National Tree Week upcoming

President of the Tree Council of Ireland, Éanna Ní Lamhna with Minister for State, Pippa Hackett, and Coillte CEO Imelda Hurley, at the launch of National Tree Week 2023.

A tree planting session at Barretstown Children's Camp on Monday 20 March in Ballymore will be one of the local events to celebrate National Tree Week, which runs from 19-26 March, writes Brian Byrne.

Organised by The Tree Council of Ireland and supported by Coillte, National Tree Week has been running for over 35 years. This year’s theme of ‘Biodiversity Begins With Trees’ is designed to inspire people to plant and care for trees and to highlight the many benefits they provide to our environment and local communities.

Activities across the country will range from eco-art workshops and biodiversity talks to group forest walks and tree-planting. A series of expert-led webinars will offer information on the critical role of trees for the development of sustainable communities — supporting biodiversity, and providing food, shelter, and nesting materials for many species. Coillte is donating 150,000 native tree saplings to be distributed for planting by local community groups.

President of the Tree Council of Ireland Éanna Ní Lamhna has asked people to remember that trees are essential to our environment, and they have the biggest role to play in slowing down biodiversity loss. "It is our responsibility to plant and protect trees, not only for ourselves but for future generations."

Since its inception in 1985, National Tree Week has been responsible for planting almost a million trees in Ireland. Community groups planning events in their local area can register with the Tree Council, with those interested in obtaining oak, birch, alder, or rowan saplings for their own local planting initiatives invited to contact their local county council for further information.

To find out what’s happening in your local areas this National Tree Week visit www.treecouncil.ie.

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