First apple tree planted in Lucan under Have Your Say initiative
THE FIRST of 70 native apple trees was planted in Lucan this week as part of the €300k Have Your Say initiative. The tree was planted in Vesey Park, Lucan.
The Public Realm Section of South Dublin County Council will plant community orchards in Lucan Demesne, Vesey Park, Griffeen Valley Park, Willsbrook Park, Lucan and Waterstown Park, Palmerstown.
Apple tree varieties to be planted include, Kerry Pippin, Katy, James Grieve, Gibbons Russet, Ross Non Pareil, which are sweet tasting and suitable for eating. Other varieties like ‘Bramley’ will be planted for cooking.
County Mayor Paul Gogarty planting the first tree with Brendan Cahill, Foreman of Words with SDCC
South Dublin Mayor, councillor Paul Gogarty said: “I am delighted to be able to plant the first apple tree as part of the €300k Have Your Say initiative.
"Trees make a major contribution to the character, appearance and well-being of South Dublin County.
"They also enhance biodiversity and play an important role in mitigating climate change. Because apples, like most fruits, need to be cross-pollinated by insects to ensure the formation of fruit, it’s important to plant more than one variety so that bees and other pollinators can transfer pollen between them, and with this in mind, the Council’s Public Realm section will plant a number of varieties across the area.
“We hear a lot about our declining bee populations and so in planting apple orchards we are enhancing the landscape and contributing to the All Ireland Pollinator Plan 2015-2020.”
In 2017 South Dublin County Council launched the very first Participatory Budgeting process in Ireland with the €300k – Have Your Say initiative.
The Lucan electoral area, which includes Adamstown and Palmerstown, was the first area in the Country to take part. Over 160 ideas were generated through a combination of workshops and online submissions. 17 projects were voted on and 8 ideas were selected to be acted upon. One of these ideas was to plant native apple trees in the Lucan Electoral area.
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