Trees planted as locals have their say in Lucan

THE Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Cllr Paul Gogarty, planted an apple tree in Vesey Park, Lucan, last week to mark the first year of the €300,000 Have Your Say scheme.

The Lucan electoral area, which includes Adamstown and Palmerstown, was the first in the country to take part in the inaugral Participatory Budgeting process in Ireland through the initiative.

Over 160 ideas were generated through a combination of workshops and online submissions. A total of 17 projects were voted on and eight ideas were selected to be acted upon.

One of these ideas was to plant native apple trees in Lucan.

Last week’s planting will be the first of almost 70 native apple trees to be planted in community orchards by the Public Realm Section of South Dublin County Council, in Lucan Demesne, Vesey Park, Griffeen Valley Park, Willsbrook Park, Lucan and Waterstown Park, Palmerstown.

Apple tree varieties to be planted include, ‘Kerry Pippin’, ‘Katy’, ‘James Grieve’, ‘Gibbons Russet’, ‘Ross Non Pareil’ which are sweet tasting and suitable for eating.

 Mayor Gogarty said he was delighted to be able to plant the first apple tree as part of the Have Your Say initiative.

“Trees make a major contribution to the character, appearance and well-being of South Dublin County,” he said.

“They also enhance biodiversity and play an important role in mitigating climate change.”