Planting Trees around Ireland

Like our ancestors before us, the team here at My Irish Jeweler has a soft spot for trees, inspireing many of our favourite jewellery designs. Way back in July 2019, we announced an ambitious goal to plant 5000 native Irish trees here in Ireland through a partnership with a wonderful initiative called Trees on the Land.

We surpassed that goal in style in 2020, and we have now planted close 13,000 trees since we started. Achieving this wonderful result was down to your fantastic support. With such a successful start we've decided to continue and grow this initiative in 2023.

A virtual road Trip around Ireland

But before we do that, come with us on a virtual road trip around our lovely island to some of the places that are now home the trees we planted together in 2022.

Stop 1: The Dublin Mountains, Co. Dublin

Starting from My Irish Jeweler here in Dublin, it is a short 30 minute drive south west to our first stop near the beautiful Bohernabreena reservoir in the Dublin Mountains.

In early 2022, 300 native Irish trees including alder, birch, oak, scots pine, hawthorn, hazel, crab apple, spindle, and guelder rose were planted in a smallholding near Bohernabreena. Planted in pockets of woodland of 50 to 100 tress with some open grown trees, the aim is to encourage biodiversity in this lovely area, particularly for birds and mammals.

Stop 2: Portlaoise, Co Laois

Continuing south and west, we head down the M7 motorway to the bustling medieval market town Portlaoise. A stones throw from the Rock of Dunamase, with it’s ancient castle ruins once owned by Strongbow, Portlaoise Tidy Towns together with Laois County Council have turned their attention to greening an area of much newer dwellings with their Tree Cover Master Plan.

This initiative planted 500 hedgerow trees including birch, oak, hawthorn, hazel, blackthorn, and rowan in early 2022. This planting will create a diverse native hedgerow, creating an important habitat for birds, small mammals and insects and also helping to soak up carbon and local air pollutants.

Stop 3: The Tipperary Tree Cover Project, Co Tipperary

Continuing west to Co. Tipperary, there is a wonderful community project run by Tipperary County Council Group Water Schemes that sees local children planting tress in their local area in gardens and community green spaces. In early 2022, local children were busy planting 400 alder, birch, oak, scots pine, hawthorn, and hazel.

With a focus on species that will support birds and pollinators, it is hoped the trees will help to support local biodiversity and provide children with the powerful learning experience of seeing a tree that they have planted grow and mature through the seasons over many years to come

Stop 4: Oysterhaven, Co. Cork

Heading far south next to Oysterhaven Biodiversity Reserve, on Ireland's beautiful south Atlantic shore in Co. Cork

Established in 2021, the reserve was set up to research, develop, apply and share leading methods in nature restoration in a farming environment. In early 2022, 410 trees including alder, birch, scots pine, hawthorn, hazel, blackthorn, crab apple, spindle, guelder rose, and apple were planted in 2.8km of native hedgerow around the reserve. Woodland trees, mainly oak, was also planted to break up areas of bracken and replace lost ash and elm.

Stop 5: Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare

Heading north to the spectacular landscape of Co. Clare is our next stop in Lisdoonvarna. Lisdoonvarna is a lovely town well known for its warm welcome and famous matchmaking festival. Now Lisdoonvarna Fáilte is putting the town on the sustainability map with the Lisdoonvarna Tree Cover Project. In early 2022, the community planted 200 alder, birch, oak, scots pine, hawthorn, and hazel through the Trees on the Land initiative in their town park.

With a strong turn out for planting, it is hoped that the trees will increase the biodiversity of the park by creating areas of woodland, interspersed with meadows, ponds and pollinator friendly flowers. The trees were planted adjacent to existing woodland and also in small pockets, to extend and build resilience.

Stop 6: Connacht GAA, Co Mayo

GAA is at the heart of many communities and nowhere is that more true than at the new Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence. This large new sports facility has a campus of over 80 acres and they have put environmental sustainability and biodiversity enhancement to the fore with their Tree Planting Plan.

Together with Trees on the Land and an army of volunteers they are putting their Tree Planting Plan into action creating shelter belts and hedgerows along their playing pitches. In early 2022, the community came together to plant thousands of trees including 500 alder, birch, oak, scots pine, hawthorn, hazel, blackthorn, crab apple, spindle, and guelder rose donated with your support by My Irish Jeweler. It is hoped these trees will provide shelter for the people using the pitches while providing important habitat for birds, mammals and insects.

Stop 7: Ballyward

Heading back north and east across the island to the foothills of the Mourne Mountains is our last stop near Ballyward, Co.Down. Just down the road from the beautiful Castlewellan Forest Park, is a farm that is working to increase tree cover and biodiversity.

Over the winter of 2021-2022, 500 native Irish birch, hawthorn, hazel, rowan, blackthorn, as well as beech trees were planted along a 400m stretch, replacing crucial hedgerows that were removed from farm boundaries many years ago. Although beech isn't native to Ireland, they were included at 10m intervals to mimic the traditional existing hedgerows in the area, many of which have beech standards. Beech also provides good shade for livestock without any risk to cattle if windfall nuts are eaten.

It is hoped the hedgerow will also provide a habitat for birds and small mammals on the farm and improve soil quality, adding much micronutrients through decomposed leaf littler.

Last Stop

This might be the last stop on our road trip for 2022 but My Irish Jeweler is committed to continuing this wonderful partnership with Trees on the Land and planting native Irish trees across the island for future generations to enjoy. So as well as getting your own piece of Ireland with your carefully crafted Irish Jewellery, your support will also help to keep our lovely island green, returning the trees treasured by our ancestors to the land.

We do hope you have enjoyed this little tour and once again thank you for your continued support. We are honoured and delighted to be a part of such a wonderful community worldwide.