Tree of Hope and National Tree Week

17000 trees are being given away. Yes, It's National Tree Week and if this weekends closing date is too soon for you to get one, we can at least be aware of the ones in our gardens and see they are doing OK by checking cables and stakes are not too tights and there are no broken branches hanging. The actual Tree Week started on the first of this month by the tree council of Ireland and they go one step further caring for trees on a national level.

What is the Tree Council?

The Tree Council is an umbrella body for organisations involved in tree planting, management and conservation. The main role of the Tree Council is to promote the planting, care and enjoyment of trees. It does this through networking with its members and friends, the organisation of events and tree related activities, the publication of literature, and the management of national tree records and through the provision of an information service to the public.

The heritage trees register is an important resource that the Tree Council is involved in creating and maintaining. The heritage and ancient trees to survive as long as possible and the Tree Council help protect them. They find the trees, map them, photograph and record them.

More than just trees planting

As well as tree planting ceremonies, the range of events this year will include: forest and woodland walks, nature trails, tree climbing, poetry readings, exhibitions competitions, tree plantations (where communities are challenged to plant a target number of trees on a designated local site over a fixed time period) and of course the week wouldn’t be complete without a tree hugging session.

 What can we do to celebrate Tree Week?

As I mentioned, we have until this coming Sunday to take part in something. So if there isn’t time for this year then maybe think longer term and organise something for next year.

A few suggestions would be for schools to have planting days, do an environmental play with the children, get Tidy Towns groups involved in cleaning up wooded areas and planting. Then there’s always organising walking days with a tree expert.

For more information on what’s available and what you can do in the future check out the Tree Councils website. http://treecouncil.ie/initiatives/tree-week/

Tree of Hope

One date for the diary in Donegal this weekend is a tree planting day organised by the Tree of Hope. The Tree of Hope is a voluntary group set up recently by Noeleen Fulham who wanted to provide a place of comfort where survivors can memorialise their loved ones lost to suicide or living with depression by planting a tree in their memory.

I asked Noeleen how the idea came about.  “I had sadly lost loved ones to suicide and found myself in a dark place; I just couldn’t get my head around the Whys? The What if? The loss? And the anger. I wasn’t in a space to go into a help centre or call a help line so I walked and I would walk for miles just trying to clear my head.  Then last March 2014 I saw an advert from the National Tree Council Of Ireland asking people to plant a Tree for Tree Week.”

Noeleen continues “Then the idea came to me...to get a tree and call the tree the “Tree of Hope” The tree will be a focal point in the community as a symbol to all affected by a suicide or living with mental health issues to show our Support. 

The Tree Plantings are really taking off and my dream is for everyone nationwide/worldwide to plant a Tree of Hope in their own Community.

The Trees are always being visited by people and young children leave items under the Tree's for their Mam or Dad who may have sadly gone too soon. It's great healing for the children too. ...I wish there was a Tree Of Hope near me when I was walking along feeling so low. I know I would have stopped, took time out there and knew someone cared.”

Noeleen has set up a Facebook page until their website is up and running. The page gives details about where the tree are being planted and how to set up and plant a tree in your own community.

This week’s event on Sunday, 8th March starts at 12 noon on the Gwedore Road, Letterkenny. For more details visit Noeleen Fulham on 0863672209 email her at noeleenfulham1@yahoo.ie or go into the Facebook page facebook.com/TreesOfHope