Up to 120 oak saplings were planted at four city parks by the Lord Mayor of Cork as part of Cork City Council’s Decade of Centenaries Programme 2021 and its continuing commitment to biodiversity.
Proudly sponsored by Coillte, the saplings were planted at Glen River Park, Bridevalley Park, the Blackrock Castle Walkway and the Curraheen Walkway. In total this year, up to 1,200 trees were planted by Cork City Council Operations (Parks) this year.
Cork Chamber are sponsoring another 200 of the 1,200 native trees being planted this year and have committed to at least two more years of sponsorship at €3,000k per year. Cork City Council is extremely grateful for this generous contribution as it assists with increasing tree cover throughout the City.
Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Joe Kavanagh said: “These trees planted today, kindly donated by Coillte, are a representation of all primary and secondary schools in Cork City and speak to our past, present and future. The Lord Mayor’s Oak Tree Initiative 2021 symbolises the resilience, sustainability and growth synonymous with our schools”.
“There is phenomenal work being done by Cork City Council Parks in association with Tidy Towns groups, residents and community associations, Green Space, Cork Nature Network, Trees Please and the HSE to support the city’s biodiversity. Cork Chamber already sponsored 200 of the city’s trees and today we see another partnership with Coillte”.
Coillte Supply Chain Manager, Dominic Joyce said: “Coillte is delighted to support such initiatives as they inspire future generations and increase awareness of the important role that trees play in mitigating climate change, improving habitats, increasing biodiversity and providing sustainable and renewable building materials. We are delighted to be associated with the Lord Mayor’s initiative to commemorate the independence struggle 100 years ago in this novel and environmentally friendly way”.
Plaques have been installed near the new trees and a QR code will direct people to the Cork City Council commemorations site corkcitycommemorations.ie where further details of the initiative will appear.
Since then Cork City Council’s Operations (Parks) crews have:
- Planted over 500 native Irish trees in parks and public open spaces in the city. Varieties include Birch, Oak, Holly, Hazel, Bird Cherry and Maple. At Ballincollig Regional Park, about 200 trees and ornamental shrubs were planted while native Irish trees were planted in Sunvalley Drive by HSE Health Action Zone and Youth Work Ireland, supported by Cork City Council. Another eight native trees were planted at Glasheen River / School Boys Walk with the support of the local residents association. At this mature one hectare site, a surburban riverside haven, many of the actions recommended by the National Biodiversity Data Centre are being implemented.
- This year, pollinator-friendly plants make up 70% of Cork City Council’s approximate 120,000 summer bedding plants compared to 30% last year. Varieties planted this year include Salvia, Zinnia, Dahlia, Rudbeckia and Cosmos
- Placed about 100 tiered planters containing pollinator friendly flowers ( Bidens, Verbena and Calibrachoa) across the city.
- Parks crews manage wildflower meadows at Curraheen Walk, Lee Fields, Gerry O’Sullivan Park in have Gurranabraher, Glen River Park, Clashduv Park in Togher and School Boys Walk in Glasheen and Beaumont Park in Blackrock.
- This year, an additional 4,500 perennial plants are being planted at new locations such as Victoria Road Roundabout, Shalom Park, Kennedy Park, Grattan Street, Patrick’s Quay, Mardyke Walk and Mahon Golfcourse.
- Last year, Operations ( Parks) planted herbaceous perennial schemes at Well Road Roundabout, Tramore Valley Park, Landsdowne Court , Old Youghal Road and Mick Barry Road / South Link Road.
- Up to 2,000 Seed Bombs have been distributed by CCC following requests from schools and local residents groups like Mount Mercy College , Community Garden Shalom Park, St Columbas NS Douglas, Magazine Road Residents Association, Deer Park Residents Association and Palmbury Orchards Residents Association. Seed bombs were also planted at Fitzgerald’s Park in the city centre.
- Shalom Park Bug Hotel was funded by Gas Works Ireland and installed in 2018. Fitzgerald’s Park has natural log bug hotels installed within the woodland behind the bandstand. Cork City Council is working with Bishoptown Tidy Towns to install a bug hotel and also at Pophams Road with Cllr Kenneth Collins.
