Community tree planting day to be held in Galway
The Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) will host a community tree planting day in Kylebrack West, Loughrea, Co. Galway, on Saturday, March 15 from 10a.m–2p.m.
There is an open invitation to join CELT in celebrating this year's National Tree Week theme, 'Planting trees, growing together.'
National Tree Week is Ireland’s largest annual tree celebration and is organised by the Tree Council of Ireland. Communities across the nation are invited to come together to appreciate the beauty and importance of the country's trees.
CELT's community tree planting day at the Slieve Aughty centre is part of a new collaborative nature restoration and afforestation project that it is working on.
"Our collaboration aims are to build on the ecological and biodiversity surveys of the area, and the potential of this site to create a new educational space and initiate this exciting nature restoration project," Julius Silvan, leader of the project, said.
Silvan said that the project's aim is to work with professional foresters and other specialist land management experts involved in the restoration of wetlands, biodiversity, hedgerows, and agroforestry at the Slieve Aughty centre in the coming years.
"We want to create an exemplar model and centre of excellence for nature restoration and bioregional education in the region, positioning CELT’s educational programme at the Slieve Aughty centre as a key regional outdoor nature education facility and demonstration project for agroforestry and biodiversity conservation," he said.
"We aim to expand on the educational potential and build on and enhance our existing educational programmes, which include foraging workshops, woodland crafts, and school tours.
"The partnership will offer new opportunities to extend its programme for local schools and community groups, expanding CELT’s educational outreach while positioning the Slieve Aughty centre as a key regional outdoor nature education facility and demonstration project for agroforestry and biodiversity conservation," Silvan added.
Planting, preparing land, or caring for young trees will be carried out and at 1:30p.m and lunch will be at 2p.m. Participants are advised to wear warm clothes and bring spare warm clothes and wellies and a spade if possible.
