Local Schools join Council and Lough Erne Landscape Partnership to plant Apple Trees

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, in partnership with Lough Erne Landscape Partnership through funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, recently planted apple trees at the Dog Park in Enniskillen as part of the Council’s Trees for Bees programme.

Joined by students from nine schools in Enniskillen, they planted 22 native Irish Heritage Apple Trees.  The schools included Devenish College, Enniskillen Integrated Primary School, Enniskillen Model Primary School, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, Holy Trinity Primary School, Jones Memorial Primary School, St Fanchea’s College, St Joseph’s College and Willowbridge School.

Community orchards encompass more than just apple trees; they play a crucial role in nurturing sustainable food systems and protecting biodiversity. Community orchards offer locally grown, fresh produce. By supporting the planting of apple trees, we reduce reliance on long-distance food transportation, lower carbon footprints, and promote healthier, more sustainable eating habits.

Orchards are hotspots for biodiversity, providing habitats for bees, butterflies, and birds. Native Irish Heritage Apple Trees attract and support a diverse range of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and other insects. The flowering period of apple trees provides essential nectar and pollen sources for these pollinators, contributing to their health and population stability.

Bees play a key role in the cross-pollination of apple trees to ensure they produce fruit. They, along with other pollinators, are vital to our environment as they ensure that many crops and wild plants can produce food and set seed.  However, pollinators are in decline and initiatives such as Trees for Bees and Don’t Mow Let It Grow, help to enhance, protect and restore pollinators and biodiversity locally.

The planting of apple trees creates new habitats for wildlife. The trees offer shelter, food, and nesting sites for various species, including birds, mammals, and insects, thereby enhancing local biodiversity and ecosystem.

Welcoming the planting of the apple trees, Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Thomas O’Reilly. Said:

“It is important that the Council works in partnership with other organisations such as Lough Erne Landscape Partnership to undertake initiatives such as tree planting to help us to achieve the commitments within the Council’s Biodiversity Strategy 2022-2027.

I am delighted that young people from Enniskillen Royal Grammar School and St Fanchea’s College took part in the planting. It is important that the generations of today and the future understand the key role of biodiversity in helping to protect the environment.”

The students from Enniskillen Royal Grammar School said:

“It was a fun morning and we felt privileged to be involved in this wonderful biodiversity project.  It was very rewarding to know that the activity will have a long-term impact on our environment.”

The students from St Fanchea’s college added:“The apple trees we planted will remind us for years to come how we helped the bee population in Fermanagh grow.”

Elmarie Swanepoel, Programme Manager from Lough Erne Landscape Partnership stated:

“It was excellent to see the engagement from local children whilst learning about their natural environment. This initiative will not only benefit the environment, but local people in Enniskillen will benefit from these trees for years to come. We are grateful for the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, though funding raised by lottery players who support good causes every time they play The National Lottery.”

As well as supporting local pollinators, planting apple trees helps to increase tree cover in the District which is important for carbon capture and to support our objective of achieving a Net Zero District by 2042.  The fruit from the trees also provides a source of sustainable locally grown food which can be eaten in seasons helping to reduce any negative environmental impact.

For more information on the Council’s Biodiversity Strategy, visit www.fermanaghomagh.com or contact the Climate Action Team on climate@fermanaghomagh.com or 0300 303 1777.