Wicklow Mountains National Park

A Background to the National Park and a summary of the Management plan
2005-2009 specifically focussing on areas of interest to walkers.

Prepared by John Fitzgerald

The Wicklow Mountains National Park was established by Government decision in
1991.

It is not governed by any one specific piece of legislation (though largely
falls under the State property act) but it is hoped that legislation will be
drafted to put National parks on a statutory footing in 2008.

It currently encompasses slightly over 17,000 hectares. Much of the land was
originally untenanted commonage, consequently rights such as grazing, turbary
(harvesting of turf) and rights to cut heather, bracken and gorse for fuel or
bedding still exist and are recognised by the national park.

The park has some areas designated “Special areas of conservation” and “Special
protection area” by the EU.

The park is divided into three management zones

• Zone A (natural zone) areas requiring little or no management intervention.

• Zone B (active management) areas requiring management to get to a more
desirable state.

• Zone C (Intensive use) areas used intensively by visitors and park staff. Note
that all tracks used regularly by walkers have this designation

The park is administered by the National Parks and Wildlife service which is
part of the Water and Heritage division of the Department of the Environment,
Heritage and Local Government.

The duties of overall management are delegated to the Deputy Regional Manager,
Mr Wesley Atkinson. He heads a staff comprising of District Conservation Officer
Sr Enda Mullen, Head Ranger Mr. Ben McCabe, 3 Conservation Rangers, 6 Guides, 5
General Operatives and 1 Administrator.

The park management works in conjunction with the Wicklow Mountains National
Park Council which was set up after a series of meetings to identify interested
parties by the Minister in 1999.

This groupings brief is to act as an interface between park management and the
public. The group consists of 9 farmers representatives, 4 community group
representatives, 4 recreational users representatives and 2 socio-economic
representatives.

The Chairperson is Tom Gregan and the secretary is Monica Byrne.

The Farmers representatives are:

Sean Malone

Sean Byrne

Saive Coffey

Frank Maguire

Murtagh O’Keeffe

Pat Dunne

Michael Lynham

Donal Anderson

John Murphy

The Community group representatives are:

Mildred Fox

Eileen Cullen

Denis Doyle

John Doyle

The Recreational users representatives are:

Gerry Martin

Bob Galvin

Al Butler

The Socio-Economic representatives are:

Patrick Casey

Denis Carter

The Stated aims of Wicklow Mountains National Park are:

1. To conserve nature within the park.

2. To conserve other significant features and qualities within the park.

3. To encourage public appreciation of the park through provision of
interpretive materials and development of the education programme.

4. To develop a harmonious relationship between Wicklow Mountains National Park
and the surrounding community, taking into account the social and economic needs
of local communities.

5. To promote research and environmental monitoring in Wicklow Mountains
National Park and thus contribute to scientific knowledge.

In addition to the above the management also states that it wants to

1. Establish and continue effective liaison with all interested parties in
order to effectively manage the park.

2. To encourage sustainable and educational use of the park, to provide
information and facilities for visitors.

To achieve its aims the park has a number of strategies some of which have
direct impact on walkers, these are

1. Control of erosion on sensitive habitats.

2. Work towards a partnership approach through the National Park Council based
on consensus with local community and interested parties.

3. Facilitation of public access for recreational purposes.

4. Development of visitor facilities at Glendalough.

5. Provision of information to visitors and other park users.

The Park is currently implementing a 5 year plan (2005-2009) to go some way
to achieving its aims. This plan sets out the strategies and objectives for the
period but has a proviso that delivery of these is subject to its budget
allocation for the period.

This plan deals with quite a number of different issues and the national parks
policies with regards to these issues, a brief outline of these as related to
walking and recreational interests is as follows.

In relation to recreation and tourism the park states it is difficult to
assess the number people using the park for activities such as walking but that
recreation in general is to be encouraged and facilitated in the park.

Walking

This is defined by the park as those who take short walks as well as hill
walkers. Short walks usually occur in the area around Glendalough; however the
whole park is extensively used for hill walking.

Visitor pressure is focused in specific areas and can cause damage to vegetation
and disturbance to wildlife.

Certain tracks regularly used by walkers are under threat from erosion and
tramping. Erosion control is ongoing to minimise damage near sensitive habitats
along the Wicklow way and other popular routes around Lugduff, Mullacor, White
Hill and Djouce Mountain.

In some areas management is required to minimise the impact of these
activities. There is a listing in appendix three to the management plan stating
the areas of concern.

For example; loose scree slopes and areas of exposed rock and the impact on
rare plants. These areas occur around Lugnaquillia, the Glendalough valley,
Lough Nahanagan and to the north-east of Table Mountain.

However baseline data on these areas is described as” lacking “and thus a survey
is to be undertaken in 2007 with a management strategy due in 2009.

Access through certain areas at certain times may have to be restricted but
only in the interests of public safety or conservation.

Organised walking/running events involving more than 50 people on the same
route/same day are subject to permit, this however does not include managed
paths (e.g. Wicklow way, St Kevins way, Table track)

Permission for events is granted provided that,

a. It is compatible with the 5 year development plan.

b. It does not present a danger to the welfare /safety of the public.

c. The National Parks and Wildlife Service is indemnified against any claims.

Liaison with Mountain Meitheal to repair/develop tracks is ongoing as is the
desire to liaise with user groups and individuals on best practice.

Liaison with the MCI and other users to encourage low impact use by climbers
and hill walkers is ongoing.

Camping

There are no facilities for campers in the park. A certain amount of “ Wild
camping” will be facilitated in accordance with an agreed code of conduct. This
code was to be drawn up in consultation with the MCI in 2005.

Rock Climbing

Carried out especially by clubs and individuals on the crags along Miners road,
Upper Glendalough and in Glenmalure. Rock climbing in sensitive areas at certain
times may be prohibited. Again scree slopes and rocky outcrops/fissures are of
particular concern.

Motorbike trials

These are facilitated under permit. Unregulated use of quads and motorbikes has
caused erosion along the Wicklow way, Kippure ridge and Table track.

Orienteering

Facilitated under permit.

Cycling

Confined to wider surfaced tracks and cyclists must give way to pedestrians. Off
road cycling is prohibited. Some tracks will be considered as dedicated cycle
tracks in limited areas.

Roads and Car parks

The roads of the national park are not in general open to motor traffic other
than emergency and park vehicles. They are also maintained as walking paths.

Traditionally the provision of uplands car parks has fallen to the County
Councils and Coillte. There are however a number of national park parking areas
maintained by national park staff.

There is a proposed feasibility study for 2007 to examine the use of private
shuttle buses to ferry visitors from these car parks to popular area of the park
and so reduce traffic on the narrow roads of the park.