South Dublin County Council Launches Pollinator Action Plan 2026–2030

South Dublin County Council Launches Pollinator Action Plan 2026–2030

South Dublin County Council is delighted to launch the SDCC Pollinator Action Plan 2026–2030 with Mayor Cllr Pamela Kearns, following its official launch on Monday, 18 May 2026. The Plan reaffirms the Council’s commitment to placing biodiversity and pollinators at the heart of public land management across the county.

The new Plan builds on several years of sustained progress and sets out a clear and ambitious programme of action to support pollinators, while enhancing the quality, resilience, and enjoyment of public spaces. Since first partnering with the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, SDCC has progressively transformed the management of parks, open spaces, and road verges across the county. Today, approximately 210 hectares of meadows are actively managed throughout South Dublin, exceeding the 2021–2025 target by 51%. These meadows are carefully managed through ecological cutting schedules, allowing native wildflowers to bloom and set seed, improving food sources and nesting habitats for bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and other pollinators. Ongoing surveys confirm year-on-year improvements in biodiversity, reflecting the effectiveness of this nature-based approach.

Pollinator-friendly actions now extend well beyond meadow management. Since 2017, all parks, playgrounds and public gardens have been glyphosate-free, with chemical use reduced across Council operations. More than 7.5 million pollinator-friendly bulbs have been planted across over 90 locations, providing critical forage in early spring and later in the season. SDCC has also mapped 1,720 kilometres of hedgerows, with over 400 kilometres actively managed as ecological corridors on Council-controlled lands. Building on this work, a Hedgerow Restoration Programme, successfully trialled in 2026, is now being rolled out countywide to restore and strengthen hedgerows for biodiversity, connectivity, and landscape resilience. In parallel, a growing programme of mini woodlands has delivered over 44,000 native trees in partnership with schools and communities. Collectively, these measures are also delivering climate benefits, with reduced mowing practices alone estimated to prevent 116 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year.

The new Pollinator Action Plan sets out 30 targeted actions to be delivered between now and 2030, ensuring pollinator-friendly principles are fully embedded across planning, design, capital projects, and day-to-day operations. The Plan also places a strong emphasis on public engagement and shared ownership, recognising the importance of community understanding and support. Initiatives such as clear pollinator signage, enhanced online resources, park ranger-led walks and effective use of social media have built on strong public awareness and support, helping to reinforce understanding of visible management changes such as reduced mowing. National recognition through Pollinator Awards for Tymon Park and Waterstown Park further demonstrates the quality, consistency, and credibility of SDCC’s approach.

The SDCC Pollinator Action Plan 2026–2030 reflects a practical and deliverable commitment to protecting biodiversity, improving habitat quality, and strengthening ecological connectivity across the county. It is guided by a clear long-term vision for South Dublin as a connected and resilient county, where pollinator- and biodiversity-friendly habitats support nature, strengthen climate resilience and enhance quality of life for all who live, work and do business here. By continuing to manage land in ways that work for nature, climate and people, South Dublin County Council is helping to ensure that pollinators and the wider environment we all depend on can thrive long into the future.

The new SDCC Pollinator Action Plan 2026–2030 is available to view online here: 119365_sdcc_pollinator_actionplan_2026-2030_v16.pdf