstructured play in nature to promote physical and emotional development as well as allowing people of all ages to (re)connect with nature. Many schools and community centres around the country provide excellent examples of this which allow students of schools or patrons of community initiatives to grow food, learn about biodiversity in a real-life setting and work together to protect natural habitats and wildlife. This must be built into the design of infrastructure rather than something that is external to facilities that are predominantly concrete, sterile and unnatural.
We further welcome that the plan will ensure that the design of schools and other educational centres take account sustainable building practices, water and energy conservation as well as air quality and climate change. This will further allow for educational opportunities within schools and help in curriculum reform which allows young people to learn about sustainable design and living. The requirement for new schools to be designed in accordance with “School Streets” principles will also provide excellent learning opportunities for students regarding climate action in practice and should be strongly supported. These learning opportunities will be further supported by the proposed provisions of a wide variety of resiliently designed, sustainably managed and accessible public open spaces, including allotments, community gardens, parklands and sporting facilities, on a hierarchical basis throughout the County, most of which should ideally be accessible for schools for nature-based learning.
There are huge opportunities in Fingal to use public lands, and promote government biodiversity schemes on private lands, to restore appropriate habitats in the county particularly woodlands (including agroforestry), wetlands, grasslands and hedgerows. Tree planting should be carried out with the aim of restoring functioning woodland ecosystems, an opportunity often lost by open parkland tree-planting. In all cases lands will have their past land-use histories to take into account in determining the most appropriate restoration objective.
When it comes to open space, the plan often refers to ‘biodiversity areas’, with the sense that these are to be separate zones. While, as described above, these are essential to begin to restore nature in our county, the opportunities to embed biodiversity in all areas of open-space development should not be lost e.g. landscaping, soil health, green roofs/walls, SUDS, soil banks, natural materials, integrated or artificial habitats. While some of these are mentioned in other parts of the plan, an open space objective that clearly seeks to integrate biodiversity in all use-areas and sets targets for same would be welcome.
Chapter 5: Climate Action
The Fingal Local Development plan outlines its objectives for the 2023-2029 period in Chapter 5. The section deals with both the mitigation and adaptation to the impacts of climate change. Over the course of this chapter, transport, energy, resource management and waste are categorised as mitigation while flood defence and nature-based solutions are considered adaptation. The development plan outlines some measures that are very welcome such as the Climate Action Energy Statement (pg. 186) and plans to add green spaces to Fingal County Council owned buildings where appropriate are applaudable (pg. 186).
It is clear from the development plan that climate change has taken centre stage and that the scale of the challenge ahead is becoming clear to the council and the public more broadly. However, the development plan has flaws in both its communication and implementation. We consider that for this development plan to have the necessary impact in the mitigation and adaptation of climate change these must be addressed. However, given the context of climate change, the impacts on society, economy and security the measures described here provide insufficient urgency and the council must seek to support to the public to make the necessary transition to a low carbon society
These include:
- Lack of clear targets and timelines
For the public and business community to transition to a low carbon resilient society it must have a clear schedule indicating regulation changes and incentive availability. Fingal has proposed many changes but have not provided clear timelines or appropriate detail:
- 40% reduction in GHG emissions of the council. Without information regarding the emissions from the council it is unclear whether this emission reduction is the best place to invest. Does this represent a significant amount of Fingal’s overall emissions? Nationally, emissions from energy, transport and agriculture are the largest emission sources.
- Fingal aims to make Dublin a climate resilient region, by reducing the impacts of future climate change-related events (pg. 179) again provides no details on what the actions are.
- Compact and Sustainable Settlement Patterns (pg.184) fails to provide any quantifiable targets. The public, NGO’s and business community need to know what supports Fingal will put in place to promote renewables, home insulation and how will they address fuel poverty and transition away from solid fuels.
- Section 5.5.2.1 Climate Mitigation Actions for Buildings pg. 185 also provides no quantifiable targets or deadlines
- Section 5.5.3 Energy provided only an overview of options. More quantifiable targets required. How will Fingal promote transition to renewables? What are its targets? How will Fingal support residents to transition? Will Fingal support community energy projects, access to grid and grants for retrofitting?
- References to rewilding (in other chapters) ignore that these projects can both promote or hinder carbon sequestration. In certain circumstances, regenerative agricultural practices such as mob grazing can be more effective for biodiversity and carbon sequestration than simply leaving the area to itself for “rewilding”. Additionally, rewilding as a term is not scientific or sufficiently specific. We recommend that Fingal outlines areas that are currently under conservation and specify how it intends to nominate further areas for protection. Additionally, where degraded ecosystems exist, we recommend identifying them (e.g. riverine systems/salt marshes/dune systems) and setting tangible targets for the number of hectares to restored, what that restoration process will achieve (e.g. carbon sequestration/habitat creation) and timelines for completion. Ideally, Fingal can provide mechanisms for public/private and community-based partnerships to complete these works in the aim of informing and driving climate ambition.
- Fingal has proposed no funding opportunities for business sector, Non-Governmental Organisations or research and innovation funding. To promote the green economy and the transition to low carbon technologies, opportunities and funding for innovation need to be provided and clearly articulated. One of the major challenges for NGO’s and the commercial sector is start-up funding and capital costs. If Fingal County Council aims to promote the adoption of climate solutions, then funding should be made available. For instance, LIFE projects require upfront funding and public/private partnerships could attain this project with the local authority acting as funder. This would create employment, provide demonstration projects and enable Fingal to meet key milestones in its transition to a low carbon society. Funding opportunities for business sector, Non-Governmental Organisations or research and innovation funding should be included within the plan.
- The development plan states that better land-use management should be responsible for 26% of total carbon dioxide emission reductions over the period 2021 to 2030. As Fingal is predominately arable land, Nitrous Oxide (N2O) emissions are likely to dominate the GHG emissions from soil. Further, Chapter 5 makes little reference to agriculture while the council has a significant role in planning and enforcement of agricultural activity. Given Fingal’s land cover is predominately agricultural, pathways to improving farming methods, in particular encouraging farmers to move towards farming with nature, organic farming, and regenerative farming, reducing intensification, and reclaiming and restoring agricultural land should be provided.
- Fingal proposes to use Nature-Based Solutions and Green Infrastructure to restore and connect habitats that are rich in biodiversity that provide valuable ecosystem services. We believe this is a good idea however the trade-offs between biodiversity and GHG emissions need to be properly investigated. For instance, species rich grasslands can often be net GHG emission sources.
