Trees, for children, should be an adventure. One example: for making a primitive house up in the branches from which to bombard their enemies with lumps of mud or pine cones or whatever. Some indulgent parents go so far as to buy small hut-like houses for their children to perch among the branches. But this sort of talk is old-fashioned, you may say. The young, from an early age, prefer to sit in front of the TV or their computer. But do they? So how wise it is for the Tree Council of Ireland to open National Tree Week tomorrow, Sunday, with a programme which involves the young in planting some 300 trees? This follows a demonstration to them by experts. The Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Michael Woods, himself a qualified horticulturalist, who will launch Tree Week, will presumably plant a tree also.
All this takes place at Larch Hill, scouting headquarters, on the slopes of the Dublin mountains. Rockbrook and Tibradden buses end their runs in the vicinity. Most of these young people will be scouts. Imagine their pride in years to come: "That's the tree I planted", or: "Those are two of my trees, I recognise them. I remember the day and the spot well." Three hundred trees is a lot of tree. Oak, ash and beech they will be. This National Tree Week is organised by the Tree Council and sponsored by Coillte and Pitney Bowes. The theme is "Branch Out", reflecting the many benefits we get from trees.
On March 12th one of the most endearing of all writings on the subject, The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono, will be relaunched at the Alliance Francaise, and this time in Irish. A completely convincing account, and mentioned here several times, it is the story of an old shepherd who transforms a whole countryside by devoting his life to planting acorns and some other seeds, but chiefly acorns, everywhere he roams. It is a lovely fable. The American magazine to which it was sent assumed it was a true story and sent a checker, who couldn't find the people or the trees or even some places mentioned. The author smiled. They were real to him. And magnificently believable to this day.
Back home: on Monday at 3 p.m., the Adjutant-General, MajorGeneral Bill Dwyer will plant a ceremonial tree at the memorial monument to the 16 soldiers who lost their lives in an explosion in the Glen of Imaal. Sixteen mountain ash or rowans from Coillte will enhance the basalt monolith and surroundings. The rowan is, in due season, "one of the must beautiful native trees", writes Charles Nelson in his landmark book Trees of Ireland, splendidly illustrated by Wendy Walsh. Y