Invasive Species Survey and Management Plan for a proposed SHD planning application at Belmayne P4, Churchwell Road and Churchwell Crescent, Belmayne, Dublin 13.

22nd April 2021

Prepared by: Bryan Deegan MSc., BSc..(MCIEEM) of Altemar Ltd.

On behalf of: Balgriffin Park Ltd.

Altemar Ltd., 50 Templecarrig Upper, Delgany, Co. Wicklow. 00-353-1-2010713. [email protected] Directors: Bryan Deegan and Sara Corcoran Company No.427560 VAT No. 9649832U www.altemar.ie

1

Document Control Sheet

Client Balgriffin Park Ltd.

Project SHD at Belmayne P4, adjacent Churchwell Road and Churchwell Crescent, Belmayne, Dublin 13.

Report Invasive Species Survey

Date 22nd April 2021

Project No: Document Reference: AIS_BPL_0121

Version Author Reviewed Date

Draft 01 Bryan Deegan Jack Doyle 22nd April 2021

2

Introduction Ballgriffin Park Limited intend to apply to An Bord Pleanála for permission for a strategic housing development at this site at Belmayne P4, adjacent Churchwell Road and Churchwell Crescent, Belmayne, Dublin 13.

The development will consist of 260 no. apartment units within an urban block (with 6 cores) ranging in height up to 7 storeys. The unit mix will comprise of 108 no. 1-beds, 135 no. 2-beds, and 17 no. 3- beds (10 no. duplexes and 7 no. apartments), all with associated private balconies/terraces to the north/south/east/west elevations. The development will also include c.314 m2 of residential amenity facilities, c.2,945 m2 of communal open space at podium level, 199 no. car parking spaces (180 no. at undercroft level and 19 no. at surface level), and 400 no. cycle parking spaces (384 no. at undercroft level and 16 no. at surface level). Vehicular access to the undercroft parking area will be provided from Churchwell Crescent. All other site services and works to enable the development of the site will also be provided including bins, ESB substation and switchroom, areas, boundary treatments and landscaping.

Invasive Species The following survey and management plan was compiled by Bryan Deegan MCIEEM of Altemar Ltd. Bryan is an ecologist with over 26 years survey experience and former project manager for the EU LIFE project CAISIE on invasive species. This was a €1.5 million EU project that carried out surveys and developed control tools for aquatic and riparian invasive species in Ireland.

The control of invasive species in Ireland comes under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 where it states: ‘Any person who— [...] or otherwise causes to grow in a wild state in any place in the State any species of flora, or the flowers, roots, seeds or spores of flora, [‘refers only to exotic species thereof’] [...] otherwise than under and in accordance with a licence granted in that behalf by the Minister shall be guilty of an offence.’

Under the European legislation, the Birds and Natural Habitats Regulations 2011 (SI 477 of 2011), Section 49(2) prohibit the introduction and dispersal of species listed in the Third Schedule whereby “any person who plants, disperses, allows or causes to disperse, spreads or otherwise causes to grow [….] shall be guilty of an offence.”

Relevant species within this legislation include, but not limited to, (See Appendix I):

Giant hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum Throughout the State Giant knotweed Fallopia sachalinensis Throughout the State Giant-rhubarb Gunnera tinctoria Throughout the State Himalayan balsam Impatiens glandulifera Throughout the State Himalayan knotweed Persicaria wallichii Throughout the State Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica Throughout the State Rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum Throughout the State Hottentot-fig Carpobrotus edulis Throughout the State Three-cornered triquetrum Throughout the State

This report applies the most relevant and current guidance in relation to non-native invasive plant species in construction projects. The following literature was referred to in preparation of this report. • S.I. No. 477/2011 - European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2011/si/477/made/en/pdf • NRA Guidelines on The Management of Noxious Weeds and Non-Native • Invasive Plant Species on National Roads 3

Site Survey A site survey was carried was carried out on the 8th of April 2021 in the area seen in Figure 1.

2 m2 area of Three- cornered Leek

Figure 1. Proposed development site and location of the invasive plant.

