Tree Council of Ireland
Éanna Ní Lamhna and Tony Killeen TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (with special responsibility for Fisheries and Forestry) with pupils from St Patrick's Comprehensive School in Shannon at the recent launch of Project Forest.
The Tree Council of Ireland is a voluntary non-governmental organisation which was formed in 1985, to promote the planting, care and conservation of trees in both urban and rural areas.
It is the umbrella body linking together 50 organisations connected by their appreciation of trees, and it aims to foster a tree and wood culture among Irish people.
National Tree Week 2010 7 – 13 March 2010
‘Fiche is a Deich - Cuir Crainn Arís’
‘Twenty Ten – Plant Again’
National Tree Week will take place from 7-13 March 2010. The theme is ‘Twenty Ten – Plant Again’. We are asking people to make a renewed effort to go out and plant more trees during the week.
Tree Day 2010 - Thursday 7th October
On Thursday 7th October 2010 all primary school children in Ireland will leave their school bags at home and spend the day learning about trees in a fun and relaxed environment.
Project Forest
The Tree Council is delighted to make Project Forest available to all Transition Year Students. The project is available only on a dedicated web site www.projectforest.ie
Heritage Tree Hunt
We want our heritage and ancient trees to survive as long as possible and to do this we need to protect them. The only way we can do this is to know where they are. We need to find them, map them, photograph them and record them. We are appealing to as many people as possible to tell us about their trees!
Read about The Heritage Tree Hunt or inform us of any heritage trees you have found.
Mission Statement
"Fostering a tree culture in Ireland through action and awareness"
Objectives
- To educate the public about trees.
- Facilitate networking among members.
- Be a representative voice for tree culture and tree promotion.
Action
The Council is responsible for a range of tree planting and conservation programmes, organises seminars and workshops. In addition the Council co-operates with organisations and local authorities in urban tree projects and manages a major woodland project in Baltrath Wood, Co. Meath.
Awareness
Includes educational programmes, which aim to foster a tree and woodland culture especially among our young people. We achieve this through a series of tree projects and events.
An Fhuinseog
‘An Fhuinseog’, a new book on growing hurley ash for profit, written by well known forester Dr Jack Durand, was launched during National tree Week by broadcaster and GAA veteran Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh. The book, sponsored by Irish Life & Permanent and produced by the Tree Council of Ireland, highlights the shortage of ash for the purpose of producing the estimated 500,000 new hurleys required every year to service our national games. 60% of the ash required for hurleys is imported. As well as giving valuable information about the planting, protection and maintenance of this majestic tree, the book highlights the economic benefits to ash growers and encourages farmers to plant these trees as part of their farming activity.
An Fhuinseog focuses on “one of our most widespread native trees”, and the book hopes to encourage “farmers to consider ash as an alternative crop”. We have to import large supplies from England, even from the Queen’s own estates.
Ash is also imported from mainland Europe especially Eastern Europe, a situation which could change if there was an increase in native production. Ash is our most common and tallest native tree and thrives in Ireland on fertile soils. The tallest ash is in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, measuring 40 metres.”
- One and a half acres of ash can produce 3,800 hurleys.
- There are over 100 hurley manufacturers in Ireland and about 20 commercial producers capable of producing between 10,000 and 20,000 hurleys per annum.
- The ash tree needs to be 25 to 30 years old to produce top quality hurleys.
Speaking at the launch Conor Ryan from Irish Life & Permanent said they were delighted to be sponsoring this book. “We are delighted to be involved in helping to promote a greater awareness and understanding of our natural environment and welcome this publication.
Our involvement with this book coincides with our strategy to actively encourage our 135,000 shareholders to reduce paper usage by opting to receive company communications electronically to help save the environment.”
The books is available form the Tree Council by sending a SAE with 55cent.
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