Hoping to branch out as wide as possible with tree planting           

HOPING to branch out as wide as possible with a tree planting project is Gareth Caroll. 

The Newry man was successful in his endeavour to acquire no less than 100 saplings from the Trees on the Land project.

Administered with the help of local retailers the green fingered initiative aims to provide individuals such as Mr Caroll with an opportunity to plant trees throughout their local community which will steadily blossom over the years to come . 

 Saint Malachy's Carnagat, Rathore Special School and Derrymore Woods are just some of the benefactors from the initiative shown on the part of Gareth, with the Newry native sharing the fact that he was initially skeptical regarding his chances of success upon his application to the project. 

Distribution Mission

“There was a project online called Trees on the Land administered through Supervalu. I didn't think I was going to get them and the next minute I got an email saying that I had succeeded.

“They arrived  so I am on a mission to get them out,  about and distributed, with the planting due be started in the next couple of weeks.”    

With the cited raison d'être behind Trees on the Land being the  establishment of  tree cover in both  rural and urban areas which  will grow for many years, Gareth was only more than eager to ensure that local facilities such as schools and Derrymore wood play their part in helping the eponymous organisation fulfill its goals.  

 This and the blossoming flora will also be a sight to behold for both current  and future generations to come.  

 “Trees on the Land are partnered with Musgrave, Centra and Supervalu. They are sponsoring it.  I think they are trying to plant 30'000 trees in total which is good.

“They are 30 cm long saplings. However because they are native trees they are strong so they don't have to be put in certain times or a special way. You just create a wee hole with a spade, slide them in nice and carefully, squeeze any air pockets out of them and they will work away themselves. They are a strong tree and will grow massive. They will grow the same size as the tress in Derrymore  at the minute. It will probably take them 50 or 60 years until they are fully grown. There is a mixture of them Oak, Birch, Elm and Crab Apple. It is a good variety of native trees.

“I am giving Rathore roughly 15, Saint Malachy's 10, , the council is taking 20. I am going to give the rest to Derrymore Wood to plant in and around their garden as well around the wee forest walk to replace any trees that have fell. I am getting them distributed out rightly.

“It can be a wee project for the school and the teachers can teach the kids about the trees and get their green fingers going.”