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farmhand limitedNAVAN ROAD, DUBLIN 15, IRELAND

Ms. Brigid Johnston,Office of Public Works,Waterways Section,51 St. Stephen's Green,Dublin, 2.

Telephors (01) 213466TOw 32523 (FARM 8)Fax (01) 213064

July 29, 1991

Dear Ms. Johnston,

Further to your letter to Bomford & Evershed Ltd. on the 14th July and ourtelephone conversation today, I now enclose 3 leaflets on the AmazonGroundkeeper which I think will suit your purpose. We have sold a numberof these machines throughout over the last 5 years in golf clubs, caravanparks, amenity areas etc. The Groundkeeper will cut (and collect)everything from light grass through medium to heavy scrub up to andincluding rubbish such as cans and disposable bottles. The Groundkeeper isused very extensively on the Continent for managing meadows where thegrass is cut in early spring and again in mid autumn.

I would be delighted to give you any further information you requireincluding a video showing the machine in action. Naturally we would behappy to demonstrate the machine in due course. I look forward to hearingfrom you, and am,

Directors: D. Soriremr (Preaidu. J. Scrivener (Menepinp). B. Krone (Chairmen). H. Krone. H. Owes, J. Brady.Rap. Offios Astral House. Adelaide Rood, Dublin 2. No. 15644. Bankers Allied Irish Banks Ltd.. Main Street. BisnclardatQ n, Dublin 15.

VAT Rep. No. 8-r44604B.

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ECOLOGICAL SURVEYof the

ROYAL CANAL

..i

Part 2 : Conservation Management Plan

UNIT III

N

Draper's Bridge - Richmond HarbourLongford Branch

000 Prepared for:

The Wildlife Service and Waterways Section,0Office of Public Works. 1991

00 Edited by:

Marie Dromey0Brigid Johnston

Richard Nairn

0000

N

H

N00Iu Areas of Scientific Interest on the Royal Canal

(after Wildlife Service 1989)

0County Name Bs Area/ Habitat Rating

u(ASI no.) Grid ref. Sections Length

0 Dublin(20)

Royal Canal00?38 to D1-D1300732 1-5 16km Canal Regional

u Kildare(11)

Royal Canal0000375 7-19 10km Canal Regional

Kildare(21)

Louisa BridgeN995368 7 3ha Marsh Local

Meath Ballynabarney(24) Fen

N587459 43-44 2ha . Fen Local

Meath(32)

Lerick BogN6747 45-46 60ha Raised bog Local

?Meath Mount Hevey BogN6348 49-51 190ha Raised bog Local

riebtmeath Lough Owel(7) N395? - 950ha Lake National

Westmeath(25)

Royal CanalMullingar toBallynacarrigyN3653 74-92 17km Canal Local

Longford(6)

Cloondara BogN0874 132 250ha Raised bog Regional

l Longford(19)

Royal CanalN234598, 96-102N123637, 105-111N168585 116-122 15km Canal Local

0l

000

ii

E

N

.(33)

E

0uu0 Native Trees and shrubs suitable for planting

I Acid Neutral Alkaline-I

<5m metres in height

Alder * *

uBirch * *

Blackthorn .* *

uCrab apple * *

Spindle

Guelder rose

l Hawthorn

* I *

* * I *

Hazel

Holly

0I

Rowan * *

>5 metres

Ash * *

I Oak * * *

lWillows * * *

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Native Trees and Shrubs suitable for planting (cont.)

Species to be avoided -

Sycamore - seeds prolifically when mature and can invade areaswith dense stands of saplings.

Poplar - species tend to produce suckers which can cause problemsfor access.

Suitable species

Alder - a small tree capable of growing in wet or waterloggedconditions. It has a dense fibrous root system that binds soilwell.

Ash - a tall, light demanding tree with an open canopy, oftenfound on river banks.

Birch - both downy and silver birch can be planted and will formslender graceful trees which are aesthetically pleasing. Downybirch is tolerant of damp sites. Both are light-demanding andshould not form part of a mixture of trees for this reason.

Blackthorn - a low dense shrub that is valuable as cover forbirds and useful for hedging and faggots.Spindle - an attractive open shrub with very striking scarlet andorange fruits.Guelder rose - an attractive open shrub with striking white,many-flowered heads and good autumn colour.

Hawthorn - a dense medium sized tree or hedgerow shrub usefulfor faggots. It establishes easily from whips and gives a goodstock proof barrier. The white bunches of flowers provide a richnectar source for insects. Birds benefit from the cover forroosting and nesting whilst the fruit is a valuable food inautumn.

