Dodder Action

We will be doing a clean up on Saturday 17th October along the Rathfarnham/ Terenure section of the river.

Meet at 10am at the small pedestrian bridge behind Bushy Park on Lower Dodder Road.

🌿 Another great morning restoring nature at St Mary’s Priory! 🌱

The Priory was buzzing with activity yesterday morning as 10 volunteers from Guidewire joined local people and volunteers from Dodder Action, Clondalkin Tidy Towns and Knocklyon Network Tidy Towns for another hands-on morning of nature restoration.

One of the highlights was spending time beneath St Maelruain’s ancient walnut tree — a remarkable living link to the Priory’s long history and a reminder that nature and heritage have been intertwined here for centuries. 🌳

The team also got their hands dirty planting bulbs approved by the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, helping to create more valuable food sources for pollinators and bringing another part of the Priory grounds back to life. 🐝🌼

What makes this project special is the growing community behind it. Businesses, local residents, Tidy Towns groups and environmental volunteers are all working together to restore habitats, protect biodiversity and reconnect people with the Priory’s natural heritage.

Small actions, many hands — and a big difference for nature.

A huge thank you to everyone who gave their time and energy this morning. 💚

Stepping Stone Forests planting will continue in 2026-2027, though on a smaller scale to start with. Dodder Action are being supported by SDCC to plant a second area in Sean Walsh Park and the soil preparation dates have been arranged as follows:

Stepping Stone Forest Soil Preparation Event: Friday 9th October 10am-1pm and Saturday 10th October 10am-1pm, Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght, Dublin 24. Meet at the roundabout outside Old Bawn Community School. Organised by Dodder Action, supported by SDCC. Refreshments will be provided.

Please email [email protected] in advance to let us know if you are able to attend. (You do not need to be registered with Dodder Action to be involved).

If you intend to volunteer at our events please wear sturdy footwear, old clothing, gardening gloves (if you have them!), and bring something to drink.

Why bee hives won’t be a part of the St Mary’s Priory rewilding project.

When we share that Dodder Action is facilitating the nature restoration in Tallaght Village, people often ask if we are introducing honey-bee hives. Many are genuinely surprised when we say "no". Here is why we are focusing on habitat, not hives:

Honey-bee keeping isn't rewilding. While keeping honey bees has great educational and agricultural value, managed colonies require human intervention. Rewilding is all about restoring natural, self sustaining ecosystems with minimal human interference.

High densities of managed honey bees can actually outcompete Ireland's native wild bees and solitary pollinators for food, sometimes negatively impacting on local wild populations.

The Havens for Nature booklet states "...keeping beehives is not a biodiversity action – it will not help wild pollinators. In fact, too many honeybees can actually cause competition for food with our struggling wild bees."

Want to get involved or follow our progress? Sign up for our updates here:
https://lnkd.in/d5B6YDzf
https://lnkd.in/d5B6YDzf

Book in for this Milltown Heritage Event on Saturday 26th on these q/r codes!

Brian Tansey photographed this Kingfisher in Milltown yesterday. CLEAN UP his river banks next Saturday 19th, meet 10 am opposite Wilde and Green or in Rathfarnham/Terenure Saturday 19th, meet old footbridge to Bushy Park nearest Tescos. Bring gloves if you have them, we have the rest.