Above: Victoria White and John Lacey help clean-up Herbert Park.
You may have noticed that an abundance of wildlife has returned to the River Dodder and its general accessibility as a recreational amenity has improved greatly recently.
This can be attributed to Dodder Action, a group of volunteers who embark on regular river clean-ups and have worked tirelessly alongside relevant bodies to come up with sustainable strategies for the protection of the river.
Thankfully, you are not the only ones who have noticed this, as they are the winners in the sustainability category of South Dublin County Council’s Community Initiative Award! The award is for Community groups who make efforts to promote/implement environmentally sustainable initiatives in their communities, such as energy conservation, efficient waste management and biodiversity.
This was the first such award from SDCC, which saw Dodder Action receiving an impressive trophy and €1000, which will undoubtedly aid the action plan for the coming year.
Pictured: Trophy by Ulla Dawidowska/Dodder Action.
Maybe other councils should copy. We were all treated to a full meal in the Red Cow.” In addition to this the group are pleased to announce that they will be republishing the book, ‘Down the Dodder’ in ebook format. The 1991 book by Christopher Moriarity gives us a comprehensive insight into all aspects of the river from source to sea. From ecology and geology to folklore and correspondence from those who shaped the course the river takes today, the pages of this book hold something for all.
Above: Images of the award venue at the Red Cow.
The printed book is also available still in some Dublin libraries, listed under the catalogue number 914.183.
For more information or if you are interested in joining the group, see further details on: https://www.dodderactiondublin.com/
Dodder Action Dates for the
diary in 2016
* April 9 – Group walk from source to sea
* April 23 – Dodder Action Day
* August 27 – Dodder Heritage Day
By Maria Shields O’Kelly
