GARDENS AND AMENITIES
Welcome to Blackrock Park. From very small beginnings in 2010
, the Park Volunteers and Blackrock Tidy Towns have nurtured and developed this community facility for the enjoyment of all who visit. The emphasis right from the beginning was on biodiversity, creating habitats for nature and giving an opportunity for everyone to experience and observe the importance of working in partnership with our natural world whilst at the same time providing play and exercise facilities.
We invite you to enjoy all the various facets of our Park – it is constantly evolving and some of the natural areas can look different depending on the season and from year to year.
A Biodiversity Garden
B Medieval Medicinal Garden
C “The Sally Garden” (Herb Garden)
D The Grow Zone and Home Composting Demo Site
E Bee & Butterfly Garden
F Intergenerational Cottage Garden
G Perennial Wild Flower Meadow
H Woodland (Crab Apple) Garden & Woodland Slopes
I The Orchard
J Sensory Garden
K Exercise Area
L Boules Court
M Playground
N Teen Activity Zone
P Hops, Clematis, Roses and Honeysuckle
A Biodiversity Garden
The Biodiversity Garden in Blackrock Park was planted by local children working alongside Blackrock Tidy Towns volunteers under the direction of Dr. Pamela Whitaker of Groundswell. It was created in 2011. This has now evolved into a woodland/forest whose pathway and mystery is much loved by children visiting the park. Biodiversity gardening involves planting a community of different kinds of plants that benefit both wildlife and people. The original native hedge of hawthorn, blackthorn and ivy along the north side of the garden provides shelter from the north winds and is a habitat and source of food for birds, while the willow hedge along the other three sides supports bees and other pollinating insects.
Like a natural woodland, the taller layers of the garden include birch, alder, oak and willow while the underneath layer of beneficial plants such as strawberry, meadowsweet, woodruff, nettle, dock and other beneficial plants.
Willow (Sally/Salix/Saileach), with its pollen-providing catkins, supports bees and other pollinating insects in Spring. Its long pliable shoots are used in basket making and wickerwork. There are a number of willow structures along the pathway through the area created and maintained by the park volunteers.
Plants especially attractive for bees and butterflies grow in this woodland as a continuation of the biodiversity theme. The Biodiversity Garden creates a nectar corridor linking it with other gardens in the park and with the gardens of nearby houses, thus creating a clear path for bees, hoverflies, butterflies and moths to do their very important work of pollination. It also provides an essential habitat for the larvae and caterpillar phase of the life-cycle of moths, butterflies and other insects critical to the supporting life on the planet.
There are many dry stone Louth Bank walls around Blackrock. These are important habitats for insects, which make their homes in the spaces between the stones. Two semi-circular walls were built in the Garden in the style of Louth Banks walls, backed by banks of soil, and house many insects including solitary bees the main bees species responsible for pollination.
Seomra Glas
Just inside the main entrance to the Biodiversity Garden is the Seomra Glas (an outdoor classroom) – a special place to learn about the role of nature and gardens, and to celebrate Irish traditions related to the growing seasons. It is used by local schools and community groups for nature workshops and events.
B Medieval Garden
The creation of a Medieval Garden was a joint effort by St. Oliver Plunkett’s School, Blackrock Park Committee and Blackrock Tidy Towns. It was a response to Louth County Council’s schools’ Eco-Tribe competition in spring 2016. The raised beds are set against a backdrop of three medieval early Gothic stained glass windows re-interpreted in woven willow. They are planted with a variety of medicinal plants and herbs. The surrounding area provides habitat for birds, bees, butterflies, moths and invertebrates being inspired by the Dave Coulson philosophy of the Garden Jungle or Gardening to Save the Planet. Since the area has become a wilder habitat Holly Blue, Speckled Wood and other butterfly species have been noted.
