Hundreds of tree planters lined the Faughan Valley landscape during a special week-long series of events at the Woodland Trust’s Burntollet Wood, not far from Londonderry.
Saturday (20 March) saw local people and visitors make a lasting contribution to the new wood by planting at least 3,000 trees in one afternoon. The planting is part of the Woodland Trust’s ambitious plan to plant over 43,000 native trees at Burntollet. As the young trees grow, they will buffer the nearby precious ancient woods which dot the banks of the Burntollet River, providing an extended haunt for the Valley’s precious wildlife.
During the weekdays that followed (Monday 22 to Thursday 25 March), pupils from six local primary schools and a visiting school from County Donegal, stepped out on a voyage of woodland discovery, brimming with tree planting, storytelling and nature trails. With a prior helping hand from artists from Artworks, each school also designed and created a special mosaic tile.
“Each tile is handmade with tiny pieces of coloured pebbles, meticulously pieced together to form the image of a woodland creature. We have a total of eight tiles, including a kestrel, bat and barn owl; each one strategically placed within the wood,” said the Woodland Trust’s Gregor Fulton. “The tiles, just like the trees, are permanent features which will hopefully be enjoyed by our future generations. They’re truly special and well worth seeing.”
The Mayor of Derry, Councillor Paul Fleming, made his mark by planting a tree and commented: “As today’s saplings mature, Burntollet Wood will become a fantastic natural resource - a much-needed habitat for wildlife and a place of quiet recreation for people. The Woodland Trust has worked tirelessly to breathe new life into the landscape and it’s especially heartening to find so many people – locals, visitors and schoolchildren, from both sides of the border, playing an active part. It’s thanks to such collective efforts that we really can begin to change landscapes.”
To find out more about Burntollet Wood visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/burntollet
The tree planting and woodland discovery days are part of the Woodland Trust’s ‘Tree For All’ campaign, funded by Northern Ireland Environment Agency.