Grassland

Picture of Ox-eye Daisy (Nóinín) Mór) and Cowslip (Bainne Bó Bleacht)

Picture shows Ox-eye Daisy and Cowslip

Original work carried out under contract for South Dublin County Council

Picture of Ox-eye Daisy (Nóinín) Mór) and Cowslip (Bainne Bó Bleacht)
Original work carried out under contract for South Dublin County Council

Picture of Ox-eye Daisy (Nóinín) Mór) and Cowslip (Bainne Bó Bleacht)

Picture shows Ox-eye Daisy and Cowslip

Original work carried out under contract for South Dublin County Council

Enlarge image

Many of South Dublin's parks possess significant areas of meadow grassland and scrub. Areas of traditionally managed grassland are becoming rare in Ireland due to changes in agricultural practices. This has resulted in a decline in native wildflower species.

The popular Cowslip (Bainne Bó Bleacht) is an attractive meadow wildflower, which has become particularly scarce. It was used for a variety of medicinal purposes and is a rich source of vitamin C. Fortunately, with favourable management practices, Cowslips abound at Sean Walsh Memorial Park and at Cherryfield in the Dodder Valley Regional Park.

Ox-eye Daisies (Nóinín Mór) are another characteristic meadow wildflower. They look similar to the Daisy, but are much larger in size. Hoverflies and beetles are attracted to the flowers.

Substantial areas of the parklands have been set aside to form wildflower meadows. These grasslands are cut once a year in late summer, after the plants have produced seed. The cuttings are then baled and used as hay.

The seeds of Wild Teasel (Leadán Úcaire), Thistles (Feochadán) and other meadow plants attract seed-feeding birds such as Goldfinches (Lasair Choille). Goldfinches are common finches with a thin bill, which enables them to reach the seeds of plants.

Meadow Brown (Donnóg Fhéir), Small Tortoiseshell (Ruán Beag), Red Admiral (Aimiréal Dearg), Orange Tip (Bánóg Rinnbhuí) and Small White (Bán

Picture shows Meadow Brown, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Orange Tip and Small White butterflies feeding on a Stinging Nettle plant.

Original work carried out under contract to South Dublin County Council

Meadow Brown (Donnóg Fhéir), Small Tortoiseshell (Ruán Beag), Red Admiral (Aimiréal Dearg), Orange Tip (Bánóg Rinnbhuí) and Small White (Bán
Original work carried out under contract to South Dublin County Council

Meadow Brown (Donnóg Fhéir), Small Tortoiseshell (Ruán Beag), Red Admiral (Aimiréal Dearg), Orange Tip (Bánóg Rinnbhuí) and Small White (Bán

Picture shows Meadow Brown, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Orange Tip and Small White butterflies feeding on a Stinging Nettle plant.

Original work carried out under contract to South Dublin County Council

Enlarge image

Wildflowers provide both a visual asset and attract nectar-feeding insects. The most attractive of these insects are the butterflies. The Common Blue Butterfly (Gormán Coiteann) is one of Ireland's most widely distributed butterflies. It lays its eggs on the fragrant Bird's Foot Trefoil (Crobh Éin) and the caterpillars use it as a food plant.

The Meadow Brown Butterfly (Donnóg Fhéir) is another common species. The caterpillars feed on various grasses, particularly Meadow grasses. The Peacock (Péacóg), Small Tortoiseshell (Ruán Beag), and Small White (Bánóg Bheag) butterflies all have caterpillars that depend on Stinging Nettles (Neantóg) for a food plant. The large and strikingly marked Red Admiral butterflies (Aimiréal Dearg) are visitors to Ireland that can be seen flying in the summer months.

The light cover and abundant vegetation of these meadows provides the ideal habitat for herbivores such as Rabbits (Coinín) and Irish Hares. Irish Hares (Giorria) are one of Ireland's longest established mammals. They are a sub-species of the Mountain Hare and are much larger than the rabbit, weighing 3-3.5kg. Irish Hares are sociable animals and can live in herds of up to 40 animals. Irish Hares are protected under the Wildlife Act 1976 (Amendment) Act 2000.

Kestrel (Pocaire Gaoithe), Fox (Sionnach), Irish Hare (Giorria) and Gorse (Aiteann Gallda)

Picture shows a Kestrel, Fox, Irish Hare and Gorse

Original work carried out under contract to South Dublin County Council

Kestrel (Pocaire Gaoithe), Fox (Sionnach), Irish Hare (Giorria) and Gorse (Aiteann Gallda)
Original work carried out under contract to South Dublin County Council

Kestrel (Pocaire Gaoithe), Fox (Sionnach), Irish Hare (Giorria) and Gorse (Aiteann Gallda)

Picture shows a Kestrel, Fox, Irish Hare and Gorse

Original work carried out under contract to South Dublin County Council

Enlarge image

Stonechat (Caislín Cloch) and Sparrowhawk (Spioróg)

Picture shows a Stonechat and a Sparrowhawk

Original work carried out under contract to South Dublin County Council

Stonechat (Caislín Cloch) and Sparrowhawk (Spioróg)
Original work carried out under contract to South Dublin County Council

Stonechat (Caislín Cloch) and Sparrowhawk (Spioróg)

Picture shows a Stonechat and a Sparrowhawk

Original work carried out under contract to South Dublin County Council

Enlarge image

Birds of prey and other predators visit the rough grassland areas of the parks to hunt. The Liffey Valley Parklands contain large areas of rough grassland and scrub. These habitats attract Peregrine Falcons (Fabhcún Gorm), Merlins (Meirliún), Sparrowhawks (Spioróg), Owls (Ulchabhán) and Kestrels (Pocaire Gaoithe).

Sparrowhawks are the commonest birds of prey in Ireland. They specialise in hunting birds. The smaller male hunts in woodlands on Tits and Sparrows, while the bigger female take larger prey, such as Thrushes and Starlings caught in grasslands. Kestrels are common falcons found in a number South Dublin's Parks, including Grange Castle, Corkagh, Tymon and Dodder Valley Regional Parks. They can often be seen hovering motionless in mid-air before swooping on their prey of small mammals, birds, insects, and worms.

The Fox (Sionnach) is a regular visitor to many of South Dublin's parks. It is one of the few native mammalian predators to remain in Ireland. Its success is mostly due to its great adaptability. Foxes are found in both rural and urban areas; in towns foxes have adapted to feeding in garbage heaps and dustbins. They have a territory of 2000ha in which they feed on rabbits, rodents, birds, insects as well as some fruit and berries.

In the Dodder Valley Regional Park, scrubby areas, dominated by Gorse, are found in sections along the river. Rathcoole Park incorporates a damp meadow that shows evidence of scrub and willow invasion. These clumps of Rusty Willow and Gorse in the far Southern corner of the park support a healthy bird population. Gorse (Aiteann Gallda) is a densely branched, thorny shrub that forms impenetrable thickets providing nesting sites for small birds. The flowers have a rich scent in spring and in the summer the pods dry out and explode open with a popping sound, dispersing the seed. Gorse can continue to flower throughout the year. Stonechats (Caislín Cloch) are birds that frequent these heathy grasslands and can be seen sitting on a prominent perch watching for insect and invertebrate prey.

Maintained grasslands tend to have a low biodiversity, but they can provide habitats for fungi. Grange Castle Golf Course has a high number of recorded fungi (fungas) species including the Japanese Umbrella and Hay Cap. Elkwood, Jobstown and McGee Parks are also predominantly maintained grassland. Blackening Waxcaps, Shaggy Inkcap, Field Mushroom and Fairy-Ring Champignon and have all been recorded there.