- Coastal management in Fingal is a significant opportunity. Coastal areas particularly salt marches, sea grass habitats and kelp dominated habitats are often significant sinks. However, activities like razor clam dredging and eutrophication can alter these habitats from sink to source. Understanding, protecting, and restoring coastal areas such these areas should be a priority for Fingal.
In summary, we believe that many of the ideas articulated in the Fingal Development Plan represent progress in mitigating and adapting to climate change. However, the lack of clear targets and timeframes means that the progress made over the period cannot be measured nor can the public plan for these changes. Additionally, failure to address emissions from agriculture and land-use change mean that meaningfully mitigating emissions from Fingal cannot be achieved. Finally, references in other chapters to rewilding are ambiguous. Fingal should clearly identify conservation plans (seeking to protect existing ecosystems) and identify clearly where restoration is required and set targets (number of hectares per ecosystem) and deadlines for completion. In addition, these projects should be public enabled for public private and community based partnerships. Finally, by seeking to restore habitats that have high carbon storage capacity (such as wetlands, organic soils, sea grass meadows) this plan would allow Fingal to capitalise on its carbon sequestration potential in the council’s boundaries.
Chapter 6: Connectivity and Movement
Our group warmly welcome plans to decarbonise motorised transport, reduce reliance on the private car and facilitate modal shift to walking, cycling and public transport. Particularly welcome and encouraged aspects of this chapter include plans to create slow tourist trails, “Safe Routes to School”, the concept of a 15 minute town, the creation and operation of mobility hubs, car clubs and car-sharing schemes, all of which will lead to an overall reduction of car volumes on roads across Fingal and facilitate safer cycling options. Lack of safety is currently a significant deterrent for people to shift to cycling (where cycling is possible for their commute / trip) and needs to be addressed via all the mechanisms outlined urgently. This will only be achievable if there is a parallel significant reduction in the volume of cars on the roads.
Chapter 7: Employment and Economy
1. The previous submission from Sustainable Skerries highlighted that continued economic growth is, in fact, unsustainable. While the latest draft talks about sustainable growth, green and circular economy, the development plan is still presented as one which prioritises economic growth above all else. There is a language of extensive economic growth through this Chapter 7 in particular and we recommend that any further revisions reflect deeply on the true compatibility of extensive economic growth and truly sustainable development in Fingal.
2. The majority of references to tourism are leveraging Fingal’s proximity to the airport and therefore focus solely on international tourism and air travel. Aviation is by far the most energy-intensive and high carbon form of travel. Furthermore, an unjust distribution of the global carbon budget is used through air travel whereby only about 11% of the global population travel by air (only 2-4% of global population fly internationally) and 1% of the world population emit 50% of CO2 from commercial aviation (Gossling and Humpe, 2020). We recommend the promotion of and a reemphasis towards domestic tourism and alternative modes of travel by making Fingal easily accessible from all parts of Ireland (and the world by including Ferry ports for international tourists) via public transport and greenways.
3. The plan aims to create “high quality employment that is well paid and sustainable” (p. 244) yet puts this primarily in the context of office work in industrial parks with minimal mention of employment which serves the community (which are dealt with at length in other chapters) – food growth, food sales and distribution, childcare, elderly care, healthcare, education and other public services. The plan also frequently refers to the high level of education in the area in terms of University degrees yet does not address the relevant skills required by the population to meet targets for building and retrofitting homes in the area for the coming years to meet climate targets. This chapter of the plan emphasises “highly skilled workers” throughout with the aim of developing this aspect of employment in Fingal in areas such as ICT, pharma and financial services with very little attention given to how sustainable employment in public services (and the required skills) can keep up with demand for truly sustainable development. We recommend that any plans for employment in Fingal address first and foremost the jobs (and the development of skills for such jobs) that are most needed to support Fingal and Ireland in meeting its climate targets (e.g. retrofitting homes, repair services to promote the circular economy bill) and creating local and national food and energy security. In addition, we would like to see more emphasis on employment to alleviate pressure associated with growing populations on existing public services such as childcare, care for elderly, healthcare, and emergency services.
- The section with regard to the rural economy encapsulates the green and circular economy to a much greater extent than plans for areas with higher population. There is a stark contrast between the plans for the highly populated areas of Swords, Balbriggan and Blanchardstown and lower population areas. Objectives for the “rural economy” are presented in a way which repurposes and regenerates what exists while building on local skills whereas plans for unsustainable extensive growth in areas such as Swords and Blanchardstown will results in poor use of land and extremely carbon intensive building activity and alteration of the physical environment while also increasing congestion in the areas and impacting wildlife.
Policy EEP23 states that the council will provide “Support and protect existing rural economies such as valuable agricultural lands to ensure sustainable food supply, to protect the value and character of open countryside and to support the diversification of rural economies to create additional jobs and maximise opportunities in emerging sectors, such as agri-business, renewable energy, tourism and forestry”. In line with the recommendations made in earlier points, we recommend that the objectives for the rural economy in the FDP, including sustainable agriculture and horticulture, renewable energy, tourism and forestry, are not confined to rural areas and extend beyond areas with populations of less than 10,000.
- It is very positive to see the inclusion of a section on circular economy within this chapter. However all other sections within the chapter are presented in contrast to the premise of the circular economy and appear to emphasise growth and expansion of new industry and products above all else without consideration for how circular should be embedded into the model of any business operating (particularly manufacturing) in Fingal going forward. We would like to see some explicit examples of how existing and new businesses in Fingal will be incentivised to invest in circular products or services in order to bridge the current circularity gap. For example the plan should emphasise how Fingal will help businesses transition to business models that build on the interaction between product and service such as circular supply models, resource recovery models, product life extension models, sharing models and product service system models. The transition away from fossil fuels and energy efficiency measures can only address 55% of our emissions. The remaining 45% comes from making things.
- The FDP aims to “promote sustainable growth opportunities” in the marine sector in towns such as Howth, Balbriggan, Skerries, Malahide and Donabate (p.261). However it is important for the plan to note that overfishing across Irish waters has already driven the collapse of many stocks and therefore threatens fisheries with closure if quotas are not reduced in line with scientific evidence. For example, the population of cod in the Celtic Sea has been reduced by 88% since 1981 (www.birdwatchireland.ie ).
- In Objective EEO35 – ICT, Financial and Banking Sector the plan aims to “Promote the growth of the ICT and financial and banking sector in Fingal by facilitating the conditions conducive to such development including the creation of high quality physical environments offering a range of building and office accommodation types, supported through the provision of the necessary services and public transport infrastructure”. We would welcome more elaboration on how “high quality physical environments” for such industry are characterised and what measures would be taken to ensure they do not result in the creation of low quality natural environments.
