First ever tree management strategy for Mayo being drafted
A FIRST ever tree management strategy is being drawn up by Mayo County Council.
The local authority is engaging with the School of Architecture at UCD on the plan and an expert advisory group including Coillte, Teagasc and the National Parks and Wildlife Service will also have forestry and community representation on it.
The strategy will run from 2024 to '29, parks superintendent Peter Gill outlined in a presentation to the council's roads and transportation strategic policy committee.
It will help move away from reactive maintenance to best practice management of trees, looking at what is there already and worth protecting. Species and site selection is essential for new planting.
Mr. Gill highlighted the contribution mature trees make to the environment. To achieve what a mature beech tree makes in terms of producing air and removing carbon dioxide would mean having to plant 2,500 young trees. So we have to look at what we have and a key objective will be to manage this existing stock, he said.
Mr. Gill also commented on street planting in towns and villages, saying it is important to get the right tree in the right place. The benefits include the creation of pedestrian friendly spaces where people congregate, and also they slow traffic down.
Partnerships with communities was another important area highlighted, such as the Martin Neary Park in Charlestown, Brabazon Park in Swinford, Belleek, Ballina, and McMahon Park, Claremorris. By encouraging communities and assisting them, you get respect.
Managing existing stock is another element in key locations, for example along the Carrowbeg River in Westport and Mall in Castlebar, so the council know when a tree is under distress and a judgement call can be made to replace it.
Dealing with trees in public places nearly always brings conflict, Mr. Gill continued. Historically some were planted in the wrong places and are then hard to manage and removing them on safety grounds can lead to objections.
This was something Mr. Gill said he had no problem with as it shows that people care about the trees, but it was important to have a strategy that covers that conversation.
He also touched on the issue of ash dieback. An app has been developed using GIS which could help in mapping and managing the disease, which is slowing killing trees.
It is hoped to cover this in the strategy and to develop a pilot with Transport Infrastructure Ireland to deal with it along national primary and secondary roads.