The first priority was to stabilise the bank in order to save the access road from collapse. Many thanks to Wexford County Council for carrying out this work along this vunerable section of the Burrow Road, ensuring continued access to the beach and walking wrails for both the local community and visitors to Courtown.

Native Willow plays a vital role in stabilising riverbanks, as their root systems bind and strengthen the soil. “Riparian tree planting helps to support riverbank habitats, increase their resilience to storms and flooding events, and can reduce soil erosion into waterways.”

We will host another community event with Clean Coasts in a few weeks to catch up on how the planted willow is performing. Keep an eye on our social platforms for further details.

So what happend?

During Storm Claudia in November 2025, the sheer volume and force of water surging down the Ounavarra River caused significant erosion along its softer banks, uprooting several mature trees with extensive root systems. One such tree, situated near Burrow Road in Courtown, collapsed and, in doing so, tore away a substantial section of the riverbank.

Courtown Community Council saw this as an ideal opportunity to undertake a community ripearian riverbank restoration project. We consulted with several experts and under the guidance of Clean Coast’s Area Officer - Roisin and Clean Coast’s Biodiversity Officer - Liane, we took cuttings from established willow trees along the same river and planted them along the eroded section. Community-led activities like this can make a real difference, have a positive impact in protecting our waterways, and promote local guardianship of our natural habitats.

In addition to this, the newly added trees will also provide valuable habitats for wildlife, enhancing local biodiversity and benefiting the wider community.

Many thanks to Cleans Coasts, Wexford County Council, Professor Mary Bourke and An Taisce’s Leaf Programme (Learing about Ecosystems and Forests) for all their support and guidance on this project. We’re very excited to see how it progresses…