The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kerry fights back against climate change as part of One Million Trees in One Day project
FARMERS, students, community groups and nature lovers planted thousands of native species saplings right across the county on Saturday as part of an ambitious all-island initiative fighting back against climate change and the loss of habitat.
One Million Trees in One Day – running in conjunction with Enterprise Rent-a-Car – had already seen 650,000 trees planted in Ireland in the pilot phase of the charity from 2013-2016, even before the small army of the green-fingered got to work on Saturday.
Following the day’s work, it’s likely the charity is much closer to the million mark. Manna Organic Farm in Gleann na nGealt, run by Thomas and Clare O’Connor, was one of the depots in Kerry to which 8,500 trees were dropped.
“We had a fantastic day of it in great weather and managed to get around 5,500 blackthorn and hawthorn hedging down around the 1.1km perimeter of the farm on the day,” Thomas told The Kerryman.
Up to 10 of the volunteers there were from Enterprise Rent-a-Car with friends of the couple and customers of their organic store in Tralee comprising the rest of the meitheal.
“I’d say they all slept on Saturday night!” Thomas laughed. “They did a power of work and across the island it’s estimated that well over 100,000 trees were planted on the day alone. We will also be planting a damson and plum orchard here in the coming weeks as part of the initiative.
“Trees are the lungs of the earth and we’ve been cutting them back for long enough so it’s great to take part in an initiative like this. And it’s priceless in terms of biodiversity.”