Tidy Towns

Supported by a three-year action plan, the entry projects range from biodiversity parks, urban orchards and native hedging to living lawns, leaf mould and pollinator-friendly planting. It also highlights initiatives to reduce chemical weedkiller use, encourage walking and cycling, explore alternative lawn management and involve local schools in environmental monitoring. 

Together, these projects demonstrate how residents, volunteers and local partners are working to enhance biodiversity, reduce maintenance and create a healthier environment for the whole community. 

• Community participation: A substantial volunteer network, support from TUS workers, and cooperation with Meath County Council and local businesses. The adjudicator found the submitted plan realistic and the area map clear and easy to follow.

• Shopping centre and public spaces: The shopping centre was clean, accessible and well landscaped, with a good range of shops and facilities.

• Walking and cycling: Good cycle lanes and pedestrian paths, particularly around St Mary's school. Approach roads were in very good condition, with clear signage and road markings.

• Cleanliness: The shopping centre and approach roads were notably tidy, with little litter or illegal dumping.

• Sustainability: The adjudicator welcomed the decarbonisation plans, pocket forests, school weather station and proposed community tool library.

• Residential landscaping: Athlumney Hall was praised for its planting, containers, gardens and clean verges.

1. Biodiversity and green-space management

The report supports reducing mowing and establishing wildflower meadows, but warns against allowing areas to look neglected. Bailis Downs, Area 3, had extensive dock growth and an untidy appearance. The adjudicator recommends selective cutting, controlling invasive dock and ragwort where appropriate, and mowing meadows carefully to allow wildlife to escape.

2. Housing-estate maintenance

Johnstown Wood needs more regular attention to its verges, fallen leaves, street gullies and entrance signage. Lower tree growth should be removed where necessary to improve visibility for pedestrians and traffic. The report suggests an estate competition or information session to encourage residents to improve standards.

3. Accessibility and public amenities

Add age-friendly seating at the shopping centre and benches in bus shelters that lack them, especially for older people and passengers with mobility difficulties. Keep paths and cycle lanes clear of weeds and vegetation.

4. Tree planting and meadow upkeep

New trees need dedicated maintenance, especially watering and monitoring during their first three years. The committee should budget volunteer time and resources for establishment rather than focusing only on planting.

5. Communication and engagement

The Facebook page is active, but the adjudicator wants more input from residents' associations. Publicise plans through AGMs and estate-level meetings, share updates about projects, and ensure residents support changes such as longer grass and meadow planting.

• Bailis Downs, Area 3 : Improve the appearance of the green space while retaining biodiversity; selectively control dock and ragwort.

• Meadow mowing : Cut gradually from the middle outwards, leaving escape routes for wildlife.

• Pocket forests : Establish a three-year tree maintenance and watering programme.

• School-area utility boxes : Explore permission for locally designed murals to address graffiti.

• Community tool library : Consider battery-powered tools and provide safety training and appropriate PPE.

• School weather station : Share useful weather and climate information through community communications.

• Athlumney Hall : Include more pollinator-friendly perennial plants in future planting.

• Johnstown Wood : Improve gully maintenance, clear leaves and debris, uncover entrance signage and address low tree growth.

• Bus shelters : Approach operators about installing benches where absent.

• Community engagement : Hold resident and estate meetings, and consider an estate competition.

The report is encouraging: Johnstown is making progress and has a strong foundation of volunteers, partnerships and environmental projects. The central message is that good environmental initiatives need consistent maintenance and community support to achieve their full benefit.

Prioritise these three actions:

1. Improve residential estates, particularly Johnstown Wood, with a documented programme for verges, gullies, entrance signs and trees.

2. Demonstrate managed biodiversity, showing that meadows and reduced mowing are intentional, attractive and ecologically beneficial.

3. Strengthen resident participation and project reporting, with estate meetings, feedback, before-and-after photographs and evidence of progress on decarbonisation and other initiatives.

Emphasise the balance between ecological value, visual presentation, accessibility and how residents use their local spaces.