IDA Ireland has teamed up with the 100 Million Trees Project to unveil a small dense forest in IDA Business & Technology Park, Athlone.

As part of the initiative which aims to plant 100 million native Irish trees across the island of Ireland by the end of this decade, approximately 40 IDA Ireland staff planted 2,500 native Irish trees and shrubs on an unused plot, under guidance from the 100 Million Trees team.

Catriona Taylor, senior horticulturist with the 100 Million Trees Initiative said: "The site has been wonderfully prepared with removal of the hardcore, and supplementation of the site with good quality top-soil. 15 different types of native trees will be planted in an intense planting fashion. The list of trees is enclosed below. This project will be a perfect example of turning an empty stony compound into a beautiful area of biodiversity with a little will and determination.”

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The initiative follows the 'Miyawaki Method' of planting where a small plot of land is densely planted with an excessive number of trees together which then grow considerably faster, denser, are more biodiverse, and most importantly create a rapid carbon sink according to those behind the project.

An additional benefit of dense planting is that the project requires significantly smaller planting areas and can be carried out on unused or fallow land across Ireland.

IDA Ireland's CEO Michael Lohan said: "IDA Ireland is very pleased to support the 100 million trees project in this small but important way. Sustainability is core to IDA Ireland’s strategic goals and Ireland’s future economic success. By actively engaging in this initiative, we can help drive and deliver on the decarbonisation agenda, just as we partner with our client companies across Ireland to do."