Congratulations to the Lansdowne Park Friends of Green Spaces for winning first place in the 151 – 300 dwellings category of the Dublin City Council City Neighbourhood Competition 2021
Last year, Bernadette Moore (the leader of the group and former Chairperson and Secretary of LADRA) entered the Lansdowne Park Friends of Green Spaces group into the DCC City Neighbourhood Competition. The group, which has been in existence since 2013, was awarded first place in the category of 151-300 dwellings. The group also received a one-for-all voucher for €150 which will be used to buy some spring plants for the 41 planters in the Lansdowne Park area.
The Lansdowne Park Friends of Green Spaces, which is affiliated to LADRA, consists of a small group of neighbours of diverse age who have been working together for many years to improve the visual amenity and in particular the horticultural aspects of Lansdowne Park. The group meets several times during the year, mostly on Saturday mornings, to clean the area and tend to the 41 planters which are placed all around the perimeter of Lansdowne Park green area and on the three roads that comprise Lansdowne Park. These planters are planted with new seasonal plants 2 to 3 times yearly.
Watering of the plants on the green area is done by an underground irrigation system designed by Des Moore who lives in Lansdowne Park and the group helped to put the hose piping needed for this system underground. The other planters are watered by members of the group.
Each year Bernadette makes an application to the DCC Community Development Department and another application to the Aviva Stadium Community Committee for funding to purchase planters and equipment as required in addition to the plants and topsoil needed for planting. This funding is vital for the ongoing maintenance of the planters, and we have developed a very collaborative relationship with members of these committees over the years and they are always very supportive of all our endeavours.
After the Saturday morning sessions, the group gathers for coffee, tea, cakes/ scones and a chat. The delicious cakes/ scones are baked for us by Anne Byrne, also a former Chairperson and Secretary of LADRA. This social aspect of Lansdowne Park Friends of Green Spaces helps build a strong community and enables more neighbours to get to know one another.
