News
National Tree Week
National Tree Week in Ireland was an exciting annual event, with the recent celebrations taking place from March 3rd to March 10th, 2024. This captivating week-long celebration, is organised by the Tree Council of Ireland in partnership with Coillte, aimed to raise awareness about the importance of trees and promote tree planting initiatives across the country.
Emma Hutchinson, the Project Manager of ITEN, penned a fascinating piece for RTÉ Brainstorm, Ireland's premier online platform for thought-provoking discussions. RTÉ Brainstorm aimes to make academic insights accessible to the public, and Emma's article was a shining example of this mission! Emma emphasised the significance of choosing the right species when planting, encouraging the use of native trees to support local wildlife and minimise disease risks. Ireland is fortunate to host 28 native tree species that are ideally suited to its unique ecosystem! For more information Native Irish Trees (treecouncil.ie)
Dr. Eoin Lettice Primary Investigator of the ITEN project, attended a must-see special lecture for Tree Week 2024 at the stunning National Botanic Gardens of Ireland (NBG). Founded in 1795, this 48-acre oasis in Glasnevin, Dublin, housed over 20,000 plant species from around the world! The engaging talk was delivered by the NBG director, Dr. Matthew Jebb.
Despite their busy schedule, The ITEN team continued their mission to create a network of living tree collections in Ireland during Tree Week, embarking on site trips to the Donadea Forest Park in Co. Kildare and the Sonairte Ecology Centre in Co. Meath!
The ITEN team also hosted an social media competition for the public, offering a free 'Leaves of Common Irish Trees' guide as a prize. This engaging initiative was sure to inspire people to learn more about the incredible diversity of tree species in Ireland.