4

A comprehensive walkover assessment of the proposed development site was carried out. All areas were examined for Invasive species during the optimal survey season in April 2021. An approximate 2 m2 of three-cornered Leek (Allium triquetrum) was located on site (Plate 1). This species is a Third Schedule listed species under Regulations 49 & 50 in the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. (Note: Regulation 50 not yet enacted) (Table 1). No other non-native invasive species listed in the third schedule of (SI 477 of 2011) were noted on site (Plants Table 1 & and Animals Table 2).

Plate I. Three cornered leek on recolonising bare ground in the centre of the site.

5

Table 1. Plant species listed in the Third Schedule of SI 411 of 2011

Common Name Species Location Present on site American skunk-cabbage Lysichiton americanus Throughout the State Not observed A red alga Grateloupia doryphora Throughout the State Not observed Brazilian giant-rhubarb Gunnera manicata Throughout the State Not observed Broad-leaved rush Juncus planifolius Throughout the State Not observed Cape pondweed Aponogeton distachyos Throughout the State Not observed Cord-grasses Spartina (all species and hybrids) Throughout the State Not observed Curly waterweed Lagarosiphon major Throughout the State Not observed Dwarf eel-grass Zostera japonica Throughout the State Not observed Fanwort Cabomba caroliniana Throughout the State Not observed Floating pennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides Throughout the State Not observed Fringed water-lily Nymphoides peltata Throughout the State Not observed Giant hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum Throughout the State Not observed Giant knotweed Fallopia sachalinensis Throughout the State Not observed Giant-rhubarb Gunnera tinctoria Throughout the State Not observed Giant salvinia Salvinia molesta Throughout the State Not observed Himalayan balsam Impatiens glandulifera Throughout the State Not observed Himalayan knotweed Persicaria wallichii Throughout the State Not observed Hottentot-fig Carpobrotus edulis Throughout the State Not observed Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica Throughout the State Not observed Large-flowered waterweed Egeria densa Throughout the State Not observed Mile-a-minute weed Persicaria perfoliata Throughout the State Not observed New Zealand pigmyweed Crassula helmsii Throughout the State Not observed Parrot's feather Myriophyllum aquaticum Throughout the State Not observed Rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum Throughout the State Not observed Salmonberry Rubus spectabilis Throughout the State Not observed Sea-buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides Throughout the State Not observed Spanish bluebell Hyacinthoides hispanica Throughout the State Not observed Three-cornered leek Allium triquetrum Throughout the State Not observed Wakame Undaria pinnatifida Throughout the State Not observed Water chestnut Trapa natans Throughout the State Not observed Water fern Azolla filiculoides Throughout the State Not observed Water lettuce Pistia stratiotes Throughout the State Not observed Water-primrose Ludwigia (all species) Throughout the State Not observed Waterweeds Elodea (all species) Throughout the State Not observed Wireweed Sargassum muticum Throughout the State Not observed

