The local community recently did their bit to combat climate change with several tree plantings.
It was all part National Tree Week, a week-long annual event organised by the Tree Council of Ireland since 1985 to celebrate trees.
Among the many events that took place, students from Griffeen Valley Educate school in Lucan got the shovels out to plant a tree at their school on Tuesday (2nd April).
Tree planting is an integral part of the Tree Management Policy the council has adopted in their Tree Management Policy ‘Living with Trees’.
Under their Tree Planting Programme, native oaks, birches and pine trees, along with other types, have been planted in Rathfarnham, Palmerstown and Tallaght.
Over the last three years over 4,000 trees have been planted in the county.
Trees provide significant economic, social, environmental, ecological and aesthetic benefits to the local community and to its urban and residential streets, parks and open spaces.
Having access to more trees in built up areas has a positive impact on the environment as they enhance biodiversity and play a crucial role in mitigating climate change.
Old Bawn Community School in Tallaght also did their bit by planting a grove of apple trees in Sean Walsh Park, close to their school.
As well as their tree planting programme, the council have created two Ogham Stone Native Irish Tree Trails in Tallaght, one in the Dodder Valley and the other in Sean Walsh Park.
Speaking at the official opening of the Ogham Stone trail Deputy Mayor Cllr Cathal King said: “The planting of native trees along this new tree trail promotes and enhances the amenity and ecological value of Dodder Valley Park.
“The Ogham Stone signage will allow people to identify and name the trees and will serve as an educational resource for the area.”
The council have placed stone signs with the Ogham marker for each tree along the trail as well as cut the Ogham sign into the side of the stone.
Each stone sign names the trees in Irish, English and Latin as well as detailing the leaf, fruit and shape of the trees.
South Dublin County Council director of services Teresa Walsh told Dublin Gazette:
“The trees that have been planted this week will help support pollinators as well as contributing to the council’s action against climate change, which includes an increase in trees planted across the county.”
