Enhancement works start at Swinford woodland

ENHANCEMENTS to Swinford’s Brabazon Park woodland will begin today (Monday).

The existing walk around Swinford Golf Club will be closed to the public while the work is ongoing. Forest machinery will access the park from the Kiltimagh Road (R320).

The project starts with the clearfelling of 6.6 hectares of Sitka Spruce (shown on map in red) and the thinning of other plots. Native species will be replanted after clearfell.

All funds generated from the sale of the trees is being reinvested back into the development of Brabazon Park.

Some 1.5km of new pathway and three footbridges are included in the project plans as well as seating and other park facilities. The new path will run between some of the oldest trees in the park. These sentient oak, beech, alder, Scots pine, birch and ash were part of the Brabazon Estate and date back to the 1880s.

Thinning is an essential maintenance procedure in forestry. Three areas (shown on map with green dots) made up of ash, beech and cherry will be thinned. The majority of the ash will be removed due to the presence of ash dieback disease. These areas will be underplanted with a mixture of native species to create a multi-layered and diverse woodland.

Swinford was built on the estate of the local landlord family, the Brabazons, in the late 18th century. The park land is also home to Swinford Golf Club. Established in 1922, it is one of the oldest parkland golf courses in Ireland.

The park was part of the Brabazon family estate until it was given to the people of the town by the Irish Land Commission. Brabazon Park is managed by a board of local trustees.

William O’Connor is a Swinford native and chairperson of the Brabazon Park Trustees and has welcomed the commencement of the project.

He commented: “This project is all about bringing our community and woodlands together, by helping to create and enhance ‘close-to-home’ woodland amenities for local people to use and enjoy.”

The work is being carried out under the NeighbourWood Scheme and Native Woodland Conservation Scheme, in conjunction with forest managers Western Forestry Co-op.

“The Neighbourwood scheme in particular is a wonderful initiative, aimed specifically at realising the recreational and wider social benefits woodlands and forests can provide. We feel this project will help to promote sporting, recreational, educational and social activities to the benefit of the community, in particular the combined parishes of Kilconduff and Meelick (Swinford),” he said.

“I would like to thank all of those involved in the project, my fellow trustees, Western Forestry Co-Op and each of the clubs and community groups who have provided their support, in particular Swinford Golf Club.

The existing path walk around Swinford Golf Club will be closed until further notice. The Brabazon Trustees apologise for any inconvenience caused.