Tree planting event: Saturday 20 March
Nature lovers are invited to don welly boots for a special afternoon of tree planting. The Woodland Trust’s Burntollet Wood - in the beautiful Faughan Valley, just outside Londonderry - awaits you on Saturday 20 March, from 12 to 4pm.
A guided nature trail offers tree planters the chance to discover the natural treasures of Burntollet Wood, while bird expert Dot Blakely will share a wealth of bird identification tips.
Visitors might also independently explore the beauty of nearby Ness Country Park. This Area of Special Scientific Interest is rich in both woodland and wildlife, including the endangered red squirrel. A new pathway now links Burntollet to the Country Park, and gives visitors access to almost 9 kilometres of woodland and riverside walks.
The Woodland Trust has ambitious plans to plant over 43,000 native trees at Burntollet Wood. As the young trees grow, they will buffer the nearby precious ancient woods which dot the banks of the Burntollet River. And within as little as 12 years, today’s bare land will be transformed into flourishing woodland - a fantastic natural resource for the benefit of both people and wildlife.
This event is part of the Trust’s ‘Tree For All’ campaign. Funded by Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Tree For All gives both adults and children the chance to get close to nature.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for everyone - from both sides of the border – to roll their sleeves up and make a personal, lasting contribution to Burntollet Wood, while enjoying the stunning beauty of the Faughan Valley landscape,” says the Trust’s Gregor Fulton. “Tree planting got underway last November, when members of the public and schoolchildren planted the first of thousands of trees. We hope that both local people and visitors will join us once again, and look forward to showing everyone the results of our efforts to-date.”
Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and bring welly boots or sturdy footwear (and a spade, if you have one!). All children must be accompanied by an adult. For further information visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/burntollet or telephone the Woodland Trust on 028 9127 5787.
The tree planting is in keeping with BBC Breathing Places; a partnership between the BBC and conservation organisations which aims to connect people, including children, with nature.
Notes to editors
For media enquiries contact:
Kaye Coates at the Woodland Trust’s Bangor Office on 028 9127 5787; email kayecoates@woodlandtrust.org.uk or
The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121; email media@woodlandtrust.org.uk
The Woodland Trust:
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters.
The Trust has three key aims: i) to enable the creation of more native woods and places rich in trees ii) to protect native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future iii) to inspire everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to its sites is free.
Here in Northern Ireland the Woodland Trust cares for 51 woods. These woods contain a mix of recently planted woodland, mature woodland and ancient woodland (that’s land continuously wooded since at least 1600). We have recently produced the first-ever comprehensive record of Northern Ireland’s ancient woodland; find out more at www.backonthemap.org.uk