Plans for an ambitious tree-planting initiative, ‘One Million Trees in One Day’, are underway thanks to the vision and efforts of project co-ordinator Imogen Rabone, with support from the Irish Natural Forestry Foundation and the Woodland Trust.
The aim is to plant no less than one million native trees across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland – and all in the space of 24 hours.
To pave the way, a pilot planting day will take place on Saturday 11 April. Schools, community groups, organisations and individual landowners, right across Northern Ireland, are invited to get planting and to avail of the offer of free trees.
Imogen Rabone explains: “We have plans to encourage all types of landowners to help plant an ambitious one million trees in one day. This will take place on a chosen date during the next tree-planting season, which runs from November this year to March 2016.
“It’s a large-scale venture: and in preparation we have been holding a series of trial planting events, with the next and final one planned for Saturday 11 April. We know the interest is out there. In 2013 and 2014 the project – thanks to collective efforts – planted 350,000 native trees, at over 1,000 sites, right across Ireland.
“We hope that as many people as possible will get behind us and take part in planting this April. Then, as the project gains momentum, it will be all hands on deck for the ultimate planting of one million trees. It’s a huge and exciting challenge.”
The initiative has been developed in collaboration with the Irish Natural Forestry Foundation in Ireland and the Woodland Trust in Northern Ireland. The aim is to establish trees and woodland in both rural and urban areas, which will offer wildlife, environmental and health benefits, and a lasting legacy for future generations.
