Hundreds of new trees planted in Lurgan
Hundreds of native trees have been planted at Lough Road in Lurgan as part of an initiative between Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon (ABC) Borough Council and local groups to improve the environment.
Volunteers from a range of organisations came together to plant a variety of native species at the council-owned land adjacent to the golf
course.
ABC Borough Council staff along with volunteers from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Rivers, Amey and The Conservation Volunteers were involved in planting 500 native trees.
DfI Rivers and Amey, the consulting engineers for the DfI Rivers Portadown Flood Alleviation Scheme, provided 19 volunteers to help with the planting.
A variety of native tree species such as Alder, Downey Birch, Cherry, Aspen, Rowan, Oak and Willow were planted during the event, and it is envisaged that the area will enhance the area for the community as well as becoming an important habitat for local bird species and other wildlife.
A council spokesperson said: “ABC Borough Council is delighted to be working in partnership with DfI Rivers, Amey and TCV on this project. The council already has more sites identified that can be planted out in the coming years as part of this joint work.”
ABC Borough Council has previously planted sites at Woodside Green in Portadown with DfI Rivers and Amey volunteers, where a piece of waste ground near the Garvaghy Road is being transformed into a haven for wildlife.
In April 2024, local people of all ages took their turn to plant 1,200 young trees which included native breeds of Downy Birch, Silver Birch, Sessile Oak, Pedunculate Oak, Rowan and Alder.