Friends of Merlin Woods

Description

Founded in 2012, Friends of Merlin Woods began as a volunteer-led initiative aimed at addressing littering in Merlin Park Woods, located in the Doughiska neighbourhood of Galway City.

Since its inception, the organisation has grown significantly, engaging hundreds of dedicated volunteers. It actively promotes the sustainable use and development of Merlin Woods and its surrounding meadowlands while advocating for the highest possible environmental protections that this ecologically rich area deserves.

Friends of Merlin Woods is committed to fostering biodiversity, preserving natural and heritage spaces, and enhancing the safety, security, and accessibility of the woodlands. Through these efforts, the organisation ensures that this vital natural environment remains protected for both the local community and future generations.

The organisation has championed accessibility improvements, including the installation of age-friendly seating, level trails, and litter bins, creating an inclusive space for older adults, individuals with mobility challenges, and people with disabilities.

Examples of Initiatives to improve accessibility:

– Friends of Merlin Woods petitioned Galway City Council to remove kissing gates and concrete access control barriers to ensure free and enhanced access. These measures had originally been put in place to discourage joy riding, but residents and visitors felt that this was no longer an issue and that accessibility was a more pressing concern.

– Maintenance of safe, level paths:
While preserving the natural environment of Merlin Park Woods is a priority of the group, it is also recognised that love for nature and the environment starts through exposure and interaction. The woods has several trails to explore, including the Loop Trail, a 3 km trail around the perimeter of the woods. Historical features, such as the ruins of Merlin Castle, provide the opportunity for heritage activity. Friends of Merlin Woods work with Galway City Council Recreation and Amenity Department to maintain safe and level paths and trails through and around the woods. This ensures that the woods is accessible to wheelchair users and people with mobility scooters. The group also alerts the Local Authority to barriers to access, such as trees downed during storms.

-Provision of age-friendly seating:
Friends of Merlin Woods consulted with older people in the community and conducted a Walkability Audit with Local Authority Engineers. As a result of this, age-friendly seating has been installed along paths, supporting older people to enjoy their daily walks and visits in this incredible area.

-Accessible walks:
Friends of Merlin Woods lead regular free walks in the woods to encourage appreciation and awareness of the natural environment. All can easily be adapted to include people with mobility issues or disability. As part of biodiversity week, Friends of Merlin Woods hosted accessible walks for the deaf and hard of hearing community, and for blind people. The group was also involved in the establishment of ‘Nature for Health’, a 10-week nature based walking programme that aims to incorporate gentle exercise, mindfulness, art and history to improve people’s mental health and wellbeing.

Aim of Initiative

Friends of Merlin Woods aim to promote the positive use of Merlin Woods and its connected meadow lands, and works towards attaining the highest possible designation for the environmental protection the area so richly deserves.

Who is it aimed at

The Galway City Community and visitors of Merlin Park Woods

3 Steps critical to success

1. Communication with the local community and the Local Authority, consulting with the people who live close by or visit the park on a daily basis and incorporating their ideas and suggestions.
2. Leadership to coordinate complex projects and manage volunteers
3. Research, knowledge and evidence based working

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Zoning issues and competition for land. Friends of Merlin Woods advocate for sustainable development, balancing the needs of a growing community with vulnerable biodiversity.
2. Anti-social behaviour such as littering, graffiti and vandalism are an ongoing challenge for Friends of Merlin Woods, although community initiatives that the group leads has helped to instil a pride of place and reduce such incidences.
3. Lack of funding available for large scale conservation projects and improvements to the area.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Improved access – more people are now comfortably using Merlin Park Woods for leisure and to socialise. Many older people walk in the woods daily.
2. Enhanced understanding and awareness of the woods among the local community. Signs and information resources designed and displayed by Friends of Merlin Woods are informative and educational, covering topics including biodiversity, flora and fauna and heritage.
3. A safer and more welcoming woods – Friends of Merlin Woods initiatives have contributed to a reduction in anti-social behaviour and have helped older adults to confidently enjoy the woodlands.