merrion street

Shane McEntee, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for forestry, has marked ‘Tree Day 2012’ at a tree planting ceremony in Yellow Furze National School, Navan, Co. Meath.

Tree Day is taking place this Thursday 11 October and is an annual event organised by the Tree Council of Ireland to increase children’s awareness of the importance and benefits of trees. It is a day when primary school children have an opportunity to appreciate trees and our environment in general through learning activities, woodland walks and other events around the country. This year’s event is organised by the Tree Council of Ireland with the support of the Department of Education and Skills and is sponsored by Tetra Pak, in association with Avonmore.

Noting the theme of this year’s Tree Day, the Minister said “The theme of this year’s event is 'If Trees Could Talk' and it is to encourage us to appreciate trees and all of the events that they witness throughout their long lives. The Tree Council of Ireland published a book some years ago about ‘Champion Trees – A Selection of Ireland’s Great Trees’ in which it estimated that some yew trees in Ireland are between 700 and 1200 years old. I also note that one of Ireland's oldest trees is a Yew tree, commonly known as the 'Silken Thomas Yew' at St. Patrick's College in Maynooth, dating back to the 12th century.” Minister McEntee added, “Trees have been a feature of the Irish landscape for centuries and this year’s Tree Day is an opportunity for us to reflect on events in our locality and in the wider world when a particular tree was planted and the many changes it has witnessed over the years”.

The Minister also thanked the staff and pupils at Yellow Furze National School for hosting the tree planting ceremony.