Native Tree Trail at St. Anne's Park

1. General information

Location and description of the intervention

City or FUA

Dublin (FUA)

Region

Europe

Short description of the intervention

Ireland’s native trees have developed over thousands of years, forming a vibrant ecosystem alongside surrounding plants, animals, fungi, and microbes. These trees provide critical habitats for plants and wildlife, offering essential food and shelter while producing oxygen vital to animals and humans alike. Historically, native trees supplied early Irish communities with fuel, food, shelter, and building materials. Today, they play a modern role in filtering dust, reducing pollution, and enriching urban spaces.
To highlight these benefits in Dublin, the Native Tree Trail in St. Anne's Park was created by DCC Parks and Landscape Services in 2008. This trail, featuring 15 different types of native trees, invites visitors to explore and appreciate the natural and cultural heritage of Ireland's native trees, underscoring the value of green spaces for both biodiversity and community well-being.
Strategic tree placement contributes to Dublin’s sustainability by reducing soil erosion, sequestering carbon, and mitigating urban heat. A green city is a healthy city, and preserving open spaces enhances its appeal as a place to live, work, and visit. The trail also plays an essential role in environmental education and community engagement. Over the years, St. Anne's Park has hosted multiple tree-planting events, including a 2019 collaboration with local schools for National Tree Week and National Tree Day, in partnership with the Tree Council of Ireland. The NGO has also offered family-friendly guided walks along the trail, helping to instill an appreciation for nature in visitors of all ages (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, p.93).

Website of the intervention

https://www.dublincity.ie/residential/parks/nature-and-biodiversity-dublin/nati…

Principal problems

Climate-Related Hazards

Heat stress & Extreme temperatures

Environmental Degradation

Soil degradation and loss

Implementation area characterization

Climate

Temperate ( Humid subtropical, Hot-summer Mediterranean, Warm-summer Mediterranean, Warm-temperate with dry winter)

Ecosystem

Temperate forests

Address

Clontarf East
Raheny
Dublin 5
D05 EA31
Ireland

Location

The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).

Area boundary (map-based)

NBS area image

Source of NBS area image

Source: https://www.dublincity.ie/sites/default/files/2020-11/st.annes_english.pdf

Area description

Urban (main city)

Type of area before implementation of the NBS

Cultural Heritage Area

Public Greenspace Area

Timeline of intervention

Start date of the intervention (planning process)

2008

Start date of intervention (implementation process)

2008

End date of the intervention

2019

Present stage of the intervention

Completed

2. Objectives of the intervention

Objectives of the intervention

Goals of the intervention

To explore the rich social and natural history of native trees and promote native tree planting and biodiversity
To provide essential food and shelter for plants and wildlife.
To produce vital oxygen for animals and humans, sequester atmospheric carbon, and mitigate urban heat through strategic tree placement.
To filter dust and pollution from the environment and reduce soil erosion.
To offer natural breaks and green spaces within park areas.
To provide tours on environmental education (2, 3)

Key Priorities

Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation)

Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)

Sustainability challenge(s) addressed

Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)

Climate change adaptation

Climate change mitigation

Environmental quality

Air quality improvement

Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)

Green space creation and/or management

Habitat and biodiversity restoration

Cultural heritage and cultural diversity

Preservation of natural heritage

Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)

Environmental education

Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?

Implement measures that prevent/manage desertification, soil erosion and landslides

Increase urban vegetation cover to reduce urban heat island effect

Climate change mitigation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?

Increase the availability of green urban space for carbon storage (street tree cover)

What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?

Species-focused

What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?

Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems

Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)

Restore native species

Public engagement

Implementation activities and NBS focus

Implementation activities

The St. Anne's Park Native Tree Trail showcases 15 native Irish trees, each marked with informative signage. These include: Scots Pine, Willow, Bird Cherry, Yew, Ash, Aspen, Mountain Ash, Elder, Hawthorn, Hazel, Alder, Crab Apple, Holly, Oak, and Birch. Created to deepen public appreciation for native trees, the trail also highlights the environmental and cultural significance of Ireland’s tree heritage. The trail features 9 stops each with various highlights such as native trees and plant symbolism (Trees such as Oak, Ash, and Elm are symbolically linked to qualities like hospitality, grandeur, and dignity) and wildlife (Birds such as owls, curlews, kestrels, and common species like magpies inhabit the area, especially near the Front Lawn, which is flanked by Copper Beech and Weeping Elm trees)
In 2019, Dublin City Council partnered with the Tree Council of Ireland to support tree-planting activities with local schools during National Tree Week and National Tree Day. Events included guided walks led by experts who shared insights into the unique characteristics of these native trees, concluding with a ceremonial planting. Participants were encouraged to ask questions and immerse themselves in Ireland’s native woodland. The NGO also organized family-friendly guided walks along the trail, specially designed to engage children and inspire curiosity about the natural world (1-3, 5, 7).

