Let's Plant 80,000 Trees for the Nurses of Ireland with the 'Nurse a Tree' Program

GREEN BELT IN THE COMMUNITY PLANTING IN DUBLIN 8

Green Belt has been establishing forests and woodlands since 1982. Over that time, we have always looked at new and interesting ways to educate and develop the value of nature to people and communities.

In 2021 we were approached with the initiative to ‘Plant 80,000 trees for the Nurses of Ireland.’ One such location was St James Hospital in Dublin 8. The director of Nursing was delighted to take part and was very welcoming to our Nurse A Tree program.

We planted 2 Apple trees in an internal courtyard within the hospital, on poor soil (on top of the car park!). We introduced Biochar into the planting medium to encourage biodiversity and improve the soil health of the planting zone. Since they were planted in mid May, it has been great to observe the trees grow and establish and even bear fruit.

Since then, we were invited back to establish a ‘micro forest’ in a break out zone for Doctors and Nurses and again prepared the soil with Biochar and some fertile topsoil. We then planted 10 Standard Silver Birch trees that will establish and develop an area for mindfulness and also conducive to nurturing bees.

For a traditionally commercial company, these days and small scale plantings are a new departure for us but are very much enjoyed and valued by us within our work in the community.

We are continuing to develop these plans and are actively seeking Urban Landscaping opportunities to increase the forestry and woodland cover across Ireland – worth noting is the potential of 20,000 hectares of urban lands available and suitable for planting.

There are grants and encouragements available for landowners to ease the financial pressure of establishing trees on the lands. Green Belt can and has helped with these plans.