Work is to begin this summer on transforming the Dublin Mountains in the largest project ever seen in Ireland.
Coillte plans to convert nine locations from commercial forestry to recreational use, in a plan that intends to have a positive impact on biodiversity in the country.
The nine forests that are to be converted are Ticknock, Kilmashogue, Ballyedmonduff, Massy’s Wood, Hell Fire Club, Cruagh, Tibradden, Barnaslingan and Carrickgollogan.
There will be some disruption for forest users as the plans are carried out, including machinery, felling and lorries on local roads, and diverting or temporarily closing some trails.
Dr Ciarán Fallon, Director of Coillte Nature, said: “Coillte Nature has a mandate to undertake impactful projects of scale that create, restore, regenerate and rehabilitate biodiverse habitats across Ireland and managing those habitats for ecological and recreational value in perpetuity in order to maximise the ecosystem services they provide to society for the benefit of everyone, now and into the future."
Coillte’s most popular forest, Ticknock, sees over 550 visits a day with all forest parks bringing in 600,000 visitors a year.
The transformation will see a greater emphasis on Continuous Cover Forestry and, in areas where this approach isn’t possible, Coillte are replanting conifer plantations with native woodland.
This will enhance and create habitats for wildlife, enrich their recreational appeal to people and improve the wider landscape’s aesthetic value.
Leslie Moore, of Dublin City Council and Chair of the Dublin Mountains Partnership, said: “For over 10 years the Dublin Mountains Partnership has collaborated to open up recreational access to the Dublin Mountains.
"The actions that will be undertaken in 2020 under the Dublin Mountains Makeover represent a significant milestone in achieving that vision and we welcome and wholeheartedly support Coillte Nature in bringing this exciting project to life.”
