Powerscourt Estate, nestled in the picturesque Co. Wicklow, played host to a group of inspiring women this past week as they came together to celebrate International Women’s Day in a truly unique way. Their mission? To plant a mini native Irish forest on the estate grounds in support of the ambitious national tree planting initiative known as the ‘100 Million Trees Project’. Among the group of women were notable figures such as environment and nature commentator Éanna Ní Lamhna and esteemed meteorologist Evelyn Cusack.
The planting of this mini forest, consisting of a remarkable 2,500 native Irish trees, kicked off on Thursday, March 6th, and concluded on International Women’s Day, Saturday, March 8th. This initiative forms part of the larger 100 Million Trees Project, spearheaded by Richard, David, and Tina Mulcahy. The project, a community-driven endeavor on a national scale, aims to see the planting of a staggering 100 million native Irish trees across the entirety of Ireland over the next decade.
The approach involves dense planting of between 1,000 and 2,500 native Irish trees at a time, spread across various small plots of land. Powerscourt Estate has committed to planting a minimum of 200 native Irish trees annually for the next ten years as part of its overarching sustainability strategy. The estate has set its sights on achieving global recognition for its sustainability and biodiversity efforts, with a goal to be ‘net zero’ for operational emissions by 2030.
Sarah Slazenger, the managing director of Powerscourt Estate, expressed her enthusiasm for supporting the 100 Million Trees Project, hailing it as a commendable initiative that empowers communities nationwide to take meaningful action in the face of biodiversity and climate challenges. She emphasized the project’s dual benefit of enabling individuals to make a tangible difference while enjoying the outdoors and fostering community connections.
Reflecting on the tree-planting event at Powerscourt Estate, Éanna Ní Lamhna highlighted the significance of planting native trees in rejuvenating Ireland’s natural landscape, enhancing biodiversity, and reducing carbon emissions. She underscored the vital role such initiatives play in creating a greener, healthier environment for future generations. Meanwhile, Evelyn Cusack emphasized the practicality of tree planting in the context of climate change, citing it as a crucial step towards safeguarding our environment against extreme weather events. She praised community-based projects like the 100 Million Trees campaign for bolstering our landscape and inspiring collective action.
