grasses — Pond Studios

The delicate balance of our 40 shades of green grasses.

by Yvonne Buckley — Ecologist, Co-Chair of the All Island Climate and Biodiversity Research Network and Professor of Zoology at Trinity College Dublin. Published in the Irish Times, Jan 28th 2021.

You could be forgiven for thinking that there is just one kind of grass, given the subtle (but fascinating) differences between the 200 to 300 species in Ireland and the dominance of one particular species. Perennial rye grass (Lolium perenne) is native to Ireland but is widely planted in lawns, pastures and parks. It is an early growing, productive and robust grass species, thrives in highly fertile conditions and cows chomp it enthusiastically.

#GreatIrishGrasslands

Semi-natural grasslands are hugely important reservoirs for biodiversity, supporting a diverse range of plant and animal species. They also perform a wide range of other ecosystem services such as healthy soil, climate regulation, flood attenuation, etc. In Ireland we are lucky to have large areas of semi-natural grassland, including six types which are listed for protection on the EU Habitats Directive. Sadly, however, these are now among the most threatened habitat types in Ireland.

Grasslands Trail Sites in Dublin

The Grasslands Trail is a network of publicly accessible grasslands spread across the country. All these sites are managed sensitively, with nature conservation and grassland diversity in mind.

Tymon Park, Dublin
South Dublin County Council

160 hectares of long flowering meadows (cut once a year), plus over 8 hectares of short flowering Meadows (cut 5 times a year). Owned and managed by South Dublin County Council who are also monitoring the different management regimes. There is even a section of intact esker ridge, with uncommon plants, right by the M50! A delightful nugget of grassland diversity, right on the edge of our capital city.

Newbridge House and Farm, Dublin
Fingal County Council

Large areas of parkland with sensitively managed meadows provide a nice contrast to the grazed areas at this diverse site. Some meadow areas are distinctly damp (look out for species such as Meadowsweet), and others much drier (in spring search for the primroses to help you find the area of calcareous grassland here!).