6

Table 2. Animal species listed in the Third Schedule of SI 411 of 2011 Common Name Species Location Present on site A colonial seasquirt Didemnum spp. Throughout the State Not observed A colonial seasquirt Perophora japonica Throughout the State Not observed All freshwater crayfish except All Freshwater crayfish except Austropotamobius pallipes Austropotamobius pallipes Throughout the State Not observed American bullfrog Rana catesbeiana Throughout the State Not observed American mink Neovison vison Throughout the State Not observed American oyster drill Urosalpinx cinerea Throughout the State Not observed Asian oyster drill Ceratostoma inornatum Throughout the State Not observed Asian rapa whelk Rapana venosa Throughout the State Not observed Asian river clam Corbicula fluminea Throughout the State Not observed Bay barnacle Balanus improvisus Throughout the State Not observed Black rat Rattus rattus Offshore islands only N/A Brown hare Lepus europaeus Throughout the State Not observed Brown rat Rattus norvegicus Offshore islands only N/A Canada goose Branta canadensis Throughout the State Not observed Carp Cyprinus carpio Throughout the State Not observed Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis Throughout the State Not observed Chinese water deer Hydropotes inermis Throughout the State Not observed Chub Leuciscus cephalus Throughout the State Not observed Common toad Bufo bufo Throughout the State Not observed Coypu Myocastor coypus Throughout the State Not observed Dace Leuciscus leuciscus Throughout the State Not observed Freshwater shrimp Dikerogammarus villosus Throughout the State Not observed Fox Vulpes vulpes Offshore islands only N/A Grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Throughout the State Not observed Greylag goose Anser anser Throughout the State Not observed Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis Throughout the State Not observed Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus Offshore islands only N/A Irish stoat Mustela erminea hibernicus Offshore islands only N/A Japanese skeleton shrimp Caprella mutica Throughout the State Not observed Muntjac deer Muntiacus reevesi Throughout the State Not observed Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus Throughout the State Not observed Quagga Mussel Dreissena rostriformis Throughout the State Not observed Roach Rutilus rutilus Throughout the State Not observed Roe deer Capreolus capreolus Throughout the State Not observed Ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicensis Throughout the State Not observed Siberian chipmunk Tamias sibiricus Throughout the State Not observed Slipper limpet Crepidula fornicata Throughout the State Not observed Stalked sea squirt Styela clava Throughout the State Not observed Tawny owl Strix aluco Throughout the State Not observed Wild boar Sus scrofa Throughout the State Not observed Zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha Throughout the State Not observed

Noxious Weeds Buddleia (Buddleja davidii) was noted on site.

7

Background to Three-cornered leek The Three-cornered leek (Allium triquetrum) is a member of the Lily family. It is native to the Mediterranean basin and has become widely established in the east and south-east of Ireland. Three- cornered leek is a bulbous perennial herb with a strong scent. It has narrow, green, strongly keeled and hairless leaves. The flowers are bell-shaped and white, and flowering occurs from April to June. It is often found on roadsides, waste grounds, forests, and riparian and shaded areas in Ireland. Although no impacts of this species have been documented to date, it is known to rapidly colonise and dominate waste ground, outcompeting native vegetation1.

Proposed Management Three-cornered leek is best managed using a combination of chemical and mechanical methods.

The first phase of management works will be carried out as soon as is practicable and must be completed at least one month before commencement of construction on site. Foliar herbicide treatment will be carried out using a glyphosate-based product (Round-up Biactive) at a rate of 5l/ha. Herbicide application will be carried out to the manufacturer's guidelines and by staff wearing suitable PPE and in possession of the relevant qualifications.

Records of herbicide use will be kept in accordance with relevant legislation and be retained after the treatment. Herbicide application will consider the proximity of the nearby greenfield environment and will only take place outside the boundaries of nearby sites of conservational interest. The application will be carried out on an overcast day, during calm conditions.

Herbicide application will be concentrated on the Three-cornered leek infestation. Foliar herbicide application will be carried out when above ground vegetation has emerged. This is usually throughout spring depending on weather conditions. Manual removal of all vegetation will then be carried out three weeks after the herbicide application. A designated bund area will be created on-site using a propriety root barrier membrane (HyTex). The will be excavated to a depth of 300mm and removed to the prepared bund. Any subsequent regrowth will be treated with glyphosate over a two- year period, until complete eradication is achieved.

An overall eradication programme will be activated, comprising of manual removal and spot spraying of plants that have dispersed throughout the site. It will be necessary to inspect the excavation site and any other possible areas of infestation for Three-cornered leek regrowth in the years following the control works to ensure that all of the infestation has been removed. Strict biosecurity protocols will be adhered to during herbicide and manual removal works and in all follow up surveys and treatments.

Conclusion A 2 m2 area consisting of Three-cornered leek (invasive species) was noted on site. No other invasive species were noted. It is proposed to treat the infestation using a combination of chemical and mechanical control methods. Three weeks post the spraying of the plant (including roots and nearby soil) it will be removed and bagged, prior to any construction on site. This methodology will result in the complete removal of the plant specimens so that works can be carried uninhibited.

1 Booy, O., Wade, M., and Roy, H. (2015) A Field guide to Invasive Plants & Animals in Britain. s.l.: Bloomsbury. 8