Sod Turning Ceremony Cloonamahon Native Woodland Park

Western Forestry Co-op were delighted that Minister Hackett came to Cloonamahon to “Turn the Sod” on the 105 acre new native woodland that the HSE so generously gave of their land. Western Forestry Co-op are establishing and managing this new woodland on behalf of the HSE, and their 50 acres of old woodland. As well as the HSE Western Forestry Co-op bought 23 acres adjacent to Cloonamahon of which we aim to create a “Model Forest” for people to visit (more information to come) and Coillte are transitioning an adjoining 15acres of commercial woodland to native woodland. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine are the principal funders of these woodland schemes and we acknowledge and thank them for their funding. Sligo County Council are also a committed partner to the Native Woodland Park, their stewardship as the local authority is key to the future potential of Cloonamahon. Yesterday was a great day for trees, and as was once said “To have trees, is to be rich in ways that money cannot buy”.

Paul Reid, CEO, HSE, Dermot Monaghan, A/Chief Officer, HSE CHO1, Edel Quinn, Head of Service, Disability Services CHO1, Marina Conway, CEO Western Forestry Co operative, Pippa Hackett, Minister of State for Agriculture with responsibility for Land use and Biodiversity, Paul Taylor, Cathaoirleach, Sligo County Council, Deborah Meghan, Director of Stewardship & Risk, Coillte and Frank Feighan, Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and National Drugs Strategy at the tree planting ceremony to mark the new Cloonamahon Native Woodland Park, Sligo.

Marina Conway, CEO Western Forestry Co operative, Pippa Hackett, Minister of State for Agriculture with responsibility for Land use and Biodiversity, Martin Beirne Property Manager HSE, Brian Mc Garraghy Coillte Forestry Manager, Colm Gilheaney Western Forestry Co Op Forestry Project Manager and Denis O Rourke Maintenance Foreman Cloonamahon Services.