City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/346592
ÌÞÊ/Àiià )M AN ARBORIST WHO FEELS MOST AT HOME IN CHURCH OR SUR ROUNDED BY TREES SO NO PLACE ON EARTH COULD HAVE BEEN MORE INVITING THAN #OUNTY +ILDARE )RELAND +ILDARE OR h#ILL $ARAv IN /LD )RISH STANDS FOR hCHURCH OF THE OAKv AND THE #OUNTY LIVES UP TO ITS NAME 4HOUGH )RELAND HAS ONLY TWO NATIVE OAK SPECIES THE SESSILE OAK 1UERCUS PETRAEA AND PEDUNCULATE OAK 1 ROBUR THE LACK OF DIVERSITY IS MADE UP FOR IN LONGEVITY AND CHARACTER )TS NO WONDER THE OAKS WERE PRIZED BY THE ANCIENT #ELTS IN THEIR CULTURE AND CEREMONIES AND STILL MARVELED AT TODAY 4HE STRONG FORMATIVE OAKS ARE THE PERFECT COMPLEMENT TO )RELANDS RICH HISTORY AND CASTLESTUDDED LANDSCAPES &ROM 4HE "OOK OF +ELLS IN THE /LD ,IBRARY AT 4RINITY #OLLEGE IN $UBLIN TO THE OLDEST TREE IN )RELANDITS FAMOUS YEW 4AXUS BACCATA AT 3T 0ATRICKS #OLLEGE IN -AYNOOTH)RELAND HAS HUNDREDS MORE YEARS OF HISTORY TO OFFER THAN ITS SISTER CITY OF ,EXINGTON +ENTUCKY ) WAS PAIRED UP WITH 3IMON 7ALLACE 0ARK 3UPERINTENDENT FOR #OUNTY +ILDARE 7ALLACE IS THE TREE CZAR FOR THE COM MUNITY ANYTHING THAT DEALS WITH TREES GOES THROUGH HIM (E IS IN CHARGE OF PLANNING DESIGNING AND DEVELOPING PARKS IN THE #OUNTY AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR STREET TREES AS WELL 7ALLACE FIELDS GENERAL TREE QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC AND MANAGES THE TREE WORK CONTRACTED OUT BY THE LOCAL !N !RBORIST %XCHANGE TO )RELANDS h#HURCH OF THE /AKv 4UPSZBOEQIPUPTCZ+PIO4BZMPS"SCPSJTU4FOJPS%JWJTJPOPG&OWJSPONFOUBM1PMJDZ -FYJOHUPO'BZFUUF6SCBO$PVOUZ(PWFSONFOU,FOUVDLZ hTREE SURGEONv AS THEY CALL ARBORISTS IN )RELAND #OUNTY +ILDARE IS SQUARE MILES SQ KM SO 7ALLACE HAS A LOT OF GROUND TO COVER (IS IMPACT ON )RELANDS URBAN FOREST AND THE CITIZENS OF THE #OUNTY IS CRUCIAL )RELANDS FORESTED LAND COVER IS ONLY AROUND PERCENT WHICH MEANS THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES REALLY NEED TO SUS TAIN AND TAKE CARE OF THE TREES THEY HAVE %DUCATION AND OUTREACH IS A MAJOR PART OF 7ALLACES INTERACTION WITH OFFICIALS AND CITIZENS 3TEEPED IN THE PSYCHE OF SOME )RISH IS THE MENTALITY THAT TREES ARE A CROP THAT COMPETES WITH OTHER CROPS AND A HINDRANCE TO THE SUNSHINE 4HIS HOWEVER IS CHANGING WITH GOV ERNMENT POLICIES MEANT TO FOSTER AN INCREASE IN THE PERCENTAGE OF FORESTED LAND 4HESE POLICIES INCLUDE PRO MOTING AND FUNDING PRIVATE FORESTRY RATHER THAN GOVERN MENT OWNED FORESTRY DEVELOPING MORE AMENITY WOOD LANDS AND REGENERATING NATIVE WOODLANDS )N +ILDARE THERE IS AN INCREASING FOCUS ON CLIMATE CHANGE CARBON FOOTPRINTS AND BIODIVERSITY AND THE IMPORTANT ROLE TREES PLAY IN THESE 4HIS IS CREATING A GREATER AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION FOR THE VALUE OF TREES AMONG THE CITIZENRY 7HEN HE VISITED +ENTUCKY 7ALLACE WAS SURPRISED TO SEE HOW CLOSE WE LIKE OUR SHADE TREES TO OUR HOUSES )N )RELAND TREES ARE PLANTED IN YARDS BUT THEY ARE SMALLER AND ARE SITED SO AS NOT TO CAST DIRECT SHADE OVER HOMES ) CANT REALLY BLAME THE )RISH FOR THIS BECAUSE ) AM TOLD THEY COUNT THEMSELVES BLESSED TO SEE THE SUN º/iÊ ÕÌ»ÊÀiÃÌÊ >ÀÊ*>ÀÊÊÌiÊ-iÛiÊ ÊÕÌ>ÃÊvÊi`i]Ê >Ãii]Ê ÕÌÞÊ>Ã