The Reclaimers

We were formed when young people got fed up of loosing fishing tackle and catching no fish. Our pond was over run by weed and rubbish. We contacted Sphere 17 RYS to see if they could help!!!

Sphere 17 RYS are the local youth service for the whole area and run many activities for the young people. Noel, Sinead and Brian jumped at the chance to help organise a clean up with the young people.

Sphere 17 RYS and the young people contacted Des Chew from the Dublin Anglers Initiative who came out to visit the pond. He was shocked to have seen the damage done to the pond by this weed. Des gave us suggestions on how to tackle the crisis that this weed was causing and agreed to contact a scientist, Dr Joe Caffrey, from the Central Fisheries board to help identify the weed and how to treat it. We found out that the weed is called Lagrosiphon from South Africa, using the internet in Sphere 17 we identified that this weed poses one of the biggest treats to inland waterways and fishing in Ireland.

The Reclaimers decided to act and reclaim our pond. We have two aims, firstly to get rid of the weed and to keep it out and secondly to develop the pond in to a top class fishing and wildlife spot.

The Reclaimers, Sphere17 and Des got the Dublin City Council on board to help in our task after a pond side meeting, Brendan O Connell the (DCC) crew leader agreed to give us a helping hand.

On the morning of Tuesday 28th of October at 10.30 the first part of our mission began,
to eradicate some of the weed from the pond. With Brian Becket an environmental officer with the Eastern Fisheries Board we tested the oxygen level in the water, which returned as satisfactory and took a sample of water for nutrient analysis. With the help of the council and the help of the central fisheries board we were able to remove at least one tonne of weed from a section of the pond.

Our mission continues and over the coming months the Reclaimers will have this pond back to top class conditions. Should you want to help, contact the Reclaimers in Sphere 17 RYS on 01 8674348

By Mark Nolan an Original Reclaimer

Check out the photos in the photo gallery!