- The plan proposes to expand the equine industry in Fingal without any clear rationale or consideration for the ethical and environmental implications of such growth. Animal rescue services in North Dublin have already pleaded for increased supports for their work with horses:https://www.dspca.ie/dspca-and-the-equine-problems-in-dublin We recommend that plans to grow the equine industry are removed from the FDP, and instead the council will engage with animal rescue services to learn more about how they can collaboratively promote animal welfare in Fingal, reducing demand on their services.
- Policy EEP29 – Regenerative Farming & Community Supported Agriculture states that “Support and encourage Organic and Regenerative Farming and Community Supported Agriculture in the Fingal Area”. This however is the only mention of this agricultural method throughout the plan and no follow-up details are provided as to how this would be supported and encouraged. Such details as to how organic and regenerative farming and community supported agriculture would be supported and encouraged, both for new farmers and farmers wishing to move to organic / regenerative, is required here.
Chapter 8: Dublin Airport
Throughout the entire draft and in particular in Chapter 8, Dublin Airport is identified as a national asset to Ireland’s economic success / an economic generator and major source of employment in Ireland and, particularly, in Fingal. Overall the plan identifies opportunities to further develop and expand Dublin airport to “maximise sustainable potential whilst also taking into account the impact on local communities, the environment and climate change”. The plan aims to support an appropriate balance between developing the unique potential of Dublin Airport as an economic generator and major employer in the County and protecting its core operational function as the Country’s main international airport. The plan further aims to ensure that all development complies with the Climate Actions Objectives and the Circular Economy and waste Management Objectives in the Dublin Airport Local Area Plan 2020, or any subsequent LAP or extension of same. The unfortunate reality, however, is that no amount of compliance with such climate action objectives can offset the detrimental impacts to climate change that will result from the expansion of Dublin Airport. Despite its potential for employment and economic growth (limitations of which are discussed in Chapter 7), such expansion only moves Ireland further from its climate targets of 51% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2050. As mentioned above, aviation is by far the most energy-intensive and high carbon form of travel. In total, aviation makes up over 13 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU and emissions from the sector are predicted to rise annually between one and four per cent in the coming decades. If global trends continue, aviation may contribute up to 22 per cent of CO2 emissions by 2050. As well as emitting carbon dioxide, aviation emits pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. When released at high altitudes, nitrogen oxides enhance the lining of the ozone layer which leads to warmer temperatures. Soot and water vapour emitted by aircraft can create vapour trails in cold air, and researchers believe the trails could add to the greenhouse effect. Simultaneously, jet fuel emissions also set in motion reactions which can emit methane, a gas estimated to have a warming effect 84 to 87 times greater than that of CO2 over a 20 year period. Research suggests that aviation also has a significant impact on air quality and may cause 16,000 premature deaths annually due to exposure to particulate matter. Almost half of the premature deaths are attributed to emissions from aircraft take-off and landing.
Furthermore, an unjust distribution of the global carbon budget is used through air travel whereby only about 11% of the global population travel by air (only 2-4% of global population fly internationally) and 1% of the world population emit 50% of CO2 from commercial aviation (Gossling and Humpe, 2020).
While we recognise that Ireland and Fingal is massively dependent on Dublin Airport for employment (directly and indirectly via international tourism) and economic expansion, we urge that this plan recognises the urgency and requirement for radical transitions to low carbon societies which ultimately requires reduced dependency on the aviation sector. In doing so a more just transition can be achieved for those dependent on this sector for employment. This applies not only to this chapter of the FDP but all references to the expansion of Dublin Airport as an opportunity throughout the plan.
Chapter 9: Green Infrastructure and Natural Heritage
1) Pesticide and Herbicides use
9.6; Objective GINHO29 Biodiversity and Open Space
Ensure that the management of the Council’s open spaces and parks is pollinator-friendly, provides more opportunities for biodiversity, and is carried out without the use of pesticides where possible.
In the whole document there is only one mention made of pesticide use (or non-use). This is of course to be applauded because pesticides kill not just the insects that they are targeted at but all insects, including those widely known to be beneficial such as pollinators, and others that have their own vital but largely unappreciated roles in the ecosystem. However no mention is made at all about herbicide use (or non-use). There has always been a general perception that because herbicides are used to control plants they do not harm insects. This is not the case. An insect coming into contact with freshly sprayed flowers or foliage will definitely be affected and likely die. Not only that but residues can and do persist within the plants and soil and have a propensity for entering watercourses. This is not to mention the effect on human health. A similar commitment to cease the use of herbicides on open parks and spaces would be welcomed. It also might be possible for Fingal to bring its influence to bear on other organizations and businesses occupying Council land.
2. Biodiversity Net Gain Guidance
9.6; Policy GINHP14 Biodiversity Net Gain Guidance
Promote biodiversity net gain in new developments and develop a planning guidance document on Biodiversity Net Gain.
This will only be effective if the policy is adequately enforced. Sadly, in many instances in the past this does not appear to have been the case, with developers getting away in numerous cases with reduced or watered down actions thus effectively reneging on their commitments. Development of the guidance should include measurable targets for net gain and any proposals for offsetting rules must be very carefully considered. In line with the mitigation hierarchy any developer must be incentivised to avoid or reduce impacts in the first instance, and must be able to demonstrate that all options have been explored before any offsetting arrangement can be agreed. Compensation for lost habitat must be delivered at the local scale in order for communities such as Skerries to continue to deliver upon our biodiversity objectives.
Planting guidance for new developments would be welcomed, be it in schools, apartment complexes, housing estates or commercial premises. As things stand these types of development are invariably landscaped or planted predominately with low maintenance non-native shrubs which only need trimming once a year and have little or no biodiversity value. A more environmentally planting regime should be encouraged from the start. An example of where this approach has succeeded in the past is the Lusk National School which, when major expansion works were carried out a few years ago, resisted this style of planting in favour of an ecologically beneficial approach.
3. Reduced Mowing Regimes
9.4 Strategic Aims; RPO 7.17 The European Union Biodiversity Strategy 2030 contains specific commitments…… The Commission calls on European cities of at least 20,000 inhabitants to […] limit excessive mowing of urban green spaces and other biodiversity harmful practices.
While it is very encouraging to see that in practice and Fingal are indeed adopting reduced mowing regimes, there appears to be no mention of this in the Draft Plan. Delaying mowing of roadside verges and underused corners of open space along with reduced mowing of wider areas also has very significant environmental benefit along with reduced operating costs and should be considered a win-win situation. There will of course be resistance from some members of the public, but attitudes are changing fast and any such resistance must be resisted. The plan should explicitly include details of reduced mowing regimes and how they will be communicated and implemented.
