Ours to Protect is a unique and exciting audio project – a collaboration of local and regional broadcasters from across the country who have come together to tackle climate change, champion climate action, and inform and educate audiences all over Ireland about how they can make a difference.
Today on ‘Ours To Protect’ John Morley talks to National Tree Day spokesperson Éanna Ní Lamhna as they call on primary school children across Galway to plant a tree.
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/e8ipbs/otp_ep_16_21st_september_202368m2q.mp3
Tip Sheet
This week Galway Bay FM looked at National Tree Day with the Tree Council’s spokesperson Éanna Ní Lamhna, as they call on primary school children across Galway to plant a tree.
Did you know…
- SPAR National Tree Day is taking place in Thursday, 5th October 2023
- The Tree Council of Ireland, in partnership with SPAR, is calling on primary school children across Galway to take the pledge and plant a tree.
- This year’s campaign, themed “Nuts about Nature”- “Fiáin chun Dúlra”, aims to encourage children, parents and teachers to connect directly with nature by planting one of the 2,000 Native Irish Hazel tree saplings available FREE for primary schools across the country on www.treeday.ie.
- SPAR National Tree Day offers a great opportunity for children and their teachers to step outside the classroom and foster a deeper understanding of trees and their role in nature. This year’s ‘Nuts about Nature’ campaign focuses on the native Hazel tree, also known as Corylus avellana or Crann Coll, which plays host to a diverse ecosystem and highlights its crucial role in supporting biodiversity as well as being the home for the campaign’s mascot, Sammy Squirrel.
- According to Irish folklore, the Hazel tree is also steeped in wisdom and mystery, believed to be the first creation on Earth and a repository of universal knowledge. As the legend goes, when a salmon consumed the nuts that fell from the Hazel tree into the Well of Wisdom, it gained all the knowledge the tree bore, becoming the fabled Salmon of Knowledge.
Why planting native is trees so important?
- Native trees are well adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, making them more likely to thrive and require less maintenance.
- They provide habitat and food sources for native wildlife, supporting biodiversity and helping to maintain healthy ecosystems.
- Native trees help prevent soil erosion and improve water quality by absorbing excess nutrients and filtering pollutants from runoff.
- They contribute to carbon sequestration, helping to mitigate climate change by absorbing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
- Planting native trees can also help preserve cultural and historical connections to the land, as many native tree species have significance in local traditions and folklore.
What can I do to help support afforestation efforts?
- Participate in tree-planting events or volunteer with organisations dedicated to afforestation.
- Donate to organizations that focus on planting trees and restoring forests.
- Educate yourself and others about the importance of afforestation and spread awareness.
- Support sustainable forestry practices and products made from responsibly sourced wood.
- Practice sustainable living by reducing your own carbon footprint and supporting initiatives that promote reforestation.
Here’s a few websites if you want to know more!
- Treeday.ie www.treeday.ie
- Tree Council of Ireland treecouncil.ie
- Gov.ie https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/a53e3-european-commission-approves-afforestation-measures-in-forestry-programme-2023-2027/
For more info go over to galwaybayfm.ie, click on Our to Protect image on home page. You could try out the ‘Ecological Footprint’ calculator and you can take a quick survey.
‘Ours To Protect’ brought to you by Galway Bay fm, the IBI and funded by Coimisiún na Meán with the television licence fee – check out ‘ours to protect.ie for more info.
