Dunlewey pilot scheme could benefit communities across the county 

A Pilot Peatland Restoration programme with a particular focus on Rhododendron Ponticum has begun in the Dunlewey area. 

Cairde na hEaragaile CLG, a not-for-profit organisation, focused on the sustainable development and protection of the Dunlewey area, secured a contract with LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature late last year. 

The issue of Rhododendron in the Dunlewey area has been highlighted for many years by the local community. 

A member Cairde na hEaragaile, Pádraig Ó Gallachóir, who lives locally said this project has huge implications not only for Dunlewey but may benefit communities across the county where this non-native invasive species is spreading exponentially.

The first phase of the project will be to survey almost 2,000 hectares. Greentrack Consultancy Limited have been appointed to conduct the survey. This will involve the use of drones and they will also walk much of the landscape to identify where the plant is, and how densely it is growing. 

John Andy Bonar, chairperson of Cairde na hEaragaile, and who represents ATU on the board, said this survey will allow the group to develop a plan to undertake control works.

A similar project started in Mayo last year and their recommendation is to treat the slight to moderately infested areas first as they have potential to do more damage long term. Phase two of the project will be to recruit and train between 4 and 6 people to do pilot control works. Training will involve best-practice for this type of work and will include a chainsaw felling course, and health and safety courses. The control area will be decided in consultation with landowners once the survey is completed. Much of the land in Dunlewey is located within a Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and works will be done in conjunction with the National Parks and Wildlife Service. 

Many attended an information evening where the upcoming pilot project was being discussed on Friday night. A spokesperson for Cairde na hEaragaile, Josephine Kelly, said the evening was a success and that a lot was learnt from the Bundorragh group who have been very successful in their approach to the problem plant. 

The evening, and the demonstration on Saturday, was attended by a range of people including farmers who are in the new ACRES scheme. Having plants such as Rhododendron on their lands will impact on their scores and financial assistance will be made available to them through the ACRES scheme. 

It is envisaged that the learnings from the Dunlewey project can be shared with these farmers.

Josephine Kelly said she is delighted to see the work begin: “The surveyors have a lot of ground to cover, and we will see them out and about in Dunlewey over the next three months. I would encourage any landowners in the area to contact me if you have any questions in relation to the survey. It is hoped this pilot project will be the beginning of a larger scheme where the trained individuals will be able to undertake Rhododendron control works in other areas throughout the north west.

"It is also hoped that funding will be secured for the second phase of this pilot scheme which is the first of its kind in Donegal and should it prove successful could be rolled out as a best practice template for other areas across the county.”

You can contact Josephine Kelly on 086 8234449 with any queries in relation to the survey or the project.