National Tree Week Takes Root At Kilmore Playing Fields
12 December 2011 |
Posted by Anne O'Hare |
PRIMARY 7 pupils from two primary schools braved the cold weather with hats, scarves and gloves to plant trees to celebrate National Tree Week.
Northern Ireland remains one of the least wooded regions in Europe and through The Woodland Trust’s ‘More Woods Scheme’, 900 native deciduous saplings were donated to Kilmore Playing Fields in Crossgar.
Councillor Patsy Toman, Down District Council’s Vice Chairman, Councillor Liam Johnston, Councillor Maria McCarthy and Councillor Terry Andrews all took part in the tree planting event at Kilmore Playing Fields
After a short demonstration, children from Cedar Integrated Primary School and St Joseph’s Primary School worked together to plant the tree saplings on an piece of unused land above the playing fields.
On-site to help out were Down District Council’s Vice Chairman, Councillor Liam Johnston, Councillors Patsy Toman, Terry Andrews and Maria McCarthy. Jackie Morgan from The Woodland Trust, Abby Mc Sherry, Action for Biodiversity Officer, Hayley Sherwin, Down District Biodiversity Officer, Damien Morgan, Down District Parks Supervisor and members of the Parks Section workforce.
At the event,Councillor Liam Johnston said: “The Tree Council is urging everyone to show their support for their local environment by putting one tree, or more, in the ground. Native trees enhance the landscape, provide homes for wildlife, improve air quality and reduce the effects of local climate change by removing carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the atmosphere.”
Councillor Patsy Toman, Chairman of Down District Council’s Estates Committee thanked the children for their hard work, and said: “Every tree planted really does count”.
The Woodland Trust aims to, enable the creation of more native woods and places rich in trees and protect native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future and inspire everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to it's sites is free. Further news can be found at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk
In Northern Ireland the Woodland Trust cares for 51 woods. These woods contain a mix of recently planted woodland, mature woodland and ancient woodland.
The 37th annual National Tree Week ran from 26 November to 4 December 2011 and marked the launch of the tree planting season. First run in 1975, National Tree Week was launched to follow up the success of National Tree Planting Year, with it's slogan "Plant A Tree In '73".
