Kerry communities can benefit from forest amenity funds

EVERY modern town needs its secret escape zones - the places we retreat to from the hustle and bustle of modern life. We need quiet, fresh and leafy places to walk, jog or push a pram, places to walk the dog or to safely watch a child take their first shaky ride on a new bicycle. Or maybe places just to stop and listen to nature itself. Of all towns in Ireland, Tralee is lucky to have many such amenities right on its doorstep, but without a doubt, Ballyseedy Wood is one of the prize jewels in a burgeoning Kerry treasure trove of beaches, mountains and National Parks.

It is almost 12 years since Ballyseedy Wood first opened its gates to the public. Before this, Ballyseedy Wood was tantalisingly visible yet inaccessible to most people. The story of Ballyseedy wood is long and convoluted, but it is one that Tralee citizens can ultimately be proud of. Following a long campaign and fundraising by the Ballyseedy Woods Action Group, the wood was purchased on behalf the local community in 1993 and placed in the care of Kerry County Council with the objective of protecting the wood and securing public access for future generations to enjoy.

In 2005, Kerry County Council secured public access to the site and planned and developed the high-quality facilities that we have grown to love. A very capable and determined team from KCC conducted negotiations for access from local landowners and ,with the assistance of NPWS, designed the network of trails and roads that lead the visitor through the wood and maximise the available area. Various local groups and agencies also actively supported and assisted this effort.

At that time, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine had just launched the NeighbourWood Scheme, and Ballyseedy was an ideal early candidate site. NeighbourWood and Forest Road Scheme funding partially contributed to the construction of some of the pathways and the internal access roadway within the wood. Kerry County Council ensured the highest specifications were used for path design and construction and, in particular, the footbridge access at the Northern Entrance. This has ensured the long-term durability of the new infrastructure and it has withstood the rigours of time, climate and public use well.

The current NeighbourWood Scheme is a measure in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Forestry Programme 2014-2020, which is specifically focused on delivering the social benefits of forestry to local communities by providing funding to Local Authorities and local community groups to create and develop ‘ close to home’ amenity woodlands for public enjoyment and recreation.

The scheme consists of three components:‘NeighbourWood Establishment’, which provides funding towards the creation of new NeighbourWoods on open ‘greenfield’ sites; ‘NeighbourWood Enhancement’, which provides funding towards the silvicultural enhancement and improvement of existing woodlands which are proposed for development as neighbourwoods; and ‘NeighbourWood Facilities’, which provides funding towards the installation and/or upgrade of appropriate recreational facilities within woodland areas submitted under Neighbourwood Establishment or NBR Neighbourwood Enhancement.

Every community deserves their own Ballyseedy, and communities around Ireland can readily benefit from NeighbourWood woodland amenities funded through the scheme. NeighbourWood projects provide opportunities for forest exercise; recreation and relaxation; creating important wildlife habitats; mitigating noise pollution; promoting air quality and improving the visual landscape. They also provide readymade locations for forest-based education by local schools and other organisations

Current funding measures can now be applied to private lands where public access exists, in addition to Local Authority-owned locations. While the Ballyseedy Wood Project has been a great success to date, it has since been augmented by many other NeighbourWood projects, and there are a great many more ‘shop windows’ available nationally to see how local woodlands can be utilised effectively.

Further information about the NeighbourWood Scheme is available at www. agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice/grantsandpremiumschemes2015

People across the South-West are invited to participate in a Regional Gathering as part of the National Dialogue on Climate Action to explore how we, as a nation, can work together to take action on climate change. Have your say on what you think are the major climate issues facing Ireland and share ideas on how we can work together to raise awareness, unlock opportunities, build resilience, and inspire action.

When: 11am – 4pm, Saturday, November 10, 2018

Where: Rose Hotel, Tralee, Co. Kerry, V92 HKA4 https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/climate-action/ topics/national-dialogue-on-climate-action/ regional-gatherings/Pages/default.aspx