A proposal: Motorways, trees and acres of unused land: an opportunity to be seized

Aragon wrote:

Hi Furet
This is a great idea and a pity more of it is not done automatically when roads are built. The explanation you had for why no trees were planted on the new road isn't very persuasive. 'Couldn't be bothered' would probably better sum it up.

That's my suspicion alright! That said, at this point in time, the Cashel to Cullahill section seems to be better planted - although still much to sparcely in my opinion.

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A firend of mine is a big tree expert - divides his time between Ireland and N America each year and among other things grows trees here in Ireland - he and his partner are very knowledgeable about everyting to do with trees - he may well have some good ideas or observations to make. I think I'm right in saying that he has direct experience of the sort of thing you are suggesting so if he is able to pop in here and throw in his 2c it would be great - I've invited him along.

Will await his contributions with great interest!

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Really hope you get this off the ground.

The good thing is that trees can be planted any time really after a motorway opens, so there's no race against the clock. Still, I'd love to have a commitment from the powers that be to tree the Mitchelstown to Fermoy scheme quite thickly. That particular scheme is only 16km long, and will probably open well ahead of schedule in June or July 2009. It passes through some spectacular areas, and the thought of it being riddled with dock, burdock and ragwort rather than trees and hawthorn bothers me greatly.

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We might start a nationwide voguue for tree planting societies. I know the stretch of road too and it is very stark at the moment. Aren't the tree-lined French roadsides beautiful?

Those French roads are very nice now that you mention it, but the image that comes to my mind are some of the interstate routes in New England, America.

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Aren't the tree-lined French roadsides beautiful?

Beautiful and useful - a lot of them are cherry trees.

There may be some pieces of that land that would make good apple orchards.

cactus flower wrote:

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Aren't the tree-lined French roadsides beautiful?

Beautiful and useful - a lot of them are cherry trees.

There may be some pieces of that land that would make good apple orchards.

I'd like to see a good mixture of trees planted. In addition to the common broadleaves, I think larch, hawthorn, blackthorn, crab apple and arbutus should be planted, as well as hazel and willow.

Ah. Apparently South Tipp Co Co will "identify and auction" surplus land along the M8: http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2008/11/20/story77909.asp

Furet wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

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Aren't the tree-lined French roadsides beautiful?

Beautiful and useful - a lot of them are cherry trees.

There may be some pieces of that land that would make good apple orchards.

I'd like to see a good mixture of trees planted. In addition to the common broadleaves, I think larch, hawthorn, blackthorn, crab apple and arbutus should be planted, as well as hazel and willow.

Scots Pine, too. We should promote our few native conifers, it's the Sitka sprawl that gives conifers an unjustly bad name...