4. Ecological Impact Studies prior to Development
9.5.1.1 Biodiversity Objective GINHO4 Green Infrastructure and Development
Resist development that would fragment or prejudice the County’s strategic Green Infrastructure network.
Careful consideration should be given before development is allowed on so-called “waste areas” which are often in fact valuable ecological resources. A case in point is the Ballast Pit in Skerries which has so far escaped development on several occasions. The floral community in less-disturbed areas aligns closely with Annex I habitat 6210 (Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia) (* important orchid sites) and would have the potential to be restored as such. The Ballast Pit site in Skerries has yielded records of over 70 species of native bee out of a total of some 100 (honey, bumblebee and solitary Bee) and is known to currently contain one threatened bumblebee, one endangered butterfly, viviparous lizards and the rare pyramidal orchid.
We note and welcome the fact that FCC propose to rezone the Ballast Pit to ‘open space’, a move that will afford it enhanced protection. However, this would still allow leeway to improve the changing facilities on the football pitch, currently a shipping container, and perhaps replace it with a permanent structure. Should this be proposed a full and appropriate ecological impact study should be carried out in order to minimise the impact on this valuable and sensitive area. The FDP should include such provisions to any development in these areas.
5. Definition of Rewilding
Objective GINHO26 Rewilding
Continue to promote and support re-wilding and pollinator initiatives within the County.
Is it clear to the public what is meant with the use of the term ‘rewilding’? The definition of rewilding provided in Section 9.5.2 probably means little to the layperson, and in general the term can be sometimes be unhelpful by triggering quite polarising debates as it is often associated with land abandonment or introduction of predators. A more practical definition of rewilding, in the context of Fingal and its habitats would facilitate transparent tracking of progress against this objective. It is important that the plan clearly identifies the urgent need for the ecologically-appropriate creation, restoration and enhancement of natural local habitats such as species-rich grassland, woodland, healthy hedgerows and small wetlands, on both on public and private lands, and clearly highlights these are actions that can be implemented at a multitude of scales and are not limited to large scale developments or conservation programmes.
6. Woodland for Non-Recreational Purposes and Private Land
Objective GINHO45 Woodland Development Schemes
Promote, encourage and support woodland development schemes by identifying suitable areas and support other initiatives that aim to establish and enhance woodlands for recreational purposes in partnership with local communities.
The establishment and enhancement of woodlands for non-recreational purposes such as climate mitigation, water regulation and biodiversity should also form part of this scheme. Any proposals must be considered in the context of earlier comments on climate action so the carbon losses and gains over-time, and ecological consequences of habitat change, are fully understood i.e. putting the right tree in the right place. As well as opportunities on public lands, the use of the native woodland scheme for private landowners, for which there is very poor uptake in Fingal relative to other counties, should be promoted and encouraged.
7. Protection of Trees and Hedgerows
Policy GINHP21 Protection of Trees and Hedgerows
Protect existing woodlands, trees and hedgerows which are of amenity or biodiversity value and/or contribute to landscape character and ensure that proper provision is made for their protection and management.
Past developments have failed dismally to protect long-established trees and hedgerows which are consistently ripped out in favour of fencing. Developers are reluctant to work around woody vegetation as it constrains open movement on construction sites and they would prefer to have a ‘clear working area’ and re-plant, yet these new trees go nowhere close to compensating for lost mature habitats, and developers need to become accustomed to working around trees and tree roots for which there are well-established standards and methods. Underground infrastructure should also not be used as an excuse for wide wayleaves requiring tree removal. Pipelines can be adequately protected with root barrier membranes and any felled trees immediately above pipelines can be planted with shallow lateral-rooting trees such as hazel or native shrubs such as blackthorn. ‘Proper provision for their protection and management’ therefore must include clear and measurable standards for developers, with the onus on developers to prove that there is no alternative to removal, or demonstrate why standard tree-protection measures could not be implemented. Any compensatory planting must be of a significant scale to account for the relative maturity of what has been lost. It is highlighted that to achieve Biodiversity Net Gain this will become a necessity.
8. Species Protection and Ecological Assessments
Policy GINHP18 Species Protection & Objective GINHO40 Ecological Assessments
It is noted that ecological impact assessment is only referenced as a requirement where a development might impact rare and protected species or their habitats, or interfere with an ecological corridor. As an absolute minimum, a preliminary ecological appraisal should be required in the case of any development. Without an ecologist visiting a site, it cannot be clearly deduced what the impacts may be as available desktop data is patchy and skewed toward certain species. Opportunities to identify ecological enhancement options for many developments would also be missed. Furthermore, many species, particularly insect groups, are poorly recorded, provided little protection under law, and we are consequently losing opportunities to preserve and restore their habitats. In the current ‘biodiversity emergency’ there is an urgency to ensure these opportunities are not missed. Ecological appraisal of all developments has been standard in the UK for many years and Fingal have an opportunity to promote and establish a minimum standard through this development plan. There is clear and standardised guidance provided by CIEEM, the professional body for Irish and UK ecologists, on preliminary ecological appraisal. It is further noted that Biodiversity Net Gain for developments would need to be underpinned by such an appraisal for it to be meaningful.
Chapter 10: Heritage, Culture and Arts
We welcome the plans to protect and promote the heritage and culture of Fingal and recommend the following additions to this chapter.
- To develop a ‘Culture Near You’ tool, an online cultural map that brings together, in one place, cultural information about the county, similar to the one in partnership with Dublin City Council, over the lifetime of the Plan.
- To explore the possibility of establishing a Cultural Forum for Fingal, led by Fingal County Council and working with other cultural partners.
- To encourage greater use of the public realm for cultural events to make towns and villages more attractive for everyone, and to seek provision of new public spaces for outdoor performances that are designed and fitted to host a range of events.
- Encourage people with disabilities to participate in the county’s culture as consumers, creators, artists and workers by supporting a high standard of accessibility in new and existing cultural assets
Chapter 11: Infrastructure and Utilities
- Reduce Energy Use
Section 1: Written Statement » Chapter 11: Infrastructure and Utilities
It is essential at all times to focus not just on the development of sustainable energy sources, but also promoting the reduction of energy use. Every development plan for infrastructure and roads/transport should have this as a permanent criterion.
