National Tree week runs from 3rd to 10th March. This year’s theme is “Planting Trees for a Greener Future” which aims to emphasise the importance of trees and forests in helping to mitigate climate change and promote biodiversity. In Ballyhaunis, tree saplings have been grown from seeds collected here in the parish. The parish is sub-divided into Station areas, made up of various townlands. Each Station area is asked to plant one of the saplings, which will be blessed at the end of 10am Mass next Sunday 3rd March. The blessing is intended to raise awareness of the challenges posed by climate change. Children from Scoil Íosa primary school will also be involved in promoting the event through the making of a short video on trees. This is a follow up to a “Season of Creation” event that took place in our parish last September. The “Season of Creation” was initiated by Pope Francis, arising out of his encyclical “Laudato Si” as a practical way for parishes to encourage care of creation. We work closely with the local Tidy Towns committee – who will launch their Biodiversity Action Plan for Ballyhaunis on Friday 22nd March in the Community Hall – along with local Beekeepers.
