Pauline Hannon IJS sent us this update on behalf of the Care for the Earth Team:
Thanks to the expertise of Catherine Cleary, Co-Founder of Pocket Forests Ireland, The Biodiversity Action Group Ballymun (BBAG), the Care of the Earth Team and the enthusiastic backing of Fr. John Dunphy, we have completed our first phase of preparation, where the Pocket Forest was measured, aeriated, covered in biodegradable material and wood chip to ensure no further growth on the forest floor. It is key to remember the foresight of the Irish Bishops at their national conference that parishes would return 30% of church grounds to nature by 2030. What an informed compassionate decision with care of God’s earth at its heart.
Inserted into the heart of our future forest is an outdoor classroom made with sustainable wood by students from TU College, Grangegorman and donated to us too!
The next phase is the planting of native hazel trees and other native varieties, which will continue on 28th February involving our schools, hence promoting awareness and care of all trees. We can only look forward to an emerging forest drawing many varieties of species, birds, bees, insects, butterflies and perhaps we will once more see our native red squirrel finding it’s home there too! Near this site native crab apple trees will be grown and a variety of fruit bushes too. The BBAG group have tirelessly worked to make this happen.
In Laudato Si we are reminded of what the Bishops of Japan observed. The sense of each creature singing the hymn of its existence is to live joyfully in God’s love and hope. L85 We are mindful too of climate change and the dreadful consequences of our actions its hopeful to realise that trees accumulate carbon, reduce water runoff, create healthy soil and provide a foundation for abundance of life. Pope Francis reminds us in Laudato Si “The entire material universe speaks of God’s love, God’s boundless affection for us. Soil, water, mountains: everything is a caress of God.” (Laudato Si’, 84).
