Category Archives: Tidy Districts

Check out our beautiful refurbished green!

This is the final step in a long journey that started out in 2016. In March 2021, the first phase of development work began. Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council delivered on its commitment to work with the Association in transforming the Green when it laid the new beige path, embedded 4 new benches, planted 7 new trees, introduced two grassed mounds and laid hoggin paved areas around the benches.

In keeping with the overall project plan agreed between us and the Council, the final phase has now been undertaken and has been funded by the Association. This phase consisted of planting a mixed collection of shrubs and plants that have enhanced the Green further for the enjoyment of our residents. The planting, a major undertaking requiring professional expertise was carried out for us by Redlough Landscapers. They will be retained for one year to ensure the planting beds in, and will advise our Tidy Districts Team as to how to look after and maintain the plants in the longer term.

Background Note 
In our first year as an Association (2015/16), we began the task of reviving the Green by setting up a grass-cutting rota, planting flowers, painting the bench and introducing planters. Our Tidy Districts group and the Committee started thinking about what we might try to do to improve the Green in the long term. It was decided to devise a plan that would transform the Green, rather than improving it haphazardly. We engaged a landscape architect with this in mind, Tim Austin and Associates. Our plan was to create a space where people can relax and chat, rest or read, in a safe and enhanced environment. It’s called “place-making”, with the emphasis on the community living in the area, as opposed to those just passing through.

The plan was to improve and increase the seating, improve the pathway, and re-landscape the space, including some banking to be planted with shrubs, which will reduce traffic noise while adding colour and biodiversity.  We are also planning to include a notice board for residents. The Committee and the Tidy Districts group went through a number of iterations of the project plan with the Council to achieve the best possible outcome for the community.

We are looking forward to a beautifully landscaped Green that will be used by the whole community for years to come.

The current Committee would like to thank all of the past committee members and the Tidy Districts Team for all their input and dedication to bringing this plan to fruition. They have created a beautifully landscaped Green that will be used by the whole community for years to come.

Thanks to PM Photography for allowing us to use these photos.

We are just one week into the Green project, and we are delighted with the very positive responses from members and the great progress that has been made already. The first phase is almost complete, and for this we extend our thanks to the Parks Department of DLR County Council. 

The old path is gone, and the new winding path is almost complete, with an attractive beige finish (similar to that seen on new cycle lanes) still to come. That may not happen for a few weeks though. The four new seats are in situ and everyone agrees they are a great addition. They have a hoggin base, which will take some time to compact firmly. Everybody loves the logs, and they will return shortly. The mounds have been created from the excavated top soil, and will be seeded this weekend. We ask everyone to stay off the mounds until the grass has grown. 

A schedule for planting will be finalised over the next few weeks and will include an extensive range of shrubs and plants. This will take place on a gradual basis over the coming months. We will have to wait till the Autumn for some of the planting, e.g. new trees. Overall we will be guided by the experts on this. A lot done, more to do, as some were wont to say!

Significant work is being undertaken by the Tidy Districts group in the green space on Friarsland Road. The brambles have been cut back and a number of plants and bulbs have been sown (Thank you to all the residents who donated plants.). A new bug hotel made from recycled pallets has been added. A new bench will be added in the coming weeks along with some apple trees.

Have you noticed our scary ghosts hanging from the trees down on the Green in front of the shops! We hope you like them. We also sourced and decorated more logs for this space, they’re a great hit with the kids.

We are always looking for new volunteers to our group, and you can do as much or as little as you like.

A reminder – We ask that everyone please remove any vegetation from their garden overhanging and causing an obstruction to residents using the footpaths and to refrain from parking on grass verges and footpaths as this causes damage and makes social distancing difficult.

To all our gardening residents: As we are trying to increase our stock of plants to enhance our green areas, could we ask you to keep us in mind when dividing or rearranging your gardens. We would particularly like perennials, flowering shrubs, or bulbs. We’d be delighted if you could pot them up for us. We will happily take any spare plants from you if they are suitable for use on the Greens, in containers and for flower beds at entrance points. Contact us if you have any questions. Many many thanks.