The Porchfields

The Porchfields is a 25-hectare area of medieval farmland which lies between the Anglo-Norman town of Trim, founded c. 1180 and the rural borough of Newtown Trim, founded c. 1220. The area has an exceptionally rich history as can be evidenced by the Newtown Monuments (these consist of a large medieval cathedral, two monasteries and small church which date from 1206) which sit immediately adjacent to/bordering the eastern site boundary and St Mary’s Abbey which sits to the west. It is overlooked from the west by Trim Castle, the largest Norman castle in Europe (1173) and is a notable tourist destination. While standing on this site it is easy to attain a sense of timelessness and of this millennia of history, given that apart from the ring road, development has been limited to low-impact incidental footpaths and the Porchfields retained in use for animal grazing.

Park Hood were engaged by Meath County Council to provide Project Management and Landscape Architectural design services for the redevelopment of The Porchfields. The brief was to develop the site as a tourist destination, while protecting the rich cultural heritage associated with its strategic position between the historic sites and the River Boyne. The area was underutilised and underappreciated with access limited to informal grass paths and a dilapidated walkway that was not fit for purpose.

This project was underpinned by an earlier procurement exercise (which Park Hood were also involved in), which required the ‘Development of a feasibility study for potential recreational uses on Meath County Council lands.’ The purpose of this study was to produce a preliminary landscape/sporting facilities masterplan to guide and assist Meath County Council in relation to future funding programmes. Funding was secured for the Porchfields in 2020 allowing consultation workshops to begin with the local community and statutory bodies to gain a greater understanding of the opportunities and constraints this site had to offer. These ultimately were honed down to seven landscape design objectives that set out the basis of how the revitalisation of this historic site was to be achieved:

1. Improved access to the Porchfields, with the introduction of 1,800m length resin bonded gravel surfaced footpaths throughout the site linking key pedestrian routes and

The Team

Client

Meath County Council

Landscape Architect Park Hood

Civil Engineers

JBA Consulting

Quantity Surveyor McDonnell Consulting Ltd

Landscape Sub-Contractor

Shaffrey Landscaping

Main Contractor

M&M O’Brien Plant & Groundworks Ltd

Photography

Donal McCann destinations. This was complimented by new entrance signage and new heritage fencing and gates.

2. Introduction of universally accessible picnic/recreation areas featuring a mixture of benches, seats and picnic tables. An exercise trim trail is provided with a number of items installed suitable for use by all abilities. These are provided along the looped walking route, strategically located to make the most of the site’s assets and vistas towards the historic buildings and the backdrop of the River Boyne.

3. Several custom-built interpretation panels were installed including an interactive QR code to allow visitors or tourists to find out additional and varying information on the site, its history and ecology.

4. A new multiuse circular performance area, circa 30m wide, suitable for hosting outdoor events and gatherings. Constructed using a “Netlon” reinforced turf system that allows this area to have a new purpose yet retain a green field characteristic akin to what exists on this site at present. This flexible outdoor events space also features an earth mounded amphitheatre that allows performances to occur that can take advantage of the atmospheric backdrop made up of the River Boyne and Trim Castle. Electrical connections were installed on mini pillars adjacent the performance area for ease of set up and use by vendors.

5. To facilitate site cleanliness, Solar Compacting bins are installed at strategic locations around the site. Apart from collecting litter, these Smart bins contain sensors that measure the footfall visiting the Porch Field area, as well as being able to forward information to passing mobile phones with a mobile app which links information developed to tell the story of the area, as people avail of these enhanced amenities.

6. In consultation with ecologists, extensive areas were seeded out in wildflower meadows with the objective of enhancing the local biodiversity and introducing a vibrancy to former field areas.

7. All works were undertaken with the overriding objective of enhancing the setting or the listed structures on site, based on advice from site archaeologists and following best practice to ensure these monuments and the designated Architectural Conservation Area is safeguarded for the future.

The success of the scheme is evident with the Porchfield’s displaying an enhanced amenity, setting and sense of place. The works have boosted local public use including a weekly community park run and family activities on account of it being a safe, natural environment and welcoming for children to play in relative freedom contributing to healthy lifestyles and well-being.

At a higher level the development of an event space, formal creation of linkages between historical monuments and the provision of way finding, viewing platforms and information boards serve to enhance a vital historical resource and promote greater awareness and appreciation from local residents, visitors and tourists of the collective of historic and scenic assets in this part of Ireland. The project fulfils the most important aim of the client team (Meath County Council) to maximise heritage assets and safeguard the Porchfield site in the years to come as an important cultural and greenfield amenity zone within the urban fabric of Trim.

Andrew Bunbury