Chestnut & Elm Living Lawn
Chestnut & Elm Living Lawn
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Initiated 2025
Initiated 2025
This page should be read in conjunction with the proposed Biodiversity Park for Johnstown.
Our Aim
Our Aim
To transform the Chestnut and Elm Estate Lawn, Johnstown Wood, into an affordable, climate-resilient, and biodiverse community space that supports national and local climate action goals.
6 Objectives
6 Objectives
Mitigate climate change by increasing tree and groundcover planting.
Build climate resilience through sustainable land and water management.
Enhance biodiversity with pollinator-friendly and wildlife-supporting habitats.
Engage the community through workshops, volunteer planting, and outdoor learning.
Reduce the financial burden of ongoing maintenance on residents.
Influence Neighbouring Estates to follow suit and create 'living lawns'.
Master Plan
Master Plan
A mosaic of habitats featuring mini forests, an urban orchard, pollinator-friendly flowering ground covers, log pile habitats, areas of exposed soil for ground-nesting bees, bee posts, and bug hotels. These are complemented by a roadside hedgerow barrier, a connected short-grass access path, an annual summer meadow, rotational meadows on a four-year cut cycle, short-flowering edge zones maintained on a six-week cycle, and a resident-managed short-flowering lawn. Leaf mould cages, grass composting areas, and an outdoor classroom for community learning further support the site.
Estate Short Grass Lawn REDUCED by 95%
How it might look in more natural colours
To achieve our aims, we propose an ambitious 18-month plan that aligns with a potential funding opportunity.
Planting
Planting
We expect to source and plant the following:
Mini Forests
Mini Forests
🌱 Forest Floor (herbs, ferns, groundcovers)
🌱 Forest Floor (herbs, ferns, groundcovers)
Hart’s Tongue Fern
Royal Fern
Foxglove
Wild Strawberry
Lesser Periwinkle
🌿 Understory (shrubs, small trees, climbers)
🌿 Understory (shrubs, small trees, climbers)
Hazel
Whitethorn (Hawthorn)
Blackthorn
Wild Rose
Dog Rose
Holly
Elder
Spindle
Buckthorn
Guelder Rose
Broom
Strawberry Tree
Yew (can also reach canopy in maturity but often grows as understory in native woods)
Honeysuckle (climber through shrub layer into canopy)
Willows (Eared Willow, Pussy Willow, Grey Willow, Common Osier – usually shrub/small tree layer)
🌳 Canopy (dominant medium–large trees)
🌳 Canopy (dominant medium–large trees)
Rowan
Whitebeam
Crab Apple
Bird Cherry
Wild Cherry
Silver Birch
Downy Birch
Aspen
Wych Elm
Alder
🌲 Emergent Layer (tallest trees rising above canopy)
🌲 Emergent Layer (tallest trees rising above canopy)
Sessile Oak
Pedunculate Oak
Scots Pine
Hedge
Hedge
Ground Cover
Ground Cover
🌱 5 Potential Native Ground Covers:
1. Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris)
1. Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris)
Why: Excellent pollinator plant, spreads into dense mats, tough in lawns or open ground.
Best spot: Sunny to semi-shade, meadow edges, play areas.
Maintenance: Can be mown once or twice a year and bounces back.
2. Bird’s-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
2. Bird’s-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
Why: Nitrogen-fixing legume (improves soil), carpets sunny areas, cheerful yellow flowers, great for bees & butterflies.
Best spot: Sunny, dry patches, orchard understorey.
Maintenance: Very little; thrives in poorer soils.
3. Bugle (Ajuga reptans)
3. Bugle (Ajuga reptans)
Why: Native woodland plant, forms tight mats that block weeds, purple-blue flowers for pollinators in spring.
Best spot: Shadier, moist areas under trees or along hedgerows.
Maintenance: Spreads steadily without taking over aggressively.
4. Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea)
4. Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea)
Why: Evergreen creeper, shades soil effectively, purple flowers in spring for early pollinators.
Best spot: Woodland edges, damp shady corners.
Maintenance: Tough and adaptable; occasional trim if it creeps too far.
5. Wild Thyme (Thymus polytrichus)
5. Wild Thyme (Thymus polytrichus)
Why: Low, fragrant carpet; purple flowers buzzing with bees; thrives on poor, dry soils.
Best spot: Sunny south-facing banks, pathsides, seating areas.
Maintenance: No mowing needed, just enjoy the scent and pollinators.
Logic Model
Logic Model
Inputs
Inputs
💶 Funding
🌳 Trees & seeds
🛠️ Tools & mulch
👥 Volunteers
🌱 Expertise
Activities
Activities
🌳 Plant trees, meadows, orchards
🐝 Create pollinator habitats & hedgerows
🏫 Build outdoor classroom & play areas
👥 Run workshops & planting days
♻️ Reduce mowing & improve soil health
🌳 Plant trees, meadows, orchards
🐝 Create pollinator habitats & hedgerows
🏫 Build outdoor classroom & play areas
👥 Run workshops & planting days
♻️ Reduce mowing & improve soil health
Outputs
Outputs
✔️ 4,800 new trees, 25 orchard trees, & 200 shrubs
✔️ 8,500 m² biodiversity-rich habitat
✔️ 85% less short lawn grass
✔️2 workshops & 3 volunteer days/yr
✔️ 50+ residents engaged annually
✔️ 4,800 new trees, 25 orchard trees, & 200 shrubs
✔️ 8,500 m² biodiversity-rich habitat
✔️ 85% less short lawn grass
✔️2 workshops & 3 volunteer days/yr
✔️ 50+ residents engaged annually
Outcomes
Outcomes
🐝 +20% pollinator species (3 yrs)
🌍 More carbon captured & healthier soil
♻️ Lower emissions from mowing
👥 Stronger local stewardship & skills
🐝 +20% pollinator species (3 yrs)
🌍 More carbon captured & healthier soil
♻️ Lower emissions from mowing
👥 Stronger local stewardship & skills
Impact
Impact
🌳 Climate-resilient, biodiverse park
🌍 Contribution to climate & biodiversity goals
😊 Better health & well-being
📍 Model that other lawns can replicate
🌳 Climate-resilient, biodiverse park
🌍 Contribution to climate & biodiversity goals
😊 Better health & well-being
📍 Model that other lawns can replicate
Project Status
Project Status
✔️ Brief
✔️ Concept Design
✔️ Estate Approval
'Design & Costing'
'Design & Costing'
Funding Application
Detail Design & Scheduling
Community Call To Action
On-Site Works
The groups we'll be seeking approval from to develop and take this to the next design stage:
Neighbourhood
Neighbourhood
✔ Tidy Towns Committee
✔ Elm & Chestnut Committee
✔ Residents
Meath County Council
Meath County Council
✔ Biodiversity Officer
✔ Climate Action Team
✔ Environmental Education & Awareness Officer
Area Engineer
Environment Groups
Environment Groups
✔ Wild About Navan
✔ Mini Forests Group
✔ Ecologist
Birdwatch Ireland
Education & Volunteers
Education & Volunteers
Tus
St Stephen's National School
Colaiste Na Mi Secondary School
Lighthouse Church Navan
Local Businesses
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