GAA Club plants 1,000 trees to help improve biodiversity

MEMBERS of a Clondalkin sports club planted over 1,000 trees this month, in the hopes of improving biodiversity and rewilding prospects at their club grounds.

Round Tower GAA Club applied to the Cork-based charity Trees on the Land, for support to plant native trees at their Monastery Road grounds, around the pitch, Astro and carpark.

“We were extremely grateful to receive funding for this project from Trees on the Land, who helped to fund the land preparation and removal of existing leylandii trees and existing laurel hedgerow to make way for the planting,” said Sinéad Curran, a member of Round Tower GAA Club.

“With the help of many amazing volunteers and children from the club, throughout the club grounds in March, we planted over 1,000 biodiversity-friendly native trees, including Alder, Hawthorn, Hazel, Rowan, Spindle, Birch, Crap Apple and various species of apple trees that make up a small orchard.

Members took part in a one-off clearing of the land beforehand, and all 1,040 trees were supplied by Trees on the Land.

The work neatly fits in with timing for National Tree Week, which kicks off on March 19, at the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland.

Organised by The Tree Council of Ireland and supported by Coillte, the week-long series of events is dedicated to celebrating and raising awareness of the importance of trees to the environment.

Planting trees at the entrance to the pitches

At Round Tower GAA, this was already passionately supported by members.

“As a club, it is incredibly important for us to care for the environment and make sure we choose sustainable ecological practice that will benefit future generations,” said Sinéad.

“We also planted a native hedgerow, a small woodland area, and planted on the perimeter of the club carpark with the aim to manage the off-pitch grass area for pollinators and increase rewilding and biodiversity on the grounds.

“In the future as the trees take shape we would like to turn our existing walkway into a native walking trail for the public and our members to enjoy, and eventually fell as many of the large leylandii trees currently surrounding these grounds. The problem with this not native tree species, is that it is not conducive to Irish ecology. They grow extremely fast, are difficult to maintain which makes them problematic. The growth at a great potential height can become a serious problem if they fall, they block out light, and do not attract native bird species.”

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