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| Pics: Kilcullen Community Action. |
Native saplings which are wildlife-friendly have been planted in parts of the Valley Park and nearby locations,
writes Brian Byrne.
The saplings were provided by
Kildare County Council and planted by
Kilcullen Community Action. The species included hazel, bird cherry, and guelder rose and others.
Hazel is a native species with many uses and an ancient history. Hazel nuts are one of the foods associated with the very earliest human settlements in Ireland of Mesolithic man, who also used hazel as the strong flexible timber for his huts.
Bird cherry is a small growing native tree, with almond-scented flowers, which are an early source of nectar and pollen for bees. In Autumn it produces small, dark, bitter cherries which are a favourite of all kinds of birds. Like Wild Cherry, the Spring flowers provide an early source of nectar and pollen for bees.
Guelder rose is a hedgerow plant and has beautiful white lace-cap flowers in the Spring which are excellent for pollinators, followed by clusters of translucent red berries in early Autumn which birds love.
(Pic courtesy Jan Mehlich via Creative Commons.)
Information and some illustrations courtesy of the Tree Council of Ireland and Wikipedia.
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