Hazel - a medium to low open shrub that gives an early pollensource and edible nuts in the autumn. It coppices well

and whips can be used in hedging or sold for peasticks or for thatching spars.

Holly - this is an evergreen tree or shrub. Male and femaleflowers are normally on separate trees. The fruit is popularwith birds. Its dense shade will kill vegetation beneath so itshould not be used where this could be critical. Holly is anexcellent hedging shrub and will also coppice well.

Oak - a large open-crowned tree, but slow growing. It is avaluable tree for insects.

Rowan - a medium to tall, open tree, light-demanding. The groupsof white flowers provide a good nectar source and the fruit istaken by birds.

Willows - they are all fast-growing and tolerant of wetconditions. There are two native tree species and the reminderare shrubs or small treas. Many willow crosses occur andidentification can be difficult. Tree species can be pollarded.All can be coppiced. Willow stakes and whips can be used toprotect banks from erosion and stabilise embankments. Willow*are the foodplant of many moth caterpillars.

Tree species - white willow, crack willow.

Shrubs and small trees - osier, goat willow, common sallow,purple willow.

(after: Newbold et al, 1929)

IV

0

CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1 MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES

PAGE

1

ECHAPTER 2 GENERAL GUIDELINES OF CONSERVATION

MANAGEMENT 1

E2.1 Restoration 1

R 2.2 Maintenance 32.3 Recreational Management 6

NS CHAPTER 3 UNIT III 7

0 3.1 Methods and definitions 83.2 General principles for restoration

E and reconstruction. 123.3 Management guidelines for

R specific sections. 13

E Fowlard's Br. - Toome Br. 18Toome Br. - Ballybrannigan Harbour 21

0 Ballybrannigan Harbour - Longford Br. 24Mullawornia 28

N Foygh Br. - Cloonbreany Br. 32Cloonbreany Bog 35Mosstown Harbour - Coolnahinch Br. 37Longford Branch. 53

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CHAPTER 1.

To give nature conservation equal priority with other values.To maximise diversity by varying management practices overspace and time.To allow flexibility in management to take into account thevariablity of nature.

CHAPTER 2.

2.1 RESTORATION

2.1.1 General

Because of the conservation value of the western section ofthe canal a full-time ecologist should be employed to monitor theremaining restoration work.

2.1.2 Dredgi

GeneralThe channel should only be dredged in short sections (of not

more than 5km) to allow recolonisation from adjacent lengths.

10 Hydraulic machinery should be used where possible as it isre selective and flexible than the present system.

Dredging should be minimised during the months !Sarah to Julyto avoid the main growing season and to reduce disturbance tonesting birds.

0Natural revegetation of dredging spoil should be monitgred

0 annually to decide the beat form of management.

Protection of reed fringe

Dredging should be carried out from one bank only leaving a

0 wide band of marginal vegetation on the offside.

In sections where the only surviving reedbeds are on thetowpath side of the canal the floating dredger should be used toavoid damaging the marginal vegetation.

Channel design

This refers specifically to the restoration of unvateredLotions of the canal.

A deep central channel should be created to prevent the growthof rooted plants which obstruct navigation and to obviate the needfor herbicide spraying.

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Where feasible submerged berms should be created in thechannel bank to facilitate the growth of shallow water marginalvegetation outside the navigation area.

Silt traps should be restored and maintained at intervals inthe channel so that the resulting accumulations of silt may beselectively dredged.

Create artificial islands in a number of the canal harbours asnest sites for mute swans and other breeding waterfowl. (The islandin Maynooth Harbour provides a successful model.)

Spoil depoa^ ition

Spoil should not be dumped on wetlands such as fens andraised bogs or on unimproved grasslands along the canal bank asthese are the richest sites botanically.

Spoil may be dumped in a trench dug between the towpath andthe boundary. This should then be recovered with topsoil andallowed to revegetate naturally.

Alternatively spoil may be dumped between the towpath and theboundary and topsoil spread thinly over this.

If there are no other suitable places close to the canal bankspoil could be spread thinly in scrub.

Control of plant growth on spoil heaps

Early colonising plants should be moved at least twice in thefirst year and the cuttings removed. In subsequent years a singlelate summer moving should be sufficient.

2.1.3 Repair work

Rank proteotion

4otectionNatural materials or vegetation should be used in bank

wherever possible instead of sheet piling.

water levels

Drastic changes of water level should be avoided in the monthsof March to July to minimise disturbance to nesting water birds.

Coffer dams may be needed to reduce the length of dewateredsections and hence the impact on marginal plants and animals.

2.1.4 ?ownath rew.Qetation

Towpaths should not be reseeded after clearance and should beallowed to revegetate naturally.

