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