References to current draft plan and additions below:
- Opportunities – The Council will continue to tackle issues that are contributing to Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions and will facilitate the delivery of numerous gas and electricity projects providing additional energy capacity across the County, in addition to upholding quality standards in respect of environmental safety, public lighting, air quality and noise management. In an effort to reduce our carbon footprint, it will be necessary to diversify our energy production systems and increase measures for energy saving in the future, leading away from fossil fuels and towards green energy such as wind, wave, solar and biomass, together with smart energy systems and the electrification of transport fleets…
- Strategic Aims – Facilitate and promote the development of energy networks to facilitate sustainable growth and economic development and support the transition to alternative,
renewable, decarbonised and decentralised energy sources, technologies and
infrastructure. The Council will continue to support the development of a safe,
secure and reliable supply of electricity and encourage the development of enhanced
electricity networks, facilitating new transmission infrastructure projects under
EirGrid’s Grid Development Strategy. Projects to reduce energy use must also be prioritised, which could encompass both individual and community changes in energy habits and leverage new technologies via Smart Grids and Smart Cities. This can significantly improve the efficiency and quality of complex systems such as electricity, water, waste, energy and transport services, thereby reducing their costs while contributing to the “green economy”.
Section 1: Written Statement » Chapter 11: Infrastructure and Utilities
Policy IUP28 – Promote Energy Efficient Development
Promote more energy efficient development through the location of housing and employment along public transport/cycling corridors, where people can choose to use less energy intensive public transport or cycling, rather than being dependent on the car.
Section 1: Written Statement » Chapter 11: Infrastructure and Utilities
It should not just be infrastructure developers that must be supported, but also businesses and community groups that could set up sustainable community energy sources. This is part of building energy resilience and lowering dependence on traditional energy sources. We recommend that it should be explicitly stated that land controlled by the county council which is suitable for installing local area sustainable energy generation infrastructure (such as smaller solar farms, windmills, etc) should be marked on specific maps and shared with community groups (such as SEAI Sustainable Energy Communities) to consider for their work.
Reference to specific section in draft Development Plan:
- Energy Policies and Objectives. Fingal will continue to support energy utility providers, businesses and local community groups in their efforts to reinforce and strengthen existing utility infrastructure, transmission / distribution networks and community funded energy generation projects and will support new infrastructure projects and technologies with particular emphasis on renewable, alternative, and decentralised energy sources, and those which are less carbon intensive in line with the Electricity and Gas Networks Sector Climate Change Adaptation Plan (2019). We will continue to support the development of a safe, secure, and reliable supply of electricity and to support the development of enhanced electricity networks and facilitate new transmission infrastructure projects including those under EirGrid’s Grid Development Strategy, to service the existing and future needs of Fingal and the wider Eastern Region and to strengthen all-island energy infrastructure and interconnection capacity.
Policy IUP29 Enhancement And Upgrading Of Existing Infrastructure And Networks
Work in partnership with existing service providers, businesses and local community groups to facilitate required enhancement and upgrading of existing infrastructure and networks and support the development of new energy systems, local community sustainable energy generation projects and transmission grids, which will be necessary for a more distributed, renewables-focused energy generation system, harnessing both the considerable on-shore and off-shore potential from energy sources such as wind, wave, and solar energy. Generate maps to show specific county council areas of unused/dormant land that could be used for local community groups to determine small scale sustainable energy generation projects.
The following is the text of our submission (for the work on which thanks go to our committee member Kristina) to the Draft Active Travel Strategy for Fingal.
Active Travel is a Necessity and Must Be Possible for All
Sustainable Skerries whole heartedly welcomes the draft Active Travel Strategy for Fingal.
Better health and wellbeing, improved local air quality, a more attractive public realm,
lower travel costs and improved access to education and employment opportunities all bode well for our vision of empowering our community towards a sustainable and resilient future for Skerries. In order to make Skerries resilient, regenerative and a great place to live for all, now and in the years to come, active travel must be prioritised, but to do so we need to do more than just make sustainable travel more attractive.
To bring about significant changes in our travel behaviour while protecting and promoting the
environment across the county, sustainable travel infrastructure needs to be looked at in a way that truly understands the needs of individual towns and addresses the existing barriers to building active travel into everyday life as part of normal daily routines.
The mounting evidence that a substantial daily shift from car journeys to active travel and public transport can reduce congestion and make sustainable travel choices more attractive is undeniable, but it can lead to a chick and egg situation if the pressure to make better travel choices is placed solely at the door of the individual resident.
That is why putting active travel first in planning, design and delivery of infrastructure and initiatives is something that Sustainable Skerries applauds and is eager to see in practice.
Existing infrastructure needs to be carefully assessed and connected to new developments to ensure a connected approach is adopted and ensure a more sustainable outcome for Skerries.
Existing entrances to shops which prioritise those arriving by private car, roads with no pavement for pedestrians, areas where pedestrian access is neither prioritised nor visible, insufficient bike parking, disconnected cycle lanes, inappropriate placement of ramps where road crossings are not safe, to name but a few, all present opportunities for Fingal County Council to really zoom out and look at our town as a whole, before zooming back in and looking at the way many small changes can be connected to one another to make big changes.
National design guidance being issued to support planners, developers and scheme designers is to be commended, and Sustainable Skerries would encourage Fingal County Council to see the importance and urgency of ensuring such guidance is followed at all times.
Skerries needs a more joined up approach when planners and developers of separate housing estates are told to provide safe routes to schools for its residents. Unfortunately, there are too many examples where good intentions at the design phase have not materialised into substantial change.
The inclusion of a cycle track in a new housing estate, along with accessible pavements is to be commended, but in many cases in Skerries these stop short of reaching their intended goal. Some new cycle tracks begin and end on only one stretch of road in the estate and do not connect to any other cycle track outside the estate or on surrounding roads as cycle tracks (and at times pavements) often simply do not exist in these places. Such examples only serve to put an appearance of active travel infrastructure, but do not provide the residents with actual safe ways of getting from their home to the nearest amenities, which in Skerries often means joining a road when leaving the estate that has been designed with the motorist in mind. Such failures in joined up planning can often serve to actively discourage residents from choosing active travel when leaving their estate, as the contrast between the safety of their newly designed estate and the surrounding roads highlights the dangers pedestrians and cyclists are faced with when undertaking their daily routines.
