What is Ireland's largest single tree-planting event? Bord Gais claims it is its effort of next Sunday, March 7th, when, in one day mark you, it will plant no fewer than 5,000 trees - yes, five thousand. How will the board do it? Will it have the trees suitably protected as to the roots, lying there, at the edge of the holes, ready to be tipped in. Bord Gais is doing this, it announces in its invitation card, in partnership with Conservation Volunteers Ireland and South Dublin County Council. An invitation card asks you if you would be available at Tymon Park, Limekiln Road, Tallaght, Dublin, the scene of the planting, for the 10 a.m. shift or the 12 noon or the 2 p.m. You have to send back the form provided and you will get a full pack providing information on the location, what to wear and what to expect on the day. No children, unfortunately, under 12 allowed. The organisers see their project as helping to make Dublin a greener and therefore a healthier city. Great stuff. This is described by the authors as an initiative of the Millennium Urban Forest Campaign supported by South Dublin County Council.
And, of course there are our friends at Crann, and a letter from hem reminds us that Crann is "very focused on bringing about the miracle of re-leafing Ireland for us all. Never in our country's history has there been a more important and exciting time for trees." A letter from the Chairperson of Crann, Denis Heenan, reminds us of the huge project to mark the Millennium project - to plant al- most half a million broadleaf trees in "Oak Glen 2" on the shores of Lough Derg on the Shannon. It is a major environmental initiative and will include craft developments, wild bird protection, coppicing and hedgerow establishment and maintenance. On coppicing, by the way, is it practised at all in Ireland now? Maybe in the case of hazels, whose unending production of those long, lovely rods is one of the wonders we take for granted.
Anyway, Crann will be very much there at the millennium. So, too, will others. The Tree Council of Ireland has its plans, with Dr Declan Little as project direction. Green, Green, Greener. Conservation Volunteers: Phone Dublin 4547185.
The journal mentioned in the last line of yesterday's Eye should have read: Le Chasseur Francais.