Tree Planting in Palmerstown to Launch Tree Planting Programme

08/12/2016

Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.

Press Release: Tree Planting in Palmerstown to Launch Tree Planting Programme

The Mayor of South Dublin County, Cllr Guss O’Connell, launched the 2016/17 Tree Planting programme by planting a tree – Prunus cerasifera ‘Nigra’- at Culmore Road, Palmerstown, on Wednesday 29th November 2016.  South Dublin County Council has commenced the planting of 1,000 new street trees across the county as part of its winter 2016 / spring 2017 Tree Management Programme.  The locations being prioritised for planting, are areas where trees have been removed or where there is an identified need to increase the overall tree cover. The principle of planting the ‘right tree in the right place’ will apply for all new and replacement tree planting. Speaking at the launch the Mayor, Cllr O’ Connell said “We all benefit from the pleasure and character that trees bring to our streets and residential areas.  Indeed, in many ways their physical presence plays a strong part in defining the identity of our communities and gives us a sense of place. It is vital as passing guardians that we protect and pass that right on to future generations.”

As committed in South Dublin County Council’s 2015 - 2020 Tree Management Policy ‘Living With Trees’, the Council has identified an annual target and budget for tree planting.  Trees provide significant economic, social, environmental, ecological and aesthetic benefits to communities and to urban and residential streets, parks and open spaces.

Teresa Walsh, Director of Environment, Water & Climate Change said “Trees not only contribute to our County’s character and appearance but also helps in combatting climate change by capturing carbon dioxide and mitigating global warming. South Dublin County Council will continue to implement the 2015-2020 Action Plan for the Council’s Tree Management Policy ‘Living with Trees’ to ensure that we all benefit from the advantages of street trees in an urban environment”. 

The benefits of trees growing in an urban environment are extensive. They buffer noise, offer shade, reduce water runoff, control erosion, and absorb airborne particulates and pollutants thereby cleaning the air and reducing asthma and other respiratory conditions. People of all ages, income levels and abilities enjoy higher levels of physical, cognitive and emotional health when they have trees nearby. A rapidly growing body of scientific evidence links access to tree-lined streets and spending time around trees to lower levels of mortality and illness, higher levels of outdoor physical activity, restoration from stress, reduced risk of depression and anxiety disorders, accelerated recovery from surgery or illness and a greater sense of general well-being. Trees provide seasonal interest and natural beauty through foliage, leaf patterns, flowers, bark fruit and canopy. These features have proved to play a significant role in improving sensory stimulation, orientation and circadian rhythms.

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Images

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  Community Effort at Tree Planting in Palmerstown to Launch Tree Planting Programme
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  Mayor Guss O'Connell Plants Tree to Launch 2016 - 2017 Tree Planting Programme
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  Mayor of South Dublin County, Cllr Guss O’Connell, Launches 2016-17 Tree Planting Programme