Recently, as part of the SUAS Pilot Project, the shareholders of Glassamucky Brakes & Cunard Commonages on the Wicklow and Dublin border, came together to undertake a tree planting and upland restoration initiative.

Taking place over two weekends, hill-farmers participating in the SUAS Project and their families, found time to gather to make a positive and long-term contribution to the lands around them. It was especially wonderful to see so many children involved, who all really enjoyed the opportunity to address the current biodiversity and climate challenges with these simple and fun actions.

Some of the group involved in the recent initiative alongside members of An Garda Síochána who stopped by to see the work firsthand.

The trees were planted alongside the mineral rich soil areas of the watercourses and gullies which separates them from our sensitive heathland habitats. The benefits of a tree-planting in these areas of the uplands are numerous, as their root system stabilises stream banks to prevent erosion and filter water entering the streams. This assists with slowing the water runoff from the hills reducing flooding pressure further down in the river and floodplains. The trees also provide shade to the water in the warmer summer months, increase biodiversity by creating an interdependent ecosystem, and sequester carbon to mitigate against climate change.

The planting itself consisted of a mix of Oak, Rowan, Willow, Alder & Birch. All trees were bare root and of Irish provenance (origin) and sourced locally from None-so-Hardy Nurseries near the village of Shillelagh.

The area involved in the initiative, is made up of two commonages, Glassamucky Brakes & Cunard, with the shareholders having rights across both locations. Under the innovative design of the SUAS Pilot Project, they were both able to join as one single formal Commonage Group – embracing one its core themes of bringing farmers and stakeholders together to address the challenges of sustainably managing our uplands.