It’s a gorgeous spot for a stroll.

And many more eager walkers will be heading to Mallow Castle Demense and its fairytale playground this weekend after the town park won a national award celebrating Ireland’s best amenities.

The RDS Community Woodlands Award is designed to encourage and reward projects involving the communal ownership and management of forests and woodlands which have been established and managed in a sustainable way that is beneficial to the local economy and/or environment.

In Mallow Castle’s 88 acres of woodlands and parks in the heart of Mallow Town, Cork County Council has undertaken significant native tree planting and biodiversity works in the grounds to build upon the historic planting already in place.

“When Cork County Council decided to buy Mallow Castle and its estate in 2011, they could have simply carried out renovations on the castle and put in a few extra paths through the park and there would have been a fine amenity created.” said the judges.

“They decided, however, to implement a hugely ambitious plan which involved a lot of work on creation of new woodland, and the management of existing woodland. They now have a town park which is attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors every year to an amenity which is right in the heart of the town.”

Other Cork winners at the RDS Awards include Jim and Frampton Jeffery, who run a flock of pedigree Charollais, Suffolk and Texel ewes. They received the 2024 RDS-Sheep Ireland LambPlus Award.

Bo Rua Farm, where sustainable farming and food are top priorities, scooped the Sustainable Rural Enterprise Award.

Norma and Tom Dinneen with kids Tadhg, Aine and Meabh. Picture: Orla Murray

By diversifying their dairy farm Tom and Norma Dinneen, the couple behind Bo Rua, have embarked on a journey into farmhouse cheesemaking, utilising milk from their Montbeliarde and Friesian cows.