My Tree
My Tree
Initiated 2025
Initiated 2025
Embedded Files
We invite YOU to plant aTree
If all our Community does the same, by 2035, we aim to have planted
10,000
NEW TREES.
Why Plant Trees?
Why Plant Trees?
Trees boost biodiversity, create wildlife habitats and corridors, absorb carbon and freshen the air with oxygen, manage the groundwater, bind the soil, improve rainwater drainage, provide.......
Click to Read More....... cooling summer shade and soil warming winter leaf mould, provide privacy and screening from the wind & traffic noise, reduce residents' lawn maintenance costs, and add aesthetic and recreational value to Johnstown.
We've all heard of the UN climate targets each nation should achieve by 2030 & 2050. New tree planting is one simple action citizens can all take towards restoring a balance. Trees are largely made up of water sourced from the ground and carbon extracted from the air - both areas of current concern for life on Earth. Unfortunately, we need lots of new trees planted ASAP to make a difference within this timeframe.
Don't we already have enough trees?
Don't we already have enough trees?
Visit the Athlumney Riverside Trail, and you will quickly hear wildlife, but then step away only a few hundred metres into suburban Johnstown, and you will only hear vehicles and the occasional dog barking.
Click to Read MoreThe contrast between these two areas is dramatic, and it is Not Good for biodiversity or us. The land around us was once covered with native forests thriving with wildlife, but those token gesture trees planted by developers don't make up for the thousands that should be here providing a habitat.
Trees take a very long time to mature, and decades of growth are destroyed each time one is removed. A thousand more trees will soon be cut down to make way for the Metges Road supermarket/apartment development. This adds to the thousands of shrubs and trees removed a few years ago to make way for the Cois Glaisin estate and the cycle path, plus the six mature trees removed to allow for the bus stop across the road. The once tree-lined avenue of Metges Road has long since gone, unfortunately, we can't have it back.
Is there room for 10,000 new trees?
Is there room for 10,000 new trees?
Yes, and we have space for even more!
Click to Read More+6,000
A mini forest is roughly the size of a tennis court but hosts around 600 trees. Johnstown already hosts 22 soccer pitches worth of grass lawn that residents struggle to pay to have cut! You don't pay anything to maintain a miniforest, and we expect to achieve at least 10 pockets throughout the neighbourhood involving 6,000 trees.
+100
Could we persuade some households to plant hedges to replace those temporary 10-year timber fence panels?
+100
Could we persuade some households to plant a tree of their choice in their garden?
+6,000
One metre of hedge can require up to 8 trees. Metges Road, Bothar Sion, and the school approach road verges could easily accommodate 1km and thousands of trees!
+120
Urban orchards have trees only 2m apart. and a collection within each of the 20+ estates could mean over 120 fruit trees thriving locally.
'My Tree'
'My Tree'
Trees are planted for many reasons - aesthetic, shade, privacy, shelter, and even for their fruit. Some celebrate remembrance or mark significant events. We're looking for every reason you can think of, and we will extend an offer to help put a label on a tree if it helps get one in the ground.
What Reason Do You Have?
What Reason Do You Have?
Here's 10 Suggestions
Here's 10 Suggestions
🌳 A legacy that outlives you
Planting a tree is a timeless gift — it keeps growing long after you're gone.🍃 A natural stress reliever
Being around greenery and trees has been proven to reduce anxiety and boost mood.🌞 Shade for your future self
It’ll one day give you a cool spot to relax under during hot summers — future you will thank you.🐦 Attracts birds and wildlife
A tree becomes its own little ecosystem. Imagine waking up to birdsong or watching squirrels play.💚 Something you nurtured with your own hands
There’s a unique satisfaction in seeing something you planted grow year after year.🏡 Adds beauty and value to your home
A tree can make your space more attractive — and even raise your property value.🌬️ Cleaner air for you and your loved ones
Trees filter out pollution and give you fresher air right where you live.📸 A growing photo backdrop
Take a picture with it every year — watch it grow as your life changes too.🧘♀️ It can become your thinking spot
A place under your tree might become your favorite spot to read, journal, or just be.👫 A tradition to pass on
Planting a tree with your kids, partner, or friends becomes a memory — and maybe even a family tradition.
How Can We Make This Happen?
How Can We Make This Happen?
We don't have +€50k to plant 10,000 trees in one season, and we don't have a small army of planting and maintenance volunteers. Creating this project over the coming decade with multiple small groups will help bind our community and provide more meaning to its success.
Planning
Planning
As a community group, we don't own any land or have any trees! We'll be speaking with resident groups, schools, and businesses to get their ideas for their areas.
Funding
Funding
We're investigating grants and organisations that can support our proposal. We're also looking into a GoFundMe Page for public support.
Planting Times
Planting Times
The ideal time to plant trees in County Meath is generally between October and April, particularly during the autumn and winter months, when trees are dormant. This period allows them to establish a strong root system before the demands of spring growth.
Bare-root trees:
These should be planted during their dormant period.Container-grown trees:
These can be planted more flexibly, potentially year-round.
Planting Design
Planting Design
Our planting will never match Mother Nature's expertise. We aim to achieve something with curb appeal for each season and in line with best practice.
Species
These should be native to support local biodiversity and climate.Scale
We're conscious of the scale and positioning of trees to avoid creating hazards.Layout
Each planting will be unique to the location, and we hope to have an underlying theme behind the designs.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse