More Oak for Derry City

20 November 2001

Derry City has a special relationship with oak trees, which have a very important role to play in the history of Ireland. Derry from the modern Irish, doire, means ‘oakwood’ or ‘oakgrove’. The placename element ‘derry’ is very common in Ireland with over a thousand townlands throughout Ireland having the word derry in some form in their name. Ecologically oak trees are very important too, as they support more forms of wildlife than any other of our native trees.

Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland, Londonderry Office, has launched an Acorn Project for schools. The aim of the project is to plant a grove of 1,000 locally grown oak trees. This project is also part of the Pride in our City Campaign, which is run by the Department of Social Development and Derry City Council. The Acorn Project leads on to the Oak Planting for Schools Project, which will see one 6-8 foot oak planted at every school in the City Council area.

Conservation Volunteers wanted to involve the community in the project by recruiting children from ten primary schools across the city. It was a two-week crusade for Conservation Volunteers as they travelled from school to school helping plant acorns, whilst, teaching the children about conservation and the importance of planting trees. Assisted by Leslie Hoffman, a biology student from Ohio studying at the University of Ulster on placement with Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland, the project kicked off at the start of November 2000 at Longtower Primary School and came to a close on 16th November with Holy Family Primary School. Nearly 300 children, ranging in age from six to eleven, were involved. The project was highly publicised with photo calls at seven of the ten schools. Conservation Volunteers field officer John Magowan was interviewed by Radio Foyle about the project and its impact on the community and environment.

The acorns used in the project were collected from two mature Irish Oaks situated in the beautiful woodlands of Ashbrook House on the outskirts of the City. Each school sowed 200 acorns into biodegradable containers, which were left at the respective schools so their growth could be monitored their growth for the next few years. Once the trees are big enough to be moved, the children will help to plant them out in their permanent home in the oak grove. These children will play a vital part in the history of the city by planting a lovely oak grove that will be enjoyed by many future generations.