Portuguese enjoy Arboretum trees
AS part of a three day forestry fact-finding mission to Ireland, 22 members of the Portuguese professional forestry association Associação Florestal do Lima visited the JFK Arboretum where they were given a guided tour.
Organised by Veon, Ireland’s largest professional forestry management company which has an office in Blackstoops, Enniscorthy, the forestry members were given a tour by head guide Mary O’Neill-Moloney, and head gardener Kevin Naughton.
The JFK Memorial Park and Arboretum has 252 hectares (623 acres) situated on the southern slopes and summit of Slievecoiltia. The arboretum contains 4,500 types of trees and shrubs from all temperate regions of the world, planted in botanical sequence and there are 200 forest plots grouped by continent.
The guided tour was also attended by Thomas O’Dwyer, Veon’s Regional Manager in the South East and Paul Brosnan, Veon’s Marketing Director who commented that the visit provided a wonderful showcase of professionalism and dedication by the staff of the Office of Public Works and was very much appreciated by the Portuguese foresters who said that it was a major highlight of their visit to Ireland.
Mariano Freitas of Associação Florestal do Lima explained that their visit to Ireland was to learn more about the Irish forestry sector and especially Veon’s role in timber management, mobilisation and logistics and to share expertise and experience in the challenges facing European forestry in the years ahead.
Thomas O’ Dwyer said: ‘ The JFK Arboretum is such a wonderful resource for County Wexford and the welcome we received was exceptional. Our Portuguese colleagues really appreciated the tour and the array of amazing species contained in the arboretum.’ A purple Volkswagon Bora car was stolen from the Waterside apartments parking area in New Ross on Friday morning.
The theft of the 1999 vehicle occurred at around 1.30 a.m. Anyone with information can contact gardaí on 051 426030.