As housing developments expand throughout Skerries, permeability needs to be addressed if Fingal County Council is to succeed in encouraging more individuals to choose active travel over the private car. Walled off estates that are kept separate from one another creates problems for pedestrians and cyclists. Where residents prefer cul de sacs for the obvious benefits of reduced traffic, such boundaries should not be closed to those choosing active travel. The safety of our children when going about their daily lives is affected by permeability in urban areas. Where there is an option to choose a boundary that is open to pedestrians, provides connection with neighbouring estates, green spaces and playgrounds without necessitating crossing main roads or walking in secluded areas, these options should always be implemented, both at the design stage and retrospectively. We would like to see the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets prioritising active travel in practice. Fingal County Council has highlighted Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas. Sustainable Skerries would like to see the implementation of plans for villages that do not require residents to walk or cycle for more than 15 minutes to access local amenities.
Sustainable Skerries welcomes the National Cycle Manual, but would like to see it implemented and real changes to the infrastructure that respect individuals’ need for autonomy when going about their daily business are urgently needed.
From a biodiversity perspective, any changes to existing infrastructure or implementation of new infrastructure should carefully consider the long term effects of changes made to our flora and fauna. Wherever trees are cut down (and only if absolutely necessary), these should be replaced with equivalent numbers of mature trees. Wildflower corridors should be maintained and where pavements and cycle tracks need to be placed on grass verges, increased surface area should be included in the no mow areas to allow more wildflower meadows to establish and bee corridors to be created and maintained. Natural, pollinator-friendly alternatives should be sought when designing the surrounds of playgrounds, schools, estates, car-parks etc. as opposed to brick walls. If Fingal County Council aims to make active travel more attractive, then working hand in hand with the rewilding of our environment can achieve this in a sustainable and highly effective way.
Finally, Sustainable Skerries would like the Council to remember that those without access to a car and whose mobility is impaired actually do make up a substantial number of our residents. Children are not born with automatic access to cars and individuals of any age can suddenly find themselves unable to drive a car. Active travel is not just a choice. Active travel is a necessity.
Last Wednesday (18 May 2022), Dave Goulson, the author of the Sunday Times bestseller Silent Earth: Averting the Insect Apocalypse, joined Sustainable Skerries online for a fascinating talk on insects.
We might not like them, or at least think we don’t like them, but Dave tells us why we quite literally can’t live without them.
We all know that insects pollinate flowers, and agree that this is a good thing, but they do far more than that and he explains exactly what.
Simply put, life as we know it could not exist without them……and it might not for much longer unless we act now.
Insect numbers have been decreasing globally for decades and continue to drop alarmingly, all the evidence, both scientific and anecdotal, points down.
The situation is far worse than we realise but there is still time to turn things round. Find out all about it here:
Isn’t that encouraging? We can all make a difference.
🐝 Every insect-friendly plant in our gardens or on the verges helps.
🐝 Every bit of insecticide / pesticide not used helps.
🐝 Every neighbour, friend, colleague encouraged to stay away from RoundUp etc. helps.
🐝 Every time we publicly thank the county council for NOT mowing so often helps.
It’s not too late to observe No Mow May – how about leaving your lawn uncut for a bit?!
As Dave said: “Amazing how much life a garden supports if you don’t mow it so much.”
If you are based in Skerries and would like to link in with the work we are doing in Sustainable Skerries, please make sure you’re on our newsletter list. We send out an email roughly once a month plus when there are specific events.
We are planning quite a few of those, including a visit from Éanna Ní Lamhna, and if there are people who’d like to become involved, send us an email to sustskerries@gmail.com
The committee is open for new members!
The sun shone and the sunflower seeds were planted, and the 2022 Sustainable Skerries Car Boot Sale and Family Fun Day was a huge success, thanks to all who set up stall, to those who came and browsed and bought and enjoyed, and not least to Ernestine and her team of volunteers for all the work – and to Skerries Educate Together for letting us use the car park!
On Sunday 8th May, Sustainable Skerries had their work cut out, organising cars and bikes in Skerries Educate Together so each had a good spot to sell their once-loved wares. From food processors to foot massagers, hundreds of items found a new home that wasn’t the rubbish bin! And hundreds of people will have one less visit to the shops because they stumbled upon a much needed item, which was exactly what Sustainable Skerries were hoping to achieve.
Not only did the day achieve the goal of promoting a circular economy in a practical way but it also served as a sunny gathering for the Skerries community. There were many happy faces wandering around, having enjoyed the home-baked buns while the kids partook in games and had their faces painted.
Plans are now being made for another indoor version of the event, in the run up to Christmas. Details will be sent out in our newsletter so make sure you’re subscribed. You won’t want to miss it!
By Sabine McKenna, Sustainable Skerries
The situation we’re in, as a species, is worrying. Depressing, even.
We know that from the news. We know that from experts. And we are beginning to experience it in our daily lives, even here in Skerries, comparatively sheltered and buffered as we are: Extreme weather events like strong storms, extreme rainfall and flooding are already more frequent. And so are long periods of drought.
This is more than just a biodiversity and a climate crisis: This is an existential crisis.
I spent last Thursday at a LEADER Climate and Biodiversity Conference in Dundalk, listening to Éanna Ní Lamhna of (among other things) the Irish Tree Council, garden designer Peter Donegan, journalist turned climate activist John Gibbons and Padraig Fogarty, ecologist, author and former long-time chair of The Irish Wildlife Trust.
And I can tell you, it was not easy listening… Even though we (humankind) has known since the 1970s (when the Club of Rome published Limits to Growth) that we’re on the trajectory to catastrophe, even though the Climate Change reports keep arriving and keep getting worse, even though the insects are dying (one study showed a decline in insect populations in Germany by 78% since 1991), even though pretty much all indicators are showing a worsening situation, humanity as such does not seem to change.
Just have a look at the “doughnut” representing where Ireland is (if you’re fascinated by this, you can learn more about The Doughnut of Social and Planetary Boundaries on Kate Raworth’s website; she coined the term).
(I am summarising part of Padraig Fogarty’s talk here. And John Gibbons continued the sorry tale:)
After giving us some more details, including a few facts regarding the shocking under-representation of climate change and its consequences in the media (you can read all about this on his website climatechange.ie, John Gibbons stated starkly (and I paraphrase) that one of the worst things is that we think there is hope, that it will somehow be OK, and that we therefore don’t do anything about it. He called this “hopeium” (or should that be “hopium”?) We need to grieve for our future. We need to understand: Climate Change: What Happens If The World Warms Up By 5°C? We need to realise how sad it is that we are (very likely) losing our future, so that we start acting. He also said we need to use our influence in Europe for better climate policies! They matter!