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2.2

2.2.1 Hankmide tress

T ingTree-cutting should be avoided during the months-of March to

July to reduce disturbance to nesting birds and damage to plantsduring the main growing season.

Removal of overhanging branches should be confined to thosewhich overhang the canal and catch floating debris or obstructnavigation.

Pollarding is a suitable management method for willows. Younggrowth is trimmed off each year at a height of 2m from the groundproducing a solid stem and a crown of young growth.

Coppicing is suitable for management of shrubs or young hazelwillow or alder trees where access for machinery is necessary.Trunks are cut close to the ground using a slanting cut which shedsrainwater. Branches regenerate from the base or stool.

Selective removal of trees

Removal of trees should be confined to the winter months tominimise disruption of plant communities and disturbance to nestingbirds.

Priority should be given to removal of exotic or introducedspecies such as conifers or sycamore. Native species such as alder,willow, ash etc should be retained where possible.

2.2.2 SaxiLh

Clearance of scrub should be avoided during the months ofMarch to July to reduce disturbance to nesting birds.

2.2.3 Hedgerows

Management methods

Hedgerows should be trimmed on short lengths on a two to threepear rotation.

Trimming should be carried out in the months October toFebruary to avoid damage to growing shrubs and disturbance ofnesting birds.

Hedgerow trees should be protected from damage duringand young saplings should be allowed to grow to maturity.

N 3

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Aepl gPreference should be given in replanting programmes to the use

of native tree and shrub species such as those which grow naturallyin the surrounding countryside.

Planting of shrub and tree species should be done in autumn orspring but not during severe frosts.

2.2.4 OxAmmlAad

QXALimGrazing of individual sites either by sheep or cattle should

be consistent from year to year to vary the height of the resultingaward.

fencing should be repaired where necessary to controlstock.

Stocking rates should be lower than the average onagricultural land to avoid damage to canal banks and poaching oftowpath soils.

Fencing should be erected along the water's edge where banksare gently eloping to prevent poaching of bank structure.

In general stock should be removed from the land not laterthan 30 October in any year to avoid overgrazing during the non-growing season.

x9limWhere grazing cannot be continued, moving should be introduced

to prevent invasion of grassland by woody species. Species-richgrasslands should be mown once per year after mid-August when themain flowering season is over.

All hay or other out vegetation should be removed from thetowpath to maintain the low nutrient status of the grassland.

Plant species colonising bare ground after disturbance of thetowpath say need to be controlled by more frequent moving during thefirst 2 to 3 years.

In general, herbicides should not be used as these may damagenon-target grassland species. Spot treatment of woody plants may beused as necessary.

2.2.5 fetlsRds

Wetland areas such as fens which occur on or close to thecanal should be fended to give control over grazing.

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Grazing in such areas should be limited to light stocking inlate summer and autumn only to allow full flowering of the wetlandspecies and to avoid poaching.

Sensitive habitats

Sensitive small habitats such as fens and woodland should beleft intact (see Part I, Chapter 2)

2.2.6 Aquatic vegetation

Environmental control

Water depth should be managed to limit the growth of aquaticvegetation in the navigation channel (see Section 2.1.2).

Boat traffic should be encouraged during the summer months asa means of keeping the navigation channel clear of plant growth.

ical cutting

Cutting should be carried out twice per year (once in earlysummer and once in late summer) using a boat-mounted cutter.

Cutting should be limited to the central navigation channelleaving marginal vegetation fringes as intact as possible.

Cuttings should be disposed of away from the canal or shouldbe composted and used elsewhere.

Herbicides

Herbicides should only be used where all the above methods ofcontrolling plant growth have been tried and have failed. Beforebeing widely used on the Royal Canal, the environmental impact ofany herbicides should be carefully assessed.

Biological control

The introduction of herbivorous fish such as grass carp(C=odon ;dells) should not be considered because ofpotential impacts on other parts of the aquatic ecosystem.

2.2.7 a y

Use only mechanical methods to clean and maintain stonework.Herbicides should not be used as these may enter the water and havedamaging effects on aquatic plants.

2.2.8 Water onalit.

All direct discharges other than feeder streams sould beeliminated and the water quality of the streams themselves shouldbe monitored to ensure early detection of pollution sources.

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2. 3

2.3.1 Boat trafficSpeed limitations should be placed on all boat traffic to

prevent damage to canal banks from wash.

Disposal of effluent from boats into the canal should beprohibited to ensure continued high water quality.

2.3.2 ARgl"SRe-stocking should be limited to the species of fish already

found in the canal to avoid any imbalance in the predator preyrelationships as they affect invertebrate populations.

