National Tree Week is in its 21st year. This year the theme is ‘Harvesting an ocean of air’, which reflects the concerns for global warming caused by the build up of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. One way to combat this build up is to plant more trees which absorb CO2 and release the oxygen contained within, back into the atmosphere.

Pupils from St Matthew’s School, Sandymount and St Patrick’s Boys’ School, Ringsend contributed to this greener, healthier environment by taking spade in hand and planting two trees in Ringsend Park. The trees are Prunus Sargentii, which are a variety of Cherry tree, originally from Korea, flowering with mauve/pink blossoms. The leaves have good autumn colours and in early winter they are scarlet. The young students were helped in their task by the park’s main gardener, Norman Hennessy and staff.

Norman Hennessy is pictured above with students, teachers and parents from St. Matthew’s.