YOUNG students from St Malachy’s school, Finglas, were in ‘par-tee’ mood last week when they planted trees on a council golf course and in Tolka Valley Park.
The third to sixth class children were having an Action Day with a green theme ahead of St Patrick’s Festival and they dug in to complete the planting of 1,000 oak, alder, birch, holly and maple trees.
The day was in support of a five-year project called Easy Treesie that aims to plant one million trees around the country, with support from Crann – Trees for Ireland, and the help of every schoolchild in Ireland.
“This initiative extends the existing woodland that anchors the soil along the riverbanks providing welcome wildlife habitats”, explained Michael Burke of Fingal County Council’s parks department, whose team were out at daybreak to support the children.
“These predominantly native trees will prevent erosion and mitigate flooding.
“We lost a lot of our willows both due to their age and recent strong wings.
“Local people are now catching wild brown trout because of our constructive wetland programme here.
“These new trees will provide important shelter for the fish who need shade to spawn.”
The 1,000 saplings were donated by Coillte to the worthy cause, and supplemented by nativized acers from the Dublin City Council stock.
These were specially selected to make provision for Dublin’s future climate and to ensure resilience in the new woodland as several of native species, such as the Ash, have had to be struck from the planting list due to disease.
The council also supplied the rewards for these good young citizens and the children each received a code to return once the golf club opens officially after St Patrick’s festival with an adult when they can claim a free game of golf on the magnificently managed par-3 course.
The children expressed their delight at the state of the greens, which is very impressive following the ecological management of the course.
The regime includes organic soil-improvers with a seaweed origin and employs an internationally recognized pest management system to combat weeds.
Wild flower pollinators are allowed to grow freely in the long grass alongside drifts of spring daffodils, which charmed the visiting children.
The cold and damp weather was not a problem for the youngsters who had come well suited and booted and their work and the day finished nicely with a tree-themed apple drink and some St Patrick’s Day jellies to bring away as a welcome reward.
The planting party was preceded by a presentation by Orla Farrell, Easy Treesie project leader, to the staff of St Malachy’s and the green schools committee on the importance of tree planting for capturing carbon dioxide.
The school now intends to offset the carbon it uses for energy by planting local trees and so win their next International Green Flag.
“It is a pleasure to properly recognize and thank the almost 150 children here this week for coming out in this blustery weather to improve our public park”, said Orla who is a teacher and a former Dublin CIty Councillor.
“The Irish trees chosen here by the council will help improve the local amenity, combat global warming and increase biodiversity in the area.
The Easy Treesie team were joined by plenty of willing local volunteers including parents and grandparents of the schoolchildren.
