Written by: chris greely
2025
Dune slacks are enormously important habitats for harbouring large numbers of rare aquatic floral and faunal species. This is due to the seasonal fluctuations in water levels (that lie close to the land surface) which make these ecosystems so unique. Although at Royal Dublin we have transformed much of our rank grassland (that is of little ecological value) into thriving floral meadows, there still remains an extensive area that offers much potential for biodiversity to thrive. We have therefore created a small area that mimics a dune slack environment that includes a gentle slope to encourage animal life to enter and exit easily. We are already beginning to see aquatic plant species, amphibians and birds making use of it. If successful, we may attempt a much larger scale in the future.
