Masterplan on future of Dowth National Park due for public consultation this summer

Following the purchase of the 550-acre estate by the State in 2023, Dowth National Park was established in early 2024 has now has a management team and staff complement in place.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) are the principal managers of the Park with assistance and input from National Monuments Service (NMS) and the Office of Public Works (OPW), who have responsibility for the great house, Dowth Hall.

A new park manager was appointed by the NPWS in 2024 to oversee the operations of the National Park as well as the development of a masterplan for the property. This comprises a suite of important archaeological monuments, Dowth House, Netterville Manor and other heritage buildings, an important designed landscape and a range of habitats including mixed woodland, scrub, riparian wetland and grassland with an extensive complement of flora and fauna.

This masterplan will seek to provide a conceptual overview and strategic thinking on how to develop the National Park, within the World Heritage Property, and promote an understanding of the park’s significance as one of Ireland’s foremost important cultural and natural heritage sites.It is intended that the masterplan will adopt a holistic approach to developing a sustainable and innovative visitor experience and community resource, while recognising the NPWS’ key remit to protect nature and promote and enhance biodiversity. It will guide decision-making for the sensitive conservation, development and management of Dowth National Park into the future. Following extensive stakeholder engagement and local community involvement, a first draft of the plan is currently being reviewed and will be open to public consultation in summer 2026.

The lands continue to be managed with a determined emphasis on increasing their biodiversity value. The grasslands are managed in collaboration with three local farmers both for hay/silage takings and low-density livestock grazing. Some 900 metres of native hedging has been planted, largely replacing hedges that were removed in the 1960s. The NPWS is working with BASE Ireland to manage the tillage lands, again to optimise biodiversity benefits.

To gauge future successes of these practical management operations robust baseline monitoring surveys have been or are being established: comprising grassland, invertebrates, moth, bird and butterflies. Atlantic Technological Institute carried out a dedicated baseline survey in 2024 and these ecological surveys are continuing as part of a two-year masters project.

In addition, work on a new Woodland Management Plan was scheduled to begin in June this year.

While the general public currently does not have open access to the Park, the management staff have been interacting with a variety of groups and hosted numerous excursions and workshops within the National Park, including but not limited to: Teagasc, Inland Fisheries Ireland, Failte Ireland and the Reimagined Boyne Valley Drive, Met Éireann, BASE Ireland, UCD, Atlantic Technical University, RTE radio, National Biodiversity Data Centre, Irish Rare Breeds Society, Solstice Arts Centre, Irish Ramsar Wetland Committee and BASE Ireland.

The Community Forum for the wider UNESCO World Heritage Property hold their meetings in Netterville House, within the Park. Park staff have also met with a local school, St Oliver’s Community College, to forge a cooperative relationship to assist with their curricular activities.

This year, during biodiversity week a Dawn Chorus, a guided walk, a nighttime bat walk, a bug safari and a talk on the Boyne Currach took place at the site in May.

Last year the Park hosted an all-day arts/biodiversity event in collaboration with Solstice Arts Centre, Navan and a larger event will take place in August this year. The National Park team intend to maintain and develop new collaborations and are always open to requests for group visits and are looking forward to providing a public resource at this unique area centred on sensitive conservation of our natural and cultural heritage. The Masterplan will guide how this is planned and implemented in the coming years.