Leaf a legacy
Create a woodland haven and pocket a cool €2k
Tony Kileen TD (standing left) speaks at the 2009 farm forestry awards to recognise farmers who have contributed to woodland regeneration
It was 6 am when I stood outside my house enjoying a near perfect summer morning. The dew was heavy on the grass and the sun shone, promising another fine day.
Thrushes, blackbirds, finches and other small songbirds foraged on the lawns and along the hedgerows. The swallows, swifts and house martins sought food high in the sky.
All around me, the sound of bees and birdsong filled the early morning air and after all the wet weeks that went before, somehow a few sunny days give us great hope for the future. Isn't that what keeps us going? Hope and the will to survive despite whatever hardships come our way. Hope coupled with the sense of satisfaction that we feel from having put something in place that will benefit the countryside for centuries to come.
As farmers, we have a greater responsibility than others because Ireland's land has been placed in our care for our lifetimes. We can choose to ignore this responsibility by clearing away trees and hedgerows or we can choose to try and leave a legacy of a rich and fertile landscape that will sustain our successors and the wildlife that depend on us for survival. Trees are so important that we simply must care for them. If we fell one, we should plant at least two in its place and ensure they are protected and allowed to grow to maturity. Every farm has corners and spaces that would benefit from the presence of small woods and copses. Without these havens, the birds, mammals and insects that populate our summer mornings would be absent. Without them, the air we breathe would be polluted and impure for trees are the lungs of the earth. If we ignore the needs of the natural world we sow the seeds of our own decline. We, the farmers of Ireland, are responsible for the care of our land during our lifetimes. Let us ensure we leave it populated with trees and filled with birdsong for future generations to enjoy.
A marquee stood empty on the lawn beside my house where the previous day it had housed many guests and the great and good from Government, the Forest Service and, of course, the RDS, who had chosen this venue to launch the 2009 farm forestry awards. Last year, I was the lucky recipient of one of these awards and I would encourage anyone with woodland to enter. It's all about planting trees that will give an economic return and increase the diversity of our landscape. There are two awards, both of which are based on the need to grow good trees that can sustain our economy and, at the same time, create habitat for wildlife.
The first award is for farm forestry that will promote excellence in forestry and wood production for commercial use, while taking into account wildlife conservation and the need to enhance bio diversity.
The second award is to encourage forest habitats of ecological benefit. The fact that my woodlands have won both awards shows that both aims are compatible and one can grow trees for commercial benefit while using environmentally sensitive methods.
Entry is free and forms can be downloaded from the RDS website (www.rds.ie/agriculture) or by contacting Paul Farrelly at RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. Phone him at 01 2407215 or email forestry@rds.ie. Closing date for entries is July 17 and all short-listed entries will be visited by the judges in the coming months. Just having the judges visit your woods is a benefit. They are experienced foresters with a wide knowledge of growing trees and can advise in the development of your woods. There is an opportunity to win a cheque for €2,000 and an RDS silver medal. Take care when filling in the entry form as it is this that the judges will view in taking your entry to the next stage. Do not be afraid to have a go because the criteria for inclusion in the competition is broad and woodlands, large or small, are of merit.
During the launch, Minister of State Tony Kileen TD stated that the Department of Agriculture are well aware of the need to reinstate the 8pc cut that was recently applied to the annual forestry premium. They are actively looking at means of doing so and hopefully an announcement on this will be made within a few months.
Please do take part. It's a valuable and learning experience and you might walk away €2,000 the richer.
- Joe Barry
