DIVINE intervention had nothing to do with the planting of 2,500 native trees by Benedictine monks in County Limerick this month.
The good deed was carried out by the Glenstal Abbey monks, in conjunction with the One Hundred Million Trees (100MT) project, marking the project’s newest chapter.
The 2,500 native Irish trees were planted on land donated by the monks at Glenstal Abbey in Murroe in an effort to create a mini forest, leading to increased biodiversity and a carbon sink.
The Genstal monks also put in the work in planting the mini forest, which forms part of 100MT’s initiative to plant 100 million trees across the island of Ireland over the coming decades.
Abbot Brendan Coffey said the mini forest project is in keeping with the order’s beliefs at Glenstal Abbey.
“At Glenstal Abbey, we believe in the sacred responsibility of stewardship for the Earth. The One Hundred Million Trees Project aligns perfectly with our values, and we are honoured to contribute to this noble cause by providing both our land and the hands to plant these trees,” he said.
“This initiative not only enriches our local environment but contributes to the greater ecological and indeed spiritual well-being of our nation.”
Founder of the 100MT Project, Richard Mulcahy, added: “Planting has gone really well since we started our winter programme back in November. By April, we hope to have 200,000 to 250,000 new young native tree varieties planted in the ground at over 100 different sites around the country.”
“We are deeply grateful to the Benedictines for donating their land and support to the 100MT project, and we hope the seed of this initiative will take hold and germinate in other communities around the country as we continue our efforts to plant more widely nationwide.”
The project has garnered support from dedicated volunteers, and sponsorship from Uniphar Group plc.
Professional assistance from forestry management companies, Forestry Services Ltd, has been instrumental in the success of the initiative this season, along with support of None So Hardy and Annaveigh Nurseries.
This isn’t the first time the 100MT project has planted trees in Limerick, with Limerick Racecourse also joining in the sprint to 100 million last December. The 2,500-tree plot at the racecourse was dedicated to former course director, the late Fergus O’Toole.
