Farmers are being asked to plant a native Irish tree to celebrate Earth Day on 22 April to help reduce Ireland’s carbon footprint.
The Tree Council of Ireland with Irish Central has launched Irish Heritage Tree – a program that will plant 12,000 native Irish trees in a 500-acre historic site in the Golden Vale in County Tipperary that is home to numerous wildlife species.
The 500-acre organic beef farm in Bansha, County Tipperary, is an example of environmentally sustainable farming. Owner John Purcell said he hopes his farm will be carbon neutral by 2025. He believes that the farm is on course to meet that target due to a number of environmental measures that he has installed.
He has already planted around 6,500 native Irish trees on the banks of the river and hopes the planting of 12,000 additional trees during the Irish Heritage Tree program will help increase new biodiversity corridors at the farm.
“Our target is to be carbon neutral by 2025 and these trees are going to be a big help,”said Mr Purcell.
The trees will help reduce the farm’s carbon footprint as they sequester carbon from the air, while they will also create a natural shelter belt for his cattle.
“The native trees that we plan to grow will last for up to 500 years, so you’re leaving a long legacy there,” he said. “You wouldn’t believe the contribution it’s making to the environment and our biodiversity in just one tree, the number of animals that it supports – the bugs, the caterpillars, the bees, nesting for birds.”
LSL News.