Tree Removal on Dargle Valley

MGRA have sadly been informed that 20 oak trees, recently planted by DLRCoCo on Dargle Valley, must be removed and destroyed immediately. This is due to the detection of Oak Processionary Moth on one of these trees. Spread of this pest could pose a risk to both tree and human health. DLRCoCo have offered their sincere apology for this, and hope to replace this with alternative planting early next year.

Further information on Oak Processionary Moth is available from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine via this link.

All-Ireland Pollinator Plan

On behalf of MGRA, we thank all those who organised and attended our recent sustainable gardening talk and bulb-planting workshop. Our particular thanks to Aoife Munn for sharing her time, expertise and wealth of experience with us. We have received extremely positive feedback from residents, and we hope to follow their success with similar future events. So please keep an eye on our website and all MGRA correspondence. Meanwhile, for the attention of residents with a keen interest in landscaping and biodiversity, we draw your attention to the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan from the National Biodiversity Data Centre. This offers a wealth of guidance, resources and support to biodiverse-conscious gardeners for all your landscaping endeavours.

Annual Estate Clean-up 2019

Please join your neighbours for the Annual Marley Grange Estate Clean-up next Saturday 27th April 2019 from 10.30am – 12pm. We ask our neighbours give an hour or so of their time for the benefit of all our residents, and remember many hands make light work! There will be refreshments and treats for the kids afterwards. We will meet at the postbox at 10.30am and hope for a great display of community spirit.

On Saturday 30th September, DLRCC is hosting a Pollinator Friendly workshop (11am – 2pm) in Marlay Park and Marlay House.

Local experts will inform participants of the importance of pollinators, highlight their advice on how we can safeguard them.

DLRCC also want to hear your ideas to encourage public better awareness and involvement in protecting our pollinators.

They’re also hosting a series of fun child-friendly activities (11-1pm) with Clare from OWLS (Outdoor Wildlife Learning and Survival Club) and Aoife Munn (RHS trained Horticulturalist) and there may be some plant giveaways.

Bee Inspired

http://marleygrange.ie/1050-2/

Biodiversity – Support Bees to Pollinate

Sadly, many Irish bee species are in decline. In the regional Red List of Irish bees, three species are listed as regionally extinct, six species are considered critically endangered, ten are listed as endangered and a further fourteen are considered vulnerable. Such declines are not unique to bees and have been observed in many other animal and plant groups.
While our contribution may be small, some tips below with helping support bees:
1.  Allow garden grass to grow longer to facilitate dandelions for bees.  This is now council policy within the estate and you may notice the blades for cutting the grass on our greens has been lifted.
2. Pesticides should not be used as bees bring residues back to the hive nursery with nectar resulting in death of the next generation of bees and total colony collapse.
3.  Plant bee and insect friendly plants eg Lavender and Verbena.
4.  Consider planting a mini wildflower meadow in your own garden.

A Letter from an MGRA member

While we work voluntarily on many issues to do with the estate and there are many issues of concern for our residents, we are always grateful to receive positive letters with ideas such as the one below! We will review the idea of the bulbs in our committee meeting.

Dear MGRA Committee Members

Butterfly Project:

I am writing to say that as one of your neighbours in Marley Grange, I was most impressed by the Butterfly Project. What a wonderful idea and to see the colourful large posters at the entrance to Llewellyn estate. It enlightens the encourages all of us to think more about nature and more importantly to nurture our young people in our community. Thank you to all involved in this new project and well done.

Defibrillator:

I was also delighted to see a defibrillator donated from our funds to our community something that is useful if required for each and everyone and could help to save a life – a very good practical gift for the common good.

Spring Bulbs:
May I make a suggestion that MGRA purchase some spring bulbs – daffodils and give each household in our community a number of these bulbs to plant around the trees outside their homes. 

For the less able bodies and elderly in our neighbourhood, I suggest that each able bodied neighbour help them to plan same so that we have a colourful estate in the spring but much more importantly it would also help each and everyone in our community to get to know each other better. Two people from each road could organise and help with the distribution of these bulbs.

Wishing you continued success in helping our community to flourish.

Your sincerely,

Ann C

Make Your Own Bird Feeder 10am, 17th Jan 2016, Marlay Park

You are invited to make your own Bird Feeder on Saturday, 17th January. Meeting at 10am in Marlay Park (Grange Road Entrance). Use drills and hammers (provided) to make your very own bird feeder to take home. This is a practical workshop finishing with a short walk looking for wild birds.
Leader: Andrew (Mouse) Fleming. Booking is required.
Please text Andrew on 087 329 9936 to reserve your place. This event is free. More information can be found here.

Biodiversity Update on the Little Dargle River

On Saturday 21 November a host of volunteers joined An Cathaoirleach, Councillor Barry Saul, naturalist Dale Treadwell and members of the Marley Grange Residents Association to help plant 350 native trees and shrubs along the Little Dargle River in an effort create a haven for the rare butterfly species – the Brimstone Butterfly.

Answering the call for volunteers were students and their families from St. Gerard’s School in Bray, Newpark Comprehensive, Our Lady’s Girls National School, Mount Anville Junior Montessori School and representatives from Cabinteely Tidy Towns and the Ludford Area Residents Associations. The children of Our Lady’s Girls and Boys National Schools in Ballinteer have also shown their support for the project by planting their own butterfly garden with the assistance of Dale Treadwell whilst students from Mount Anville Junior Montessori School plan to rear butterflies for release in the Marley Grange estate next summer.

 

 

Biodiversity in Action Project-Saturday 21st November

Biodiversity in Action Project
Marley Grange, beside the River Dargle
Saturday 21st November 2015
Starting times: 10:30 for residents of Marley Grange
                                12 noon for those outside the estate until finish.
On Saturday 21st November from 12 noon Dean Eaton will be joining naturalist Dale Treadwell, the Marley Grange Residents Association and volunteers from local schools to plant 400 native trees and shrubs along the river dodder. Of the 400 trees and shrubs, 200 are Alder Buckthorns, the host plant for the Brimstone Butterfly. This butterfly is rare in Ireland and we hope via this Action Project we can help increase their range by creating a butterfly haven within the Dublin region. But we need help!
Initially volunteers are being sought to assist us with the planting by bringing a spade to Marley Grange (beside the river Dargle). Please ensure you wrap up warm and be ready for all the Irish Winter can throw at you. At a later date we’re hoping schools and community groups will plant a few Alder Buckthorns within their own locale to help increase the range of the Brimstone Butterfly. Assistance will be provided.
Many hands make light work! So even if you plant one tree it will be a big help.
But why plant a tree? Perhaps you would like to remember a loved one, or offset your emissions? Perhaps you would like to plant a tree just simply to do something to help nature?
The University of Calcutta highlighting the value a 50 year old tree provides during the course of its lifetime:
€30,000 worth of oxygen.
€60,000 worth of pollution control.
€30,000 worth of increased soil fertility and erosion control.
€35,000 worth of water cleaning.
€30,000 worth of natural habitats for our pollinators.
Not to mention the aesthetic beauty and climate control.
We would love to see you in Marley Grange, Dargle River on the 21st November 2015 at  10:30 for those resident in the estate and those external at 12pm.  Please contact Mary Connolly if attending ( 087 9391042) or come along on the day.

 

Help Needed – Biodiversity

Help is needed for planting and maintenance on Nuns Walk ( near Llewelyn) and along the river.
If you have any free time on Saturdays please let us know.
Transition year students very welcome.  Please contact Mary( 087 9391042)

For Biodiversity in our gardens if choosing plants for your garden  please consider those which encourage bees and butterflies.