There are of course things we can do. On a practical day-to-day basis, as Peter Donegan reminded us, in our gardens, in our communities, we can ensure that we help biodiversity where we can, reducing the impact of any (garden or other) building from the design stage on, planning for sustainable drainage systems, using local and sustainably sourced material which is easy to maintain (and thus sustainable), not removing soil, using no chemicals and planting for as wide a variety of species as possible. This can even work in a car park!
The time to change our future for the better is getting shorter though, Éanna Ní Lamhna reminded us. She gave a fantastic talk about biodiversity and pollinators – I won’t go into the details because we hope to get Éanna to come to Skerries soon to share her wonderful wisdom with us in her inimitable way. Watch our Eventbrite page! Subscribe to our newsletter so you know when it’s happening!
Nature is resilient, a complex system which we are not even close to understanding (which is one of the many things Padraig Fogarty said; he also mentioned the number of species in Ireland which have become extinct in the last 50 years or so, plus those that are under pressure
So what would we do if we had the power?
What would you do if you were to magically turn into the Irish cabinet and could make any three to five policies become reality? That’s what I asked three of the four speakers (sorry, Peter, that I didn’t catch you on this one). Please note that I did not write down word by word what these fantastic people said; this is from memory!
John Gibbons suggested:
- Start a massive communication programme to ensure we all get how serious the situation is.
- Start a food revolution towards growing (organic, plant-based) food for humans, not animals in Ireland
- Make Ireland a net exporter of renewable energy, mainly through off-shore wind energy!
- Retrofit all houses to A Rating.
And Éanna Ní Lamhna:
- Make it easier to plant trees, help farmers financially to do so.
- Ensure that people can get to places easily by public transport.
- Make owning electric cars easier e.g. for those living terraced houses.
Padraig Fogarty would:
- Stop industrial fishing
- Pay farmers for rewilding
- Get rid of some dams on the rivers.
Photo by Fintan Clarke.
And what would I do?
All of the above, I guess. Plus: I would do what I can to spread the sense of urgency that we all felt during this event. And take action wherever I can, focusing on what seems to matter most: Awareness and influencing policies where we can. This blog post is one step. As is my continued work with Sustainable Skerries.
If you’re feeling climate and biodiversity anxiety, join the club. Actually, it’d be strange if you weren’t…
One thing that does help is to take active steps in the other direction than the one we’re headed in.
There are solutions, suggestions how we can respond to the urgency of the climate crisis.
It won’t be easy, but the alternative is too frightening. Time to act now, individually (as voters, consumers, people) and in groups.
Join us! Subscribe to our newsletter (if you haven’t already). Drop in on our events to learn more and to support our work. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram – and if you’d like to be part of our team, send an email to sustskerries@gmail.com
Sun 8th May, 10am-1pm, Educate Together National School
Just come along – and if you’d like to sell, secure your spot on eventbrite now!
Buying and selling pre-loved items is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, so Sustainable Skerries hope you can join them for a Car Boot Sale on 8th May. It will be a fun-filled morning with family activities, face-painting, music, raffles and of course, lots of cool stuff for sale.
Sellers can arrive at Skerries Educate Together at 8.30am and buyers can arrive at 10am. There are lots of ways to get involved but the main objective is to promote a circular economy while having some fun!
We will also give away seedlings to people who want to try their hands at growing their own food!
What is a circular economy and why is it important?
Our current economy is linear. We take raw materials from the earth, produce something, consume it and throw it away as waste.
A circular economy is one in which we share, lease, reuse, repair, repurpose and recycle things that already exist, rather than producing more and more. The principles required for the adoption of a circular economy are:
- eliminate waste and pollution
- circulate existing products and materials
- regenerate nature
By buying fewer new things and getting more from what we already have we can help tackle issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste piles and pollution. A circular economy is a resilient system that is good for business, people and the environment.
Aside from the environmental benefits, both selling and buying pre-loved items is massively rewarding. Not only will your purse benefit but you’ll also feel great about it.
So now is the time to get involved! Sustainable Skerries are excited to host this event to promote the exchange of items that are already in existence rather than the production of new unnecessary things.
Here’s what you need to know:
Sellers
If your cupboards are bursting at the seams maybe now is the time for a clear out! Sellers can register their car (early bird price €10 or €15 on the day) or active transport (€5) on the Sustainable Skerries eventbrite page. Arrive at 8.30am to get set up before the public start arriving at 10am. Please bring your own tables and chairs.
Buyers
Enjoy a morning of browsing, while also helping to combat the climate crisis. Feel free to have a wander and a coffee with some nice beats in the background. Entrance is free and you can arrive from 10am. Gates close at 1pm. Don’t forget your cash!
Families
From face painting to games and music, your kids are sure to have fun. There will be volunteers to help out but make sure the little ones remain under your supervision.
If you are driving, please park your car at the shopping centre and walk across. There will be very limited parking for persons with mobility issues. However, there is ample parking for bicycles.
All funds raised will go towards Sustainable Skerries and their efforts in making Skerries resilient, regenerative, and a great place to live for all… now and in the years to come.
We look forward to seeing you all there!
Calling all spring-cleaners!
If you’re planning a clear-out and hate the thoughts of dumping your once-loved goods, don’t fret. Not only is one person’s trash another person’s treasure… rehoming your pre-loved items is also a fantastic way to reduce your carbon footprint.
- Car Boot Sale and Family Fun. 8th May from 8.30am (set-up begins) to 1pm. Buyers will arrive from 10am. Skerries Educate Together National School Kelly’s Bay Drive, K34 CX46 Skerries – View Map
Pack up your car and join Sustainable Skerries on 8th May for a car boot sale in the Skerries Educate Together National School at an early bird cost of €10 for cars (€15 on the day), €5 for bikes and other non-motorised transport. Gates open 8.30am on the day to get yourself set-up before the public starts arriving at 10am. Please bring your own tables and chairs. This price is for sellers only – admission is free for buyers and no registration is required.
Please note, this event is for private sellers only, commercial vans will not be admitted.
It will be a fun-filled morning with family activities, face-painting, music and raffles. There’s an ATM across the road but you might also want to bring small change.
We look forward to seeing you there! Book your spot now on Eventbrite.
On Friday and Saturday, local residents and people from all over Skerries came together to plant more fruit trees in Mourne View and at the pedestrian lights and the Ballast Pit.
So now we have three open orchards in Skerries, with some three dozen trees in total!
If you’d like to join us in the Skerries Open Orchards Project (aka SkOOP), please do – see the bottom of the Open Orchards page on the Sustainable Skerries website for a form.
Over the next six months or so, we will be mainly doing our best so that the young trees are thriving.
