National Tree Week established in 1975, runs from Saturday 26 November to Sunday 4 December 2011 and is the UK’s largest tree celebration annually launching the start of the winter tree planting season. Every year, more than half a million adults and children take part in around 2000 events across the UK to support this initiative.

This year, The Tree Council are urging everyone to show their support for their local environment by putting one tree, or more, in the ground. Native trees enhance the landscape, provide homes for wildlife, improve air quality and reduce the effects of local climate change by removing carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the atmosphere.

Northern Ireland remains one of the least wooded regions in Europe, with just 6.5% woodland cover, compared to the European average of 44%. Through The Woodland Trust’s ‘MOREwoods Scheme’, 900 native deciduous tree saplings were donated to Kilmore Playing Fields in Crossgar. After a short demonstration, nine pupils from each of the Crossgar schools worked together to plant the tree saplings on an piece of unused land above the playing fields.  

Down District Council Vice Chairman, Councillor Liam Johnston, thanked the children and teachers for their hard work, stating that “Every tree planted really doescount.”

For more information on local biodiversity please contact Down District Council Biodiversity Officer on 028 4461 0824. If you would like more information on the Woodland Trust’s MOREwoods Scheme, please contact the Woodland Trust on 0845 293 5749 or visit www.moretreesmoregood.org.uk