What Reasons for Cutting Down Trees in Ireland? and Boomtree Bees Want Your Trunks

Do you believe the increasing number of trees being cut down in Ireland by local councils is because it’ll improve 5G coverage?

If so it could mean faster phones and the ability do have driverless cars when it’s introduced, but it’s hard to see how a tree in a town could slow down the signal. 

I still think that the world works by valves warming up so I can’t really comment. 

Felling Trees

There are also rumours that trees are being felled because of claims from insurance companies, they are messy, can increase a house value if removed or they are being sold off for pulp to raise money for struggling councils. 

The Green Party are trying to stop the spate of tree felling that is being reported around the country. They also reported that a number of Gardaí were deployed to oversee tree felling in one housing estate in Waterford as it was being protested by locals. This has been done without consultation and against the will of local people and has generated substantial local anger.

Reports of significant tree felling are coming from Waterford, Cork City, Tipperary, Limerick, Westmeath, Mayo, and a few parts of Dublin. There don’t seem to be any reports of Donegal County Council taking part in the cull though so a big hand for our town planners. The more trees we can keep the better.

There does come a time though when trees need to be removed.  Maybe they are old, diseased or pose a real hazard to life. It’s inevitable they go and with careful management something suitable can be planted in its place. Do you have any thoughts about the situation or have you had first hand experiences at the hands of over zealous council workers?

For every one tree felled, plant three more is the way to go.

Homes for the Bees

There are a few uses for old felled trees. Burning them of course, but that will release carbon back into the atmosphere. Shredding them to use as mulch, and my favourite way to reuse them is to get Michiel Verspuij from Boomtree Bees in Buncrana to come along in his pick-up truck (If it’s not too far away) , take the trunk back to his workshop and turn it into a natural log bee hive. These are a true work of art, especially when topped off with a thatched roof.

Michiel is looking for trunks of 20” (50cm) diameter or more to convert to hives. Any dead, fallen or hollow trunks will do.  Ash, oak, beech, Scots pine, larch all preferred but other types are also welcome. Generally for durability for the hives, hardwoods have more durability.

Michiel is running a couple of workshops very soon if you would like to learn a bit more about how these natural hives work and replicate the bees natural habitat which reduces the need for human intervention.

Log Hive Workshop March 30^th -Drumnaph Nature Reserve/ An Carn Maghera Co Derry

Throughout the workshop you will learn about the life of the honeybee and its colony. You will be actively involved in the making and erecting of the hive.

Cost: £50 (lunch included)

April the 13^th Honeybee Conservation in Inishowen- Boomtreebees, Westbrook, Buncrana

Learn about how to help the honeybees in Inishowen.  An afternoon packed with information about honeybees, their natural habitat, what their needs are and tips on how to help with their preservation/conservation. Find out about housing that mimics their natural abode and see honeybees up close. It will be an informative afternoon for the whole family. It’s just €5 entry  with tea and coffee provided.  1pm - 4pm

For more information about the courses or if you have an old tree stump to donate, check out www.boomtreebees.com or you can contact Michiel on (00353) 0862698474 or on Facebook @boomtreebees.

Tree Care in March

As we are on the subject of trees, here are a couple of tips to look after your own.

• Feed trees, shrubs and hedges with a slow-release fertiliser by lightly forking it into the soil surface.
• Move smaller deciduous trees or shrubs. Now is the time to do this task, provided the soil isn’t frozen or waterlogged.
• Mulch fruit trees with well-rotted manure or garden compost. Take care not to mound mulch up around tree trunks.
• Weed, feed and mulch fruit trees and bushes