TV cameras capture 5,000-tree planting project at Hodson Bay
A TV crew from the 'Ireland AM' show on Virgin Media was on hand yesterday (Wednesday) morning to capture work getting underway on the planting of 5,000 trees at Yew Point in Hodson Bay, Athlone.
Ireland AM's roving weatherman, Deric Ó h'Artagáin, returned to the Midlands to witness the start of the tree-planting, which was being undertaken in conjunction with The 100 Million Trees Project and the Hodson Bay hotel group's 'Yew Point at Hodson Bay' tourism development.
The 100 Million Trees Project is a national not-for-profit initiative being run by siblings Richard, David and Tina Mulcahy.
Its aim is to facilitate the planting of 100 million native Irish trees across the island of Ireland over the next decade to help address the environmental damage caused by the reduction of forests worldwide.
Speaking live from Hodson Bay on the Ireland AM show, Dr David Mulcahy pointed out that Ireland lagged behind other European countries in terms of forestation.
"There are not enough native trees, so we just decided we'd seize the moment and try and develop a community-based project," he said.
"There are about 135,000 farmers (in Ireland), so if each of them gave a quarter of an acre, in the corner of a field, we'd plant close to half a billion trees.
"But we're looking for anybody who has a spare bit of land. The IDA, last year, dug up a stone car park and we planted a beautiful (mini forest) in the middle of Athlone. So anything is possible.
"We're going to plant 2,500 trees for every quarter-acre site, so it's about ten times the normal intensity. We plant only native trees - fifteen different types."
Johnny O'Sullivan, a director of the Hodson Bay Group, spoke about the history of the 145-acre Yew Point site.
"The site is very unique in that it's been in specific ownership for hundreds of years, right back to when the monks had an abbey on the site, and up into more recent times when it was in the ownership of the Lenihan family," he said.
In January, planning permission was granted by Roscommon County Council for a 36-cabin eco-friendly tourist resort at Yew Point.
"Guests are highly environmentally aware, so regenerative tourism is a big focus. People are seeking regenerative tourism experiences," said Mr O'Sullivan.
"Our intention, along with regenerating the woodlands to their former glory, is to create a luxury accommodation five-star eco resort, so you'll have an accommodation experience along with opportunities for learnings around sustainability and the unique ecology of the site."
The trees being planted at Yew Point as part of the link-up with The 100 Million Trees Project were Scots Pine, Hazel, Oak and Birch trees, forester Gearóid Kennedy explained to the Ireland AM audience, and the report ended with weatherman Deric doing his bit by planting one of the trees.