Smyth looking for land to plant native woods

Does anyone know of a piece of land around Mullingar that would be suitable for planting as a native woodland creation? There is 100pc grant aid available, but 14 months on Westmeath County Council has not come up with a site, according to Cllr Hazel Smyth.

Speaking at the monthly meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad committee, she said that she has been asking the council every month since August 2020, to identify a suitable piece of land in Mullingar.

She warned that once the funding is gone, it’s gone.

She had tabled a question calling for an update on the project and was told it is "still under consideration’.

"I can’t understand why there isn’t more urgency to identify a piece of land. It needs to be done!" she declared.

"There has to be at least a stretch of land that we can plant trees on," she pleaded.

Pat Keating, director of services, promised to "convey" her annoyance at the lack of progress.