Type of NBS project

Maintenance and management of urban nature

Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks)

Knowledge creation and awareness raising

Educational and awareness raising programs

3. NBS domains, ES and scale

NBS domain and interventions

Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented

Parks and urban forests

Large urban parks or forests

Amenities offered by the NBS

Educational or biodiversity trails

Design elements for well-being

Visual elements (e.g., expansive views, scenic views, natural light, diverse vegetation)

Auditory elements (e.g., birdsong, water features, quiet areas, rustling leaves)

Tactile elements (e.g., natural materials like wood or stone, exposure to sunlight)

Services

Expected ecosystem services delivered

Regulating services

Local climate regulation (temperature reduction)

Air quality regulation

Carbon storage/sequestration

Habitat and supporting services

Habitats for species

Cultural services

Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)

Scale

Spatial scale

Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level

Beneficiaries

Demographics in implementation area

In 2016, the Raheny area of the population was classified as disadvantaged (4, p.119), while the Clontarf district was classified as ‘affluent’ (4, p. 86).

Socio-economic profile of the area

Mixed income

Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts

Unknown

Non-government actors

Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)

Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches

Primary Beneficiaries

Local government/Municipality

Non-government organisation/Civil Society

Citizens or community groups

Young people and children

Specify primary beneficiaries

DCC Parks and Landscape Services developed the Native Tree Trails program in Dublin, aiming to engage a broad spectrum of the community in appreciating and preserving native trees. Dublin City Council also actively supports further tree-planting activities with schools, particularly during the annual National Tree Week and National Tree Day, in cooperation with an NGO, Tree Council of Ireland (5). An NGO also offered a guided walk along the St. Anne's Tree Trail, specifically designed for families and children (7).

Marginalized groups

Unknown

Other beneficiaries

Local wildlife (e.g., birds, pollinators)

Native plant vegetation

Natural habitats (e.g. wetland, forests, coastal areas)

Ecosystem services (e.g. improved air quality, water purification)

4. Governance and financing

Governance

Governance arrangements

Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative

The Native Tree Trails program was developed by DCC Parks and Landscape Services in 2008 as a part of the Tree Strategy for the city Of Dublin. Dublin City Council further supported this initiative by promoting school tree-planting activities in collaboration with an NGO, Tree Council of Ireland (5). The NGO organized guided walks along the St. Anne's Tree Trail for families and different groups (7).

Key actors - initiating organization

Local government/municipality

Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)

Public sector institution

Non-government organisation/civil society

Level of citizen and community engagement

Unknown

Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders)

Dissemination of information and education

Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)

Uncommon actors ("Missing actors")

Public Services

Schools

Land owners

Public space owned by the city

Policy drivers

NBS intervention implemented in response to a Regional Directive/Strategy

Yes

Please specify the "Regional Directive/Strategy"

EU Biodiversity Strategy (5, p.97)

NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan

Yes

Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan

Native Tree Trails programme, National Tree Week and National Tree Day; • National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021 (5, p.96-97)

If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme/type of the plan

National Biodiversity Strategy or Action Plan

NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan

Yes

Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"

Dublin City Tree Strategy; - Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022 (5, p.95)

Relevant strategy or plan

City specific climate change policy or plan

Mandatory or voluntary intervention

Mandatory (based on policy)

Intervention is mandatory

Environmental regulation

Enablers & Barriers

Type of enablers

Unknown

Governace and decison-making instruments

Legislative and regulatory instruments (e.g. laws, strategies, regulations or restrictions)

Strategic instruments (e.g. GI strategies, green space strategy or plans)

Arrangements for governance cooperation

Information-sharing platforms or networks (e.g. websites for sharing best practices, data or resources pertinent to the project)

Barriers

Unknown

Financing

Total cost

Unknown

Please specify total cost (EUR)

Unknown

What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?

Unknown

Source(s) of funding

Public local authority budget

Type of fund(s) used

Earmarked public budget

Non-financial contribution

Co-finance for NBS

Unknown

Entrepreneurship opportunities

Unknown

Business models

Risk reduction model

Green heritage model

Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?

