TIDY TOWNS TREE PROJECT AWARD

The Tidy Towns Tree Project Award

is a special competition sponsored by The Tree Council of Ireland to recognise the huge impact that properly positioned trees can have in a town or village and the importance of having the right tree in the right place. The award is not just about planting but also acknowledges good practice in the management of trees over their life-span as well as initiatives that raise awareness of the significance of trees in a locality. An award of €1,000 is made to the Tidy Towns Committee that has demonstrated the highest standards in tree placement, maintenance and awareness-raising.

Painting of oak tree on wall of house in Ardee
Mural in Ardee.

The National Tidy Towns Competition

is an annual competition organised by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government with the support of the main sponsor SuperValu and many other agencies. The competition involves participating areas being rated on all aspects of their local environment and prizes awarded to the best under many different categories. The overall winner is "Ireland's Tidiest Town" which is announced at a national ceremony in September each year. In addition to the main competition, special competitions and awards are held each year under Tidy Towns which highlight particular local environmental activities. More.

TREE PROJECT AWARD 2011

Winner: Ardee Tidy Towns Tree Inventory Project
Ardee Tidy Towns initiated the cataloguing and mapping of a tree trail in Ardee town taking in trees of significance at various locations in the town. This community awareness-raising initiative evolved into the ‘Trail A Tree Through Ardee’ project whereby significant trees have been labelled with details about their species, information panels have been developed and put on display highlighting a trail of the trees of significance throughout the town and public art displays relating to trees have been installed at key locations throughout the town. As part of their awareness-raising campaign, Ardee Tidy Towns joined with Ardee Active Retirement and the three, green-flag, primary schools in the town to hold a very colourful and innovative ‘Tree Tribes’ parade through Ardee town to celebrate trees during National Tree Week 2011.

TREE PROJECT AWARD 2010

Winner: Kilkenny 400 Fruit Tree Project
Kilkenny’s 400 Fruit Tree project marked the 400th Anniversary of the signing of the City Charter by planting 400 native and heritage varieties of apple, pear, plum and cherry trees throughout the city and environs during 2009/2010. The fruit trees were divided into 40 “orchards” of 10 trees that were planted in school yards, church grounds, residential estates, parks and green spaces and civic and corporate grounds.

More information available here.

A video of one of the tree plantings was made, see below.

http://futureproofkilkenny.org/?page_id=516