BERNICE HARRISON on alternatives to movies and the mall
Back to your roots
National Tree Week begins tomorrow, a good reminder to get out into the fresh air and take a closer look at the trees around us. Even if you’re not near a forest, a walk in your local park should provide some tree-spotting opportunities: the afternoons are brighter for longer, and it costs nothing.
It’s also worth reminding little ones that trees aren’t only decorative: they take in carbon dioxide from the air and convert much of it into wood, helping in the battle against climate change, and they produce oxygen. Only 10 per cent of Ireland is forested, compared with the EU average of 36 per cent. The plan is to increase the Irish percentage to 17 by 2035.
Every county has family events for National Tree Week. Tomorrow in Co Donegal, for example, Glenveagh National Park has a Wonderful Woodlands family activity day (1pm-4pm). In Kilkenny, Coillte has organised a guided walk tomorrow in Jenkinstown Forest Park (meet at noon in the car park; light refreshments for all children after the walk). At 2.30pm on Wednesday, the wonderfully named Nobles and Commoners guided walk takes place at Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve, in Co Cork, organised by the National Parks Wildlife Service. The idea is to see how many of the trees listed in the eighth- century Bretha Comaithchesa can be found; there will also be snippets of local history and the folklore of trees.
To find an event near you, see www.treecouncil.ie.