Areas of the canal known to be important for breeding andoverwintering wildfowl (especially swans) should not be developedfor course angling due to the risk of contamination with discardedlead weights.

Herbicide spraying as a fisheries management method should bediscontinued (nee Section 2.2.6).

Limits should be placed on the interference with bankvegetation to facilitate anglers.

Angling may need to be restricted in certain ecologicallysensitive areas or at certain times of year to avoid disturbance tobirds.

6

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UNIT III

DRAPERS BRIDGE - RICHMOND HARBOUR (Kilometre Sections 102-133)

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LONGFORD BRANCH (Kilometre Sections L1 - L8)

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3.iMETHODS AND DEFINITIONS

The canal was surveyed in 1 km stretches according to the methoddevised by the BWB (Tandy, 1989) based on techniques developedby the Nature Conservancy Council (NCC, 1985). 1:2500 base mapswere used, and expanded laterally to allow the canal corridor tobe mapped in greater detail. The definition and symbols used inthe maps are given below.

Canal Corridor The zones within the boundary structures.i.e. channel

vergestowpathcuttingsembankmentsboundaries

(The term 'canal corridor, is used in BWB literature to mean thecanal property plus a zone 50 metres wide on either side of it.Although the adjacent land-use was noted it was not possible,given the limitations of the survey, to do a detailed study ofthe corridor as defined by the BWB and the more restricteddefinition was used).

Bank verge (bkv) The strip of land between the tow-path andthe channel.

Boundary verge (bdv) The strip of land between the tow-path andthe boundary. Although the symbol bdv doesappear on the following maps the boundaryverge was not included as a separate zonewhen preparing species lists. Instead allthe plants between the towpath and theboundary were counted as being in zone 1(boundary zone).

Nearside (ns) The bank of the canal which carries the tow-path,

Offside (ofs) The bank opposite the towpath side.

Boundary (bd) Hedgerow (hg)Fence (fc)WallDitchStream/drain

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SLOPE The direction of a slope is indicated by anopen-headed arrow

bottom of slope

Embankment:

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Bridge: Road, accommodation or foot-bridge

br VLocks: krc' -

Inflow:

Poaching/Trampled margins:

top of slope

Cutting:

s'to ne - work

ban k GhA/1r1tL

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VEGETATION

Channel Vegetation

Submerged:

Emergents in channel

Floating-leaved vegetation

Emergent marginal fringe

Fringe transitional between channeland bank

Glviceria maxima GlyPhalaris arundinacea PhalPhraamites australis PhragCarex rostrata C. rosScirous lacustris ScTvoha latifolia TySoaraanium erect Sp. erAlisma olantaao-aauatica AlismaRanunculus lingua linguaNasturtium officinale nastMenvanthes trifoliata meny

Nunhar lutes NPotomaaeton natans P. natPolvaonum amnhibium PolySoaraanium emersum Sp. em

Mvrioohvllum spp. MyrHioouris vulaaris Hip

Terrestrial Vegetation:

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Dense open coverFlora dominated by herbs and grasses

Sparse open cover25% of the area is unvegetated - usuallyindicates recent levelling or dredging.

Dense scrub

Sparse scrub - offers little resistance topenetration, or small patches of dense scrub.

Reeds, sedges

Woodland

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Trees and Shrubs:

Shading:-+

tr tree < 5m tallTR tree > 5m tall

tree with well-developed canopy

al/AL Alderas/AS Ashbe/BE Beechbi/BI Birchbr Brambleel/EL Elderhw/HW Hawthornhz/HZ Hazelhc/HC Horse Chestnutok/OK Oakpn/PN Pinepo/PO Poplarro/RO Rowansy/SY Sycamorewl/WL Willow

Heavy shade

Light shade

(Length of arrow indicates area influenced byshading)

RIPARIAN BREEDING BIRD TERRITORIES

Symbol located approximately in centre of territory

MA MALLARD

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3.2UNIT III

GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR RESTORATION AND RECONSTRUCTION.

For most of Unit III the canal will need to be reconstructedrather than just restored, and this will have a major impact onthe existing wildlife habitats. There must be consultationbetween the engineers and the Wildlife Service prior to startingwork on this phase of the restoration, when more is known aboutthe type of machinery that will be used and the scope of the work

e.g. whether restoration will involve disturbing both banks.

A deep central channel with shallow, gently sloping marginsshould be created to restrict the growth of emergent plants andprevent them from obstructing the navigational channel. Thisdesign will reduce the requirement for management of the aquaticvegetation, and will help in the development of a herbicide-freesystem.