Square Foot Garden
Two of the raised beds are divided into a grid of square foot spaces to demonstrate an easy way to grow a variety of plants in a small garden or backyard space. The method is low maintenance and appeals to more traditional gardeners who may prefer structure to their growing and for
visitors to the park it makes plant identification easier.
C “The Sally Garden” (Herb Garden)
This garden was designed, created and planted by the children of St. Francis School, “The Sally Gardeners” Eco Tribe, in 2014 with guidance from teachers, parents and Blackrock Tidy Towns. Its three connected circles reflect the St. Francis school crest. It has been planted with medicinal, culinary and flowering herbs.
The project was part of a schools initiative organised by Louth County Council. Blackrock Tidy Towns work in partnership with St. Francis’ School in maintaining the garden.
D The Grow Zone and Home Composting Demonstration Site
The raised beds, constructed from recycled park fencing, are used to grow food crops and as a nursery for park plants and plants for use around the village including young trees. Following participation in the Louth Urban Food Project (2024) “Growing Food for Climate Change” the gardening volunteers have continued the project here.
Home Composting Demonstration Site
Various methods of composting continue in the space where you can see at first hand how easy it is to compost garden and food waste, and to choose a system that suits your needs. This is a fully functional Composting Site created by Blackrock Tidy Towns. All materials composted are re-used in the park on the principle of “Return to the land, not landfill”
Leaves Don’t Leave!
Leaves from the public roads are now retained in the village, harvested by Tidy Towns (assisted by the Community Employment Scheme and the Probation Service) and brought to this area where they are composted for use in the gardens and flower bed areas throughout the park and village.
E Bee & Butterfly Garden
This garden was designed, created and planted by the children of St. Fursey’s School, Haggardstown, “The Pollinators” Eco Tribe, in 2013 to encourage and support the pollinating work of bees and butterflies who are under threat and need our assistance. Being in a “woodland” it demonstrates the important connection between flowering plants and shrubs with the trees that support pollination and provides essential habitat. The project was part of a schools initiative organised by Louth County Council.
F Intergenerational Cottage Garden
The planting in this garden was carried out by children, their parents and grandparents some years ago to highlight and recall the cottage garden plants of a bygone era, roses, hollihocks, lupins and sweet pea providing an opportunity to relax and reminisce to the sights and fragrances of yesteryear. The colourful stones bordering the flower beds were designed and painted by the St John of God Blackrock Hub gardeners who work in the park weekly tending plants and also growing food and herbs in their raised bed in the Grow Zone. The mosaics here and around the park have been created by park volunteers Nora and Gerri.
Plant and seed management
Seeds are collected from the various flowers at end of summer, dried off and stored for sowing the following year. Seed saving and dividing of plants provides a bank of plants from year to year thus removing the need to purchase in from outside and ensure that the plants are all grown organically and without chemicals. Without this the work of the Park volunteers this would not be possible.
G Perennial Wild Flower Meadow
This area of the park has particularly poor soil and has been converted into a wild flower area in which are sown a number of native, perennial species chosen to attract bees, butterflies and, later in the season, birds. It is cut just once a year, at the end of the summer, to ensure that the flower species and grasses grow and multiply in accordance with native meadow management practice. No new plants have been added in order to allow the natural biodiversity of the area to flourish. Among the plants growing here are Birdsfoot Trefoil, Common Vetch, Knapweed, Common vetch, Yarrow, Yellow Rattle and Red Clover. The plant mix will alter naturally over the years allowing natural biodiversity to develop. In summer the bees and butterflies can be seen in abundance on the Knapweed especially. The other less showy plants and especially the grasses provide a habitat for the larvae and caterpillars of many moth and butterfly species.
H Woodland (Crab Apple) Garden & Woodland Slopes
Woodland Garden
This small Woodland (Crab Apple) Garden planting is the work of the “Eco Tribe” of St Francis’ School in 2015, in partnership with Blackrock Tidy Towns. It is planted with crab apples trees, a large lime tree, a pine tree and willow. The garden depicts a young child’s first small steps into the Infant grades. How, with each step, their world enlarges and their stride gains confidence. Each footprint is an exact replica taken from a pupil in each of the classes. Finally, they reach the top and are well prepared to enter a wider world.