Public actor (e.g. municipality)

5. Evaluation and learning

Impacts, benefits

Environmental impacts

Climate change

Lowered local temperature

Expected lowered local temperature

Enhanced carbon sequestration

Expected enhanced carbon sequestration

Green space and habitat

Increased conversion of degraded land or soil

Expected increased conversion of degraded land or soil

Increased number of species present

Achieved increased number of species present

Description of environmental benefits

-Enhanced carbon sequestration: “Trees have multiple benefits in reducing the risk of climate change impacts. Through their root systems they reduce soil erosion, and sequester atmospheric carbon as part of the carbon cycle, meaning that over its lifetime, a single tree can absorb several tonnes of atmospheric carbon dioxide. ” ; "The flora and fauna in Dublin are vital in adapting to climate change and mitigating future impacts, as they act as carbon sinks and provide flood protection. (Ref. 5).
-Expected lowered local temperature: “The right tree in the right place can provide shelter from both wind and sun and help to reduce the urban heat island effect” (Ref. 5).
-Increased conversion of degraded land or soil: “. Through their root systems they reduce soil erosion, and sequester atmospheric carbon as part of the carbon cycle, meaning that over its lifetime, a single tree can absorb several tonnes of atmospheric carbon dioxide” (Ref. 5).
-Increased number of species present: “There are fifteen native trees to find in this park: Scots Pine, Willow, Bird Cherry, Yew, Ash, Aspen, Mountain Ash, Elder, Hawthorn, Hazel, Alder, Crab Apple, Holly, Oak, and Birch” (Ref. 2).

Environmental impact indicators

Total number of vascular plant species protected or introduced

Economic impacts

Unknown

Description of economic benefits

Unknown

Evidence for use of assessment

Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process

Unknown

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports

No evidence in public records

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

Name of any specific impact assessment tools

Unknown

Use of GIS in mapping impacts

No evidence in public records

Cost-benefit analysis

Unknown

Transparency

Unknown

Justice

Community satisfaction

Unknown

Description of locals satisfaction with the project

Unknown

Trade-offs & Negative impacts

Unknown

Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement

Unknown

High-quality & Transformative NBS

Multiple impacts delivery (climate, biodiversity, just community)

Goal setting and impacts delivery

In the planning phase, the project aimed to address issues in all 3 key priority areas, but impacts were not delivered in all three key areas.

Reaching original project goals

Most of the project goals were achieved

Please specify the achievements of the project goals

Climate action and Biodiversity Goals:
-Enhanced carbon sequestration: “Trees have multiple benefits in reducing the risk of climate change impacts. Through their root systems they reduce soil erosion, and sequester atmospheric carbon as part of the carbon cycle, meaning that over its lifetime, a single tree can absorb several tonnes of atmospheric carbon dioxide. ” ; "The flora and fauna in Dublin are vital in adapting to climate change and mitigating future impacts, as they act as carbon sinks and provide flood protection. (Ref. 5).
-Expected lowered local temperature: “The right tree in the right place can provide shelter from both wind and sun and help to reduce the urban heat island effect” (Ref. 5).
-Increased conversion of degraded land or soil: “. Through their root systems they reduce soil erosion, and sequester atmospheric carbon as part of the carbon cycle, meaning that over its lifetime, a single tree can absorb several tonnes of atmospheric carbon dioxide” (Ref. 5).
-Increased number of species present: “There are fifteen native trees to find in this park: Scots Pine, Willow, Bird Cherry, Yew, Ash, Aspen, Mountain Ash, Elder, Hawthorn, Hazel, Alder, Crab Apple, Holly, Oak, and Birch” (Ref. 2).

Long-term perspective

Yes

Cost-effective solutions

Unknown

Equitable impacts

C. Unknown

Transformative capacity

Ecological change (e.g. ecosystem functions and their distribution)

Magnitude of change

Incremental: shallow; that is, mostly maintaining business-as-usual approaches to adaptation

Application of lessons learned

The NBS contributed to global and national targets for human well-being, climate and biodiversity

Perception of Environmental Change

Unknown

6. Sources

References

Dublin City Council (n.d.). City Trees. Dublin: Dublin City Council, Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Dublin City (n.d.). Nature Tree Trails St. Anne’s Park. Dublin City, Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Dublin City Council (n.d.). Native Tree Trails. Dublin City Council, Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Dublin City North (2018). Socio-Demographic Profile . Dublin City North, Accessed on August 14, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Dublin City Council (2019). NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS. Dublin City Council, Accessed on August 14, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Dublin City Council (2020). 4 Native Tree Trail, St Anne's Park. Dublin City Council, Accessed on August 14, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Family Friendly HQ (2019). The Kids Will Love Th is Tree Trail Walk, And It's Free. Family Friendly HQ, Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Comments and notes

Public Images

St. Anne’s Park

Ref. 2