Dublin, Dublin (FUA), Ireland
City population: 1894440
Duration: 2008 – 2008
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Project area: 170000 m2
Type of area: Public Greenspace Area
Last updated: October 2021

The aim of the FitzSimons Wood Biodiversity Education Programme is to highlight the value of, and to promote the use and care of biodiversity and green space in the local area through learning exercises and activities taking place in FitzSimons Wood park. To support such educational activities in the park, enhancement of the habitat was carried out by developing footpaths, planting native trees and management of invasive species. Also, a detailed handbook for school teachers was produced with guidance on how to lead school activities where students investigate local wildlife. (Ref. 1; Ref. 2)

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Parks and urban forests
  • Large urban parks or forests

Key challenges

  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Habitat and biodiversity conservation
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
  • Environmental education
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation

Focus

Maintenance and management of urban nature, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity

Project objectives

- Highlight the value of, and promote the use and care of biodiversity and green space in the local area through learning exercises and activities taking place in FitzSimons Wood park. - Encourage children to experience nature in stimulating and creative ways, and help them acquire a greater appreciation for green areas and the wildlife they support (Ref. 1).

Implementation activities

- Improvements to the woodland habitat were carried out in 2008 by the Friends of FitzSimons Wood voluntary group. Through community involvement, works included developing footpaths to create a nature trail, planting native trees, and management of invasive species. These enhanced the green ecosystem functions of FitzSimons Wood, including environmental education opportunities and protection of key species (Ref. 2). A handbook with a series of teachers’ notes and student activity sheets that provide useful information and guidance on investigating wildlife in FitzSimons Wood was produced. (Ref. 1).

Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities

Biodiversity conservation:

  • Protect and enhance urban habitats
  • Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
  • Protect species
  • Undertake specific measures to protect species
  • Undertake specific measures to protect native species
  • Control and clean invasive alien species
  • Means for conservation governance
  • Raise public awareness
  • Public engagement

Main beneficiaries

  • Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
  • Young people and children

Governance

Management set-up

  • Government-led

Type of initiating organisation

  • Local government/municipality

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
  • Citizen science

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The FitzSimons Wood Biodiversity Education Programme is an initiative of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. It was developed together with The Heritage Council (a public body), the Irish Wildlife Trust (a non-governmental organisation), and also with the support of Blackrock Education Centre, and Airfield Trust. Volunteers from the Friends of FitzSimons Wood voluntary group helped create the educational nature trail. (Ref. 1; Ref. 2)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown
... a national policy or strategy? Yes (FitzSimons Wood is a proposed Natural Heritage Area (pNHA) under the Irish Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000. This encourages conservation actions on the site, such as the Biodiversity Education Programme. (Ref. 1; Ref. 3))
... a local policy or strategy? Yes (The FitzSimons Wood Biodiversity Education Programme was implemented as part of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown's Biodiversity Plan 2009-2013 (Ref. 1))

Financing

Total cost

Unknown

Source(s) of funding

  • Public national budget
  • Public local authority budget

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget

Non-financial contribution

Type of non-financial contribution
  • Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
  • Citizens (e.g. volunteering)

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Climate change
  • Lowered local temperature
  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area
  • Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
  • Reduced biodiversity loss
  • Increased number of species present

Economic impacts

  • Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Health and wellbeing
  • Improved mental health
  • Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
  • Education
  • Increased support for education and scientific research
  • Increased knowledge of locals about local nature

Type of reported impacts

Expected impacts, Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Yes

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

No evidence in public records

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

References

Ref. 1. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (2013). FitzSimons Wood. Biodiversity Education Programme. [pdf] available at: Source link (accessed 9th September, 2020)
Ref. 2. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (2016). COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2016-2022. Appendix 14 dlr Green Infrastructure Strategy. [pdf] available at: Source link (accessed 9th September, 2020)
Ref. 3. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (2009). Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Biodiversity Plan 2009 - 2013. [pdf] available at: Source link (accessed 9th September, 2020)
Ref. 4. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (2017). Education Packs. [online] available at: Source link (accessed 9th September, 2020)
Ref. 5. Owls the Children's Nature Charity (2017). Survival Parties. [online] available at: Source link (accessed 9th September, 2020)
Ref. 6. Source link (2017). Owls Survival Birthday Parties - Dublin. [online] available at: Source link (accessed 9th September, 2020)