The woodland areas which border the park paths and the stream have a layers of mosses, ferns, wild garlic, nettles, and young trees right up to the top tree canopy. These park woodlands provide essential habitat, food and shelter for a diverse range of invertebrates, insects and birds.
Woodland Slopes
This initiative, begun in 2015, involved returning two steep slopes which border the stream to a more natural woodland state. The tree planting includes hazel, weeping willow and amelanchier, with an under-planting of wild garlic, bluebells, mosses, ferns etc. On entering the park from the Community Centre, over a bridge, the pathway draws you into the park bordered by this woodland left and right, creating a sense that one is leaving a world of concrete and entering a more restful, natural world. The hazel and amelanchier trees were planted by a grandchildren with their grandparents creating a link not only between the adjacent village but linking generations.
The opportunity to create a varied fruit orchard arose when a local fruit grower donated a young orchard to the park along with some windbreak trees. These provide a haven for pollinating insects. The fruit trees include apple, damson, quince, greengage and plum, and there are also raspberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants and gooseberries. You can wander through the orchard along the pathways provided, and you will also find a small arboretum on the slope behind the orchard which includes a variety of trees (chestnut, flowering cherry, birch and alder).
J Sensory Garden
This feature, created in 2015, was designed by international landscape designer Paul Martin
With its large seats, tall Hornbeam sentinel trees and block planting of large colour areas, the Sensory Garden invites from a distance curiosity and a closer look.
The seating shape creates a feeling of enclosure before engaging the senses of touch, scent, sound; sight and taste:-
Touch: The feel of the mosaics on the seating. They were created from sea-glass and small beach stones collected on the local beaches and crafted by volunteers under the direction of a mosaic artist.
Taste: Strawberry and chives are interspersed with the larger plants at the edges of the beds showing how food plants can be successfully integrated into formal flower beds providing biodiversity and protection from natural predators for both.
Scent: from the David Austin roses rising from the edges of the 3 beds and close to the seats.
Sound: The wind through the tall ornamental grasses and the hornbeam trees creates gentle natural sound.
Visual: The abundance of the Hydrangea (Limelight) pale green flowers which graduate to white creates a spectacular display in summer
Plant List: Hydrangeas; Roses; Catmint; Ornamental grasses; Geraniums; Brunneras; Bergenias;
K Exercise Area
Installed at the request of older park users the exercise equipment here is suitable for and utilised by park users of all ages.
L Boules Court
The installation of a boules court in 2024 brings a new dimension to park activity providing an area close to the picnic tables where park visitors are free to bring their boules kit and play at any time.
The information board explains how to play for those coming to boules for the first time.
M Playground
A hub of activity for children up to 12 years of age the Playground was the first facility to be installed in the park and from which project the Blackrock Park Committee evolved and gone on to initiate all of the later developments throughout the park, MUGA pitch, gardens, woodlands, exercise area, boules, picnic area, grow zone, outdoor classroom and orchard.
N Teen Activity Zone
The Teen Activity Zone was initiated in 2014 to provide recreational facilities for the village’s growing population of older children and young adults. The all-weather Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) includes facilities for football, basketball and other games.
The installation of a pendulum swing and somersault bars to the MUGA in 2024/25 has expanded the facilities suitable for older children and teens when using the park.
P Hops, Clematis, Roses and Honeysuckle
The high barrier fence beside the MUGA (multi-use games area) has been used to grow and display these climbing plant varieties. Hops was introduced especially to echo the Dundalk brewing tradition. Its bright lime green leaves are distinctive in early summer with the hops fruit (cones) appearing in August are picked when dry and papery can be used in flower arranging, for decoration and for brewing of course