We will also work on the text and design for some signage we hope to be putting up in the near future.
That way, everyone will know why the trees are there, and that the fruit, once fully ripe, is for all to enjoy.
In the planting season 2022/23, we hope to start more open orchards. Let us know if you’d like some in your area. We will send information out to all neighbourhood groups registered on the Skerries Community Association’s Neighbourhoods Network, too.
For now, here are some pictures from the planting days – thank you to everyone who came out and helped!
We could not have done it without the two dozen volunteers who came and helped – and especially not without the gentle instruction and guidance and advice from Dominica McKevitt, the Ardgillan head gardener whose help is such a great asset to our group.
Ballast Pit Planting Pics
- Images by Sabine McKenna, Hans Zomer (1), Kristina Davies-Barrett (2)
Mourne View Planting Pics
A proverb says:
It will never rain apples. If we want apples, we must plant trees first.
Introducing: The Ballast Pit Triangle Open Orchard!
Come plant some trees with us (Sustainable Skerries / Skerries Open Orchards Project)
at the Ballast Pit (near the traffic lights)
this Saturday, 26 March 2022, from 2 pm!
Or indeed in Mourne View at Wild Cat Lane on Friday from 4 pm, where we’re starting another open orchard – or some non-fruit trees on Saturday morning from 10 am with Fingal County Council.
Can you join us? Please fill in this form so we can mail you the details!
You may know that we have received funding to start mini open orchards in Skerries, and have already planted 20 trees in Kelly’s Bay. Now we are ready for more – but we can’t do that without you.
- We have had talks with Fingal County Council, and they are very supportive.
- Now we are asking you to help make this plan become a reality.
Join us and plant a mini orchard close to the Ballast Pit pedestrian lights this Saturday!
This is your opportunity to help plant the trees in the designated areas (see map on the other side). The fruit of the trees will be everybody’s to enjoy.
🌳 Information panels will ensure passers-by know the background of our orchard trees. 🌳
Some questions and answers
How come this is happening? When an organisation called ChangeX offered funding for open orchard projects, the Sustainable Skerries committee went for it.
The first planting day in February was brilliant – see for yourself on SustainableSkerries.com/orchards.
Now we have just about enough time to plant a few more trees before the end of this planting season.
Is the County Council OK with this? Yes, we have met with Fingal County Council on location, and they are really supportive of our project.
Will there be more Open Orchards? We’d like some in our area…
We hope there will be many more! We’re coming to the end of this year’s planting season, and have started planning for the next ones that will be planted in the autumn. 🌳 Get in touch, join the Skerries Open Orchards Project aka SkOOP! 🌳
Where can I learn more? Apart from SustainableSkerries.com/orchards, ChangeX has some information about our project and about open orchards in general.
How do I sign up?
Please fill in this form so we can mail you the details – if that doesn’t work, you can also send an email to sustskerries@gmail.com
Will we get loads of apples and other fruit?
Not for the first couple of years, but over time, there should be quite a bit. People are welcome to help us harvest the fruit!
Why start an open orchard, anyway?
What is the thinking behind the Skerries Open Orchards Project?
We’re glad you asked! The Skerries Open Orchards Project aims to plant fruit trees in public places in Skerries. The trees will provide free fruit to local residents and greenery to the open spaces in our town, but there are other benefits too.
A newly planted tree will offer some extra pollination opportunities and absorb a small amount of carbon dioxide as well as rainwater that might otherwise have stayed on the surface. And as the trees grow, so do these positive effects.
Of course there are already many fruit trees around the town, but by planting fruit trees on public land, the project is an investment in our shared public space. The trees embellish our greens and provide an opportunity for residents’ groups to work together to protect and nurture them. The trees will start to produce fruit, but it’s the process of caring for them that produces the most important harvest: strengthening our community and improving our public space.
Overview: This week’s Tree Planting Opportunities in Skerries
By the way: Did you know that it’s National Tree Week? We couldn’t have planned these better so!
- Mourne View Open Orchards Planting: Fri 25 March 2022.
Meet at Wildcat Lane, 4 pm.
- Ballast Pit Triangle Open Orchard Saturday: 26 March
Join us near the pedestrian lights and help planting a mix of fruit trees, from 2 pm.
Join us! Just fill in this form and we will mail you the details!
And Fingal County Council are holding a Community Tree Planting Workshop, Town Park: Sat 26 March, assemble 10 am at the Skerries Mills car park. No need to register. You can find all the details on this on our site, sustainableskerries.com/orchards, as well. Fingal County Council will even have a few trees to give away, free for households!
Sustainable Skerries, a committee of the Skerries Community Association CLG,
is involved in activities around biodiversity (currently implementing the Skerries Pollinator Plan),
food (Sustainable Skerries Food Festival planned for April 2023),
waste reduction / circular economy (Repair Cafés, Car Boot Sale Sun 8 May 2022),
sustainable energy (with Skerries Sustainable Energy Committee) and
sustainable transport (with Skerries Cycling Initiative).
We also engage with other groups in Skerries, as well as Fingal County Council
(e.g. in the consultation process for the next Fingal Development Plan).
Join us! sustskerries@gmail.com
Our aim is to make Skerries resilient, regenerative,
and a great place to live for all… now and in the years to come.
For the last couple of years, you have been collecting your crisp packets and dropping them off in our collection box in SuperValu. Cristina has been sending them to become high-quality recycled plastic. Please continue to do so! Until the middle of March at least. However, from then on we can no longer accept them.
Cristina writes: “TerraCycle have decided to discontinue the crisp packets recycling scheme (see their email below). In the next few weeks I will contact SV to thank them for their support and will send the last delivery towards the end of March. Thanks to everyone for your support on this.”
TerraCycle’s full email:
We cannot thank you enough for your dedication and support over the past three years. When we launched The Crisp Packet Recycling Scheme with Walkers in December 2018, there was no nationwide solution for recycling flexible plastics, such as crisp packets. You immediately embraced the scheme and demonstrated just how much people wanted to recycle their packets!
With your help, we have collected millions and given them a second life, turning crisp packets into new products like outdoor furniture and playgrounds. Not only this, but your actions have helped change the way others think about recycling.
Over the past year, flexible plastic points have been established at more than 150 supermarket locations in the Republic of Ireland. This means crisp packets can now be dropped off for recycling, along with all other types of flexible plastic, at any of these locations. Additionally, flexible plastics can now be collected via household recycling schemes. In light of these developments, and after careful consideration, The Crisp Packet Recycling Scheme will close this April.
Sustainable Skerries 