Where space is available a wide berm (water depth = Om) shouldbe created on the offside to encourage the growth of the marshspecies that currently dominate the channel, which will be lostupon restoration unless provision is made for them.

The revegetation of the aquatic and terrestrial habitatsshould be allowed to proceed naturally. Manipulation of thecutting regime can be used to direct and control the revegetationprocesses.

Certain sites or habitats in Unit III will need specialtreatment or protection during restoration, due to theirsensitivity to disturbance and/or the very slow rate at whichthey recover.

ASI's on the Royal Canal atN 123637 105-111N 168585 116-122

ASI on Cloondara Bog 131/132Raised Bog - Cloonbreany 118

Cloondara (ASI) 131/132FensStreamCalcareous grassland -

Meadow grassland

Hazel woodland

Mixed woodland with Spindle/

SSSsSS

Guelder RoseMullawornia Rock

109120106/107109110113107116117L2

119/120113

Three stretches of the Royal Canal in Co. Longford are designatedas ASI sites (Part 1, Table 1.3). The Wildlife Service shouldbe consulted before starting work in these areas - 96-102, 105-111 and 116-122.

Spoil should be dumped in a ditch at the boundary of the canalcorridor, and covered with topsoil from the same area.

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MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES FOR SPECIFIC SECTIONS

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e GOOD FEATURES - ASI along the canal corridor includingchannel, bank and towpath (Km sections 105-

- 111).calcareous grassland on the embankment (106,107).-wide strip of meadow grassland at base ofembankment (107).

RECOMMENDATIONS- do not dump spoil on the grassland sites.continue cutting the meadow for hay inAugust.maintain calcareous grassland by lightgrazing. Clear scrub where it is encroachingonto grassland.

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GOOD FEATURES - ASI of canal corridor including channel, bankand towpath (Km sections 105-111)

- calcareous embankment.- wetland at the toe of the embankment.- many rare species.

RECOMMENDATIONS- do not dump spoil on the embankment or thewetland site.

- maintain the calcareous grassland by lightgrazing.

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KM SECTION 110 84ay8RgW#J piw Nu8ouiC C *7r& jr)GOOD FEATURES - ASI on the canal corridor including channel

bank and towpath (Km sections 105-111).- particularly high diversity of aquatic and

semi-aquatic plants in the channel (Plate25).

- rich species diversity on the calcareous bankand towpath.

RECOMMENDATIONS- use the dredging spoil to rebuild the banksand create berms, in order to preserve therich seed bed.

- maintain the calcareous grassland by lightgrazing.do not dump spoil on calcareous grassland.

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KM SECTION 113 MULL AWORNIA

GOOD FEATURES - limestone rock and associated calcareousspecies.

RECOMMENDATIONS- deposit spoil in a trench on the south/westbank, and cover with top soil from the samesite.

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KK SECTIONS 116-117 (Plate 29) FoyCH 6t. - Ci.o0*IS0-4N7 .1e.

GOOD FEATURES - meadow grassland on the embankment (116).- calcareous grassland on embankment (117)

maintained by light grazing.- hazel wood on embankment slope (117).- Hvdrocharis morsus-ranae in channel (116-

124).

RECOMMENDATIONS- dump spoil on the offside (east bank), inscrub or in a trench.

- cut meadow (116) once a year (August) andremove the cut material as hay.

- continue light grazing to maintain calcareousgrassland (117).

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KK SECTION 118 CLOONBREANY BOG (Plates 5 and 9)

GOOD FEATURES - ASI on the canal corridor including channelbank and towpath (Km sections 116-122).

- Very diverse and species-rich section, withmany rare plants:

acidic - bogcalcareous - towpath and embankmentchannel - contains aquatic and non-

aquatic species.

BAD FEATURES - bog is being cut, and is draining into thecanal itself.

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channel, bank, towpath and boundary (Kmsections 116-122).

- species-rich drain.woodland on offside (east bank) and boundaryof nearside (west bank) with Guelder Rose(Viburnum ooulus), Spindle (Euonymuseuropaeus) and Hazel (Corylus avellana).towpath through woodland of calcareousgrassland.

RECOMMENDATIONS- selective protection of Guelder Rose, Spindle

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GOOD FEATURES - diversity of channel habitats e.g. L1:Open waterReed bedAlder carr

- Hazel woodland on both sides of the embankment(L2) (Plate 12).

- calcareous grassland on towpath (L4 and L5).- presence of Eauisetum telmateia.

M BAD FEATURES - both channel and towpath are largely

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overgrown, reducing species diversity.

RECOMdENDATIONS- protect the Hazel wood during restoration.- maintain calcareous grassland by light

grazing.

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