Our vision is:
To manage the park in the best way possible, respecting and enhancing the environment, local biodiversity and wildlife, while allowing for recreational and educational activities to take place in a safe and secure environment, enriching the lives of our community and visitors.
Maintenance and enhancement of Biodiversity is a key aim and vision of the BHTPSC. We collected seeds from the flowers in the park during September / October. We dried and replanted them in our new propagator that was built by our CES employee and Michael Hennigan, the park gardener, and paid for by the CES. This illustrates the way BHTPSC engages with other community groups to enhance the BHTP. We collected and planted on cornflower Cosmos and poppy seeds for our new pollinator friendly bed.
Our maintenance officer does regular maintenance checks on the park and reports any issues to the gardener, to the county council liaison officer and to the chair of the steering committee.
photo by Catherine Turner
photo by Catherine Turner
Michael cuts hedging twice yearly in February and again in October when bird nesting season is over. He prunes trees in September. He cuts back the flower beds in October / November leaving a fraction of the flower heads growing for insects and birds. Daffodils stems are cut back in June.
The No Mow areas are cut and raked up in October. A portion of the pernicious weeds are dug out or cut back from April to July.
The rota for grass cutting in the Autumn is monthly.
The rota for grass cutting in late spring and summer is every 10 days. The wooden planters get an annual check over for flaking paint and for any rot. Last Spring all the wooden planters were repaired, rotten pieces of timber removed and replaced with new timber. They were subsequently painted and designed and the plan for this spring / summer is to finish the decoration and varnish them all.
We invested in native Irish Bluebells, Daffodils and more Iris suitable for wet ground. We bought pyracantha and Virburnum Opulus both of which are native flowering species, forming berries in the Autumn for birds increasing biodiversity in the park along with being attractive.
In liaison with the Barrack Hill Community Gardeners, we obtained 5 additional Fruit trees from Orchard Sun which was a community initiative.
We have now obtained a beehive from Abdul, a Syrian, who collects honey and has set up a business selling organic Donagh Honey along with other organic fruit and vegetables. Abdul collects the honey. This is a further example of the way we are an inclusive group that welcomes diversity which enriches our community.
photo by Catherine Turner