Paths in Kildare forest park still blocked two months after storm

A Kildare resident has criticised state-owned commercial forestry business, Coillte over the condition in which Donadea Forest Park has been left in the wake of Storm Éowyn.

According to the resident, who declined to be named, the majority of public paths in the park are inaccessible following damage caused by the storm, which struck Kildare last January.

In an email sent to Coillte and seen by Kildare Now, he wrote: “Aylmer Walk and the path around the lake were cleared (very poorly) within a week or so of our last storm, but every other path in the forest still remains blocked.

“Some paths, including the so-called 'nature walk', are actually a danger to the public and should be closed if they are not to be cleared properly.

“I witnessed a family trying to lift a buggy over several fallen trees last Sunday whilst out for a Mother's Day walk, and my father-in-law actually fell trying to navigate through a forest of fallen trees and debris.”

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The Kildare resident pointed out that Donadea has “hundreds of thousands” of visitors each year.

Now, as we enter the park's peak months, he added, there has been “a complete lack of care and interest” on behalf of Coillte.

He concluded in the email to Coillte: “According to (your) Coillte's website, Coillte is the 'nation's largest forester, that manages 11% of the country's land and contributes €2.3 billion to the economy', so please do not blame a lack of resources or funding for the current state of Donadea Forest Park.”

A statement issued by Coillte in response to the email sent by the resident stated that Storm Éowyn caused “unprecedented” damage to forests across the country.

It is estimated, Coillte stated, that approximately 24,000 hectares of forestry (approximately 40 million trees) were significantly damaged, with almost 12,000 ha of that damage on the Coillte estate.

Works are currently ongoing across multiple locations in the midlands, west and north-west of the country, Coillte noted, adding that given the “complexity” of tree clearance work, “it will take time.”

However, there was some good news with regard to Donadea Forest Park: “In relation to Donadea Forest Park, the main walkways and secondary trails are expected to reopen by the end of this week.

“The additional clean-up of debris and storm damage along trails at Donadea is due to commence next Monday.”

Coillte pointed out that the health and safety of Coillte staff, its contractors and the public is “paramount” as it works through repairing the damage caused by the storm.

The statement concluded: “Coillte would like to thank the public for their patience as we work through repairing this unprecedented level of damage to our forests and we remind the public that fallen and overhanging trees are extremely dangerous and should only ever be cleared by fully qualified individuals.”