Putting down roots in Faughan Valley

On Saturday last local people and visitors made a lasting contribution to the new wood by planting around 3,000 native trees in one afternoon. The planting is part of the Woodland Trust’s ambitious plan to plant over 40,000 trees at Burntollet. As the young trees grow, they will buffer the nearby precious ancient woods which dot the banks of the Burntollet River, providing an extended haunt for the Valley’s precious wildlife.

Meanwhile, all last week pupils from six local primary schools and a visiting school from County Donegal stepped out on a voyage of woodland discovery, brimming with tree planting, storytelling and nature trails. With a prior helping hand from artists from Artworks, each school also designed and created a special mosaic tile.

“Each tile is handmade with tiny pieces of coloured pebbles, meticulously pieced together to form the image of a woodland creature. We have a total of eight tiles, including a kestrel, bat and barn owl; each one strategically placed within the wood,” said the Woodland Trust’s Gregor Fulton.

“The tiles, just like the trees, are permanent features which will hopefully be enjoyed by our future generations. They’re truly special and well worth seeing.”

The Mayor, Councillor Paul Fleming, also made his mark by planting a tree and described Burntollet Wood as “a fantastic natural resource”.

To find out more about Burntollet Wood visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/burntollet

The tree planting and woodland discovery days are part of the Woodland Trust’s ‘Tree For All’ campaign, funded by Northern Ireland Environment Agency.