Re thinking 'wildness' and urban landscapes

I would like to see Cork City embrace the drive prevalent in a growing number of residents to embrace and respect biodiversity, and the environment. 

As part of a tree advocate group Trees Please, we would like to offer the planting of native trees to suitable locations around the city. We thank the council for its support to date with the providing of an allotment in Churchfield. 

We have located Four park areas we would like to plant with native trees, in subsequent years. The Glen

There is a lot of areas for planting in and around the Glen . Primarily on the steep banks that are predominately covered in bracken and gorse, this planting would involve volunteers especially for weeding the trees while they establish, a period of 3-4 years. The lighting of fires is a seasonal activity that will threaten new trees, for this reason, we would like to remove gorse from new trees, at a distance of 3 meters. We would like to offer also smaller trees for other locations around the park. As there is quite a lot of 'anti-social behavior in the park, we would prefer to make this activity low key, so as not to encourage the 'vandalism game' we feel strongly that this approach would give the trees the best likely hood of survival. We feel strongly that the Glen Parks development should be geared towards its rich biodiverse potential, with infrastructural projects being minimal, for example, the paths that are currently in place are more than adequate for its use. This piece of parkland has the potential to be perhaps Corks first Nature reserve. We would also like to encourage the cleaning of the water going into the Glen River and should this require large works that this should be prioritized.

Mahon Walkway we have located numerous sites along this walkway where we can offer planting of smaller native trees .We would like to compliment the planting of Oaks that is part of the beautiful path , by adding smaller trees , Birch, Crab apple, wild cherry, elder, rowan, hazel, and hawthorn .These could be added over the next few years and weeded by volunteers adding no expense to the council and improving this area for biodiversity and walkers.

Caragheen River, we would like to encourage. the planting of willow and alder in areas along the banks of this river, and in areas where there is more space for other native varieties. We currently are primarily interested in planting primarily on the pathway nearest the Lee Feilds.We are however interested in adding to the beauty of upstream parts of this river by appropriate planting.

Lee Fields 

We would like to encourage the planting of a native hedge between the road and the park, this could be left to grow in areas to 'shield' the park from the road , We would also like to encourage the planting of willow for coppicing by craft workers in Cork this would benefit craft workers and also provide and help with drainage on this flood plane. An idea of a 'peoples Orcahrd' has been mooted by members of our group, this would enable residents to avail of free in-season fruit, which could be maintained with support from the council, this progressive idea has been tried successfully in many cities, and as food security may become more of an issue, it makes perfect sense to grow our own fruit. Irish apples are fantastic. 

We are currently working on proposals for this year's planting season (winter) that we will liaise and work with Councils backing and permission.

Other Tree and biodiversity ideas.

Stop and phase out the use of herbicides.

We would like to see the council immediately and never again spray glyphosate herbicide or other products around the base of mature trees, this practice is totally inappropriate and unnecessary. This wasting of resources and worker's time is a serious mismanagement of public resources and potentially very damaging for the trees. As cases build against products such as 'roundup' increase, with many thousands of lawsuits being taken by public workers, it is imperative that the council takes these concerns seriously. We would advocate for the stopping of these chemicals, with their use on invasives only, such as Japanese Knotweed to be very strategic in its implementation. We acknowledge the council's role in maintaining curbs and pathways, so we would like to encourage the mindset that sees that 'weeds' are not 'bad' not 'untidy'. We would encourage the Council to make part of their approach to re-educate the public on the benefits of 'wilder' looking urban areas, both aesthetically but for healthier urban biodiversity. We encourage the phasing out of these practices, for more environmentally sensitive approaches, including local community engagement.

We would also like the council to have a moratorium on the cutting of all mature trees in Cork City. That trees are only felled with they pose a serious risk to people. This decision should not be taken lightly, as mature trees cannot be replaced, within up to 100 years or more .

Leaf mold

We would like to encourage the council to build leaf mold facilities as part of their parks department, so that where leaves are being collected that they could be used to create this highly fertile resource that could be given to the public or used by the parks department for creating amazing fertile areas around Cork. This is a resource that should be used and it will benefit environmental projects across Cork.

We would like the importation of trees to stop, we feel strongly that this is how diseases such as that ash dieback has come into Ireland, we would encourage the council to support Irish Nurserys and to create their own Nurseries. There is no reason why the council could not develop with professional and voluntary involvement nurseries that could provide trees for large and long-term planting projects.

We would like the council to increase their wild margins to leave more areas to grow wild, to brambles, nettles, and other wild plants. That where land has existing trees that the margins of these are left to grow wild this will give more potential for further planting sites. This simple step will dramatically increase biodiversity in cork and will actually save the council money, making this approach public will be important in challenging the mindset that sees nature of something that needs to be 'clean' challenging the idea that areas must have cut grass, which is in fact seriously lacking in terms biodiversity.

We would like Cork Council to embrace the planting of native trees , making Cork the native Tree Capital of Ireland. The will is there and we will gladly work with other groups , individuals and the Council to make this reality for the environment and future generations.