Call on council to plant native trees on public land

Westmeath County Council is assessing whether public land can be planted with native trees as part of a government scheme.

The news followed a motion from Cllr John Dolan (FG) calling on the local authority to get involved in The Native Woodland Establishment Scheme, run by the Department of Agriculture, which encourages the planting of native species on public or private land.

He said native trees could be planted on public land and parks at no cost to the council. They are also maintained for five years by a contractor, a grant is available for private landowners to get involved in the initiative.

He maintained there are plenty of opportunities for land in council ownership particularly, Burgess Park, where "a vast expanse" of land is available.

"In my mind, this is a no-brainer. There is no cost (to the council). Even on a pilot basis for Burgess Park, it would be worthwhile," he told the November meeting of the Municipal District of Athlone Moate.

Green Cllr Louise Heavin agreed, saying there are lots of bits of land in public ownership; she was thinking of some near the greenway, and following road projects that could be planted. It would save the council in mowing costs, she added.

A written reply to the motion indicated some encouraging moves by the local authority, which Cllr John Dolan welcomed.

It indicated that as of August last, the Environment section of Westmeath County Council is "assessing the suitability of all council-owned lands" in relation to scheme criteria.

"This assessment is cognisant of the current actions contained within the Council’s Climate Adaptation Strategy," it noted in its reply to the motion.