A ‘tree-mendous’ day for Fernhill House and Gardens

TREE-MENDOUS is how one local councillor described the official celebrations last week thrown by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to mark the successful acquisition of Fernhill House and Gardens.

As part of the ceremonies to mark the occasion, the cathaoirleach of the council, Cllr Marie Baker, hosted a tree planting with students from St Mary’s National School on Monday (March 2) in the Fernhill Estate.

Cllr Baker, who planted a weeping beech tree in the Fernhill Estate to coincide with National Tree Week, said it represented the beginning of a substantial amount of infrastructural work planned for Fernhill that will transform the area into a public park of great importance.

Located on the Enniskerry Road between Sandyford and Stepaside, the site consists of 84 acres and includes pasture land, beautiful amenity woodlands and gardens with an array of prized plants.

“I am delighted to be here today to plant this weeping beech tree in Fernhill,

? Cllr Baker said.

“I believe Fernhill provides the council with a unique opportunity to create a new regional park that will help meet the recreational needs of residents in the Sandyford and Stepaside areas as well as the county as a whole.

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Cllr Victor Boyhan (Ind) a keen plantsman and trained horticulturalist, who had worked in the gardens as a student intern from the National Botanic Gardens, knows the gardens well.

“I want to acknowledge the commitment of Philomena Poole, Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, and her team for getting the property acquisition over the line,

? he said.

“A living native tree, planted by a new generation, is a befitting and appropriate way to mark this new season in the life of Fernhill.

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Senator Shane Ross (Ind) added:

“It was a great day for Sandyford and Stepaside.

“We are delighted that Fernhill Gardens are to be opened to the public.

“This garden is a national treasure and the campaign to make its treasures, trees, paths and flowers available to the local people and the wider community has proved a great success.

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