About Bangor Circle:
Bangor Circle is a distinctive green space located at the heart of Crumlin, Dublin. Laid out in the 1930s as part of the Crumlin Housing Scheme, its design symbolically follows the shape of a Celtic cross. While originally intended as a central communal space, it had faced challenges like vandalism, lack of facilities, and ambiguous usage, leading to a gradual decline in its visibility and value over the decades. However, recent transformations within Dublin City Council (DCC) Parks Department, with new staff and a focus on community collaboration, have led to renewed interest in spaces like Bangor Circle.
Why Bangor Circle?
Bangor Circle was chosen as a key planting site due to its size, potential, and urgent need for ecological enhancement. Mapping exercises and reports highlighted it as having the lowest tree density among comparable public greens in Crumlin, offering limited biodiversity, minimal tree cover, and little shade. Our Tree Report and findings from the Crumlin Biodiversity Action Plan confirmed this gap, identifying it as a crucial opportunity to increase canopy cover, habitat variety, and ecological resilience. Furthermore, a community survey revealed a strong desire among residents for more trees, shade, and wildlife in the space, providing a clear mandate for action. The project also contributes to our wider vision of creating a green corridor linking Sundrive Park with Crumlin Village.
Kickstarting the Project:
Activating this project required close collaboration with Dublin City Council (DCC). We partnered closely with the DCC Parks Department and the DCC Tree Officer, leveraging data-driven insights from our tree mapping project and the Crumlin Biodiversity Action Plan to make a strong case for large-scale planting. This collaborative approach ensured the project aligned with both community goals and municipal planting strategies.
Tree Selection and Implementation:
In collaboration with DCC, 120 trees were carefully selected and planted at Bangor Circle, appropriate to the site’s soil and exposure. The species chosen included a mix of native and climate-resilient varieties such as Alder, Oak, Beech, Sour Cherry, Birch, and Mountain Ash (Rowan), designed to support biodiversity and long-term sustainability.
Our community played a vital role in the implementation:
- Two major community planting and maintenance events were hosted by DCC Parks Department and Bloomin’ Crumlin.
- Over 50 volunteers participated in the initial planting day in November 2024, digging holes, planting trees, and securing them.
- An additional 40 volunteers joined during National Tree Week for early maintenance, including watering, mulching, and adding compostable tree base mats.
- A dedicated team has since been overseeing ongoing maintenance to ensure the healthy establishment of the young trees.
Community Awareness and Impact:
Community awareness and involvement were central to the project’s success. We engaged residents through flyers, workshops, school visits, public talks (including one with the DCC Tree Officer), and regular updates via social media (reaching over 1,000 Facebook users), community WhatsApp groups (250 members), and a monthly newsletter (over 2,000 recipients).
The Bangor Circle tree project has had a transformative impact on both the physical environment and the local community.
- Environmentally: The planting of 120 trees has significantly improved the visual character, ecological value, and biodiversity of the site, introducing seasonal colour and creating a living framework for future nature. It helps improve air quality, provides cooling, and enhances habitat for birds and pollinators.
- Socially: The project has fostered a deep sense of local ownership and pride, with over 90 residents directly participating. The space is now more actively used by families, dog walkers, and residents, becoming a focal point for community gathering and environmental education. It has strengthened relationships with Dublin City Council, demonstrating what can be achieved through grassroots action backed by evidence and partnership.
The success of Bangor Circle is so notable that Dublin City Council hopes to use this collaborative model to guide similar greening projects in other overlooked urban spaces, making it a blueprint for positive change citywide.
