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Railway Station Biodiversity Planting

In 2023, a collaborative effort involving Iarnród Éireann, Dublin Road Residents and Drogheda Tidy Towns transformed the Dublin approach road, creating an area that will soon be a riot of colour. The Dublin Road residents have always done a tremendous job in ensuring the very best presentation of our town for those approaching from Dublin and the south. Whether walking, cycling or driving along this route, it is impossible not to notice the fruits of their labour —planting, cleaning, litter-picking, weeding and much more.
With spring in the air, the local WhatsApp group would soon be calling out the troops once again to continue the great work that year. One of the nice things about community action is that good work attracts more good work. When local Iarnród Éireann employee Maurice Power came up with the idea of planting the railway embankment, he reached out to Dublin Road Residents and Drogheda Tidy Towns. This led to a partnership that has transformed the railway embankment along the Dublin Road.
The project involved clearing and planting the railway station embankment with sustainable, biodiversity-rich, pollinator-friendly plants and shrubs. Stretching for approximately 200 metres along the Dublin Road, the embankment provides an excellent setting for planting that offers both shelter and food for wildlife and birds. The planting area itself covers 1,000 square metres.
Over several months, Enda Murtagh and the team at Iarnród Éireann, working with Eamonn Clinton of Drogheda Tidy Towns and supported by Elias Mlimbila of Louth County Council, agreed on a planting plan. For the front three or four rows, the choice was Spotted Laurel, an evergreen shrub featuring large, glossy, gold-speckled dark green leaves, along with small purple flowers that are followed by bright red berries in spring. Higher up the embankment, Pyracantha was planted. This attractive evergreen shrub produces spring flowers and vibrant autumn berries while also providing valuable cover for wildlife. At the station entrance, Hebes were added, bringing bushy evergreen foliage and purple, pink or white flowers during the summer months.
The planting was completed in a single day thanks to a dedicated team from Iarnród Éireann, supported by volunteers from Dublin Road Residents and Drogheda Tidy Towns. The day began before 8 a.m. and by lunchtime 1,000 plants were in the ground.
It was a great day’s work. There was the familiar sight of Donal Lucey sweeping and tidying up, while Ken, Frank, Gerry, Alistair, Eamonn and Anthony kept the planters on the embankment continuously supplied with shrubs and compost. We were delighted to meet many local people who stopped to compliment the project. It was particularly nice to chat with Mary and Paula, who were out showing Liam and Edmund from the local community residential service what was happening.
Once again, we benefited from the valuable support of two members of the TUS team, who continue to do tremendous work in improving the cleanliness and appearance of the town.
This project is important for many reasons. It is a great example of what can be achieved when different groups come together with a shared purpose. It supports biodiversity, helps counter some of the negative impacts of climate change and habitat loss, and provides a lasting environmental benefit. Just as importantly, it enhances the appearance of a key gateway into Drogheda and strengthens the strong sense of pride, community spirit and welcome that characterises the area.

About The Shrubs

Drogheda Tidy Towns continued its efforts with new signage in Irish and English, designed to highlight the shrub planting project and to educate the public on its biodiversity benefits. In collaboration with the Dublin Road Residents Group, Drogheda Tidy Towns also continues to work alongside Irish Rail to maintain the planted areas – the beds have developed into strong, dense growth, with a vibrant display of colour, more so in the winter.

Aucuba Japonica Variegated Also known as spotted laurel. The shiny variegated green leaves dotted and speckled with gold makes this a beautiful evergreen shrub. Its dense foliage provides shelter for birds and small animals, and its berries are a valuable food source for birds, including thrushes and robins.

Hebe Sutherlandii This evergreen spreading Hebe with two toned leaves provides year-round interest. White flowers in summer and an excellent winter hardy evergreen that can be very effective in providing groundcover for bees and other pollinators. From late spring to early summer their enchanting blooms attract butterflies/moths and bees with their sweet nectar.

Pyracantha An evergreen thorny shrub with beautiful white flowers in drooping clusters, glossy green leaves, flowers in spring followed by orange berries in Autumn. The fruit of Pyracantha are classified as pomes and persists into some of the winter months which makes them a valuable bird food.