21st JANUARY, 2003 Coillte, the Irish Forestry Board, announced last night, January 20th, that it has decided to suspend its current plan to harvest 15 oak trees and 22 beech trees on Dartrey Estate outside Cootehill, Co. Cavan. The decision was made last week by Coillte District Manager, Mr.PJ Fitzpatrick, in response to concerns expressed by the local community.

Following a meeting with representatives of the local community last week, Mr. Fitzpatrick stated that, "Coillte has informed the Forest Service that it will not be going ahead with the felling of the trees as originally proposed. This decision has been taken on the basis of ongoing consultations that have been taking place with the local community since last November." He went on to say that "a new community representative group has now been established, which will work closely with Coillte, in developing plans for the management of the wood."

Old Woodlands such as Dartrey Wood need to be managed, to ensure that their ecological integrity is protected and enhanced. In woods like Dartrey, this often means removing exotic species of conifers and broadleaves, creating conditions to encourage natural regeneration of native species, and thinning of the existing wood to ensure the remaining trees are growing in optimum conditions.

"I would like to thank the local community for their input to date. Coillte is fully committed to working closely with them to ensure that this wood is still around for future generations to enjoy," continued Mr. Fitzpatrick.

Last nights announcement was welcomed by the local community. Mr. Cormac McCaul, who has been actively involved in consultations on Dartrey Wood with Coillte since last November, said: "we very much appreciate Coillte's level of consultation with us in relation to Dartrey and their decision to stop operations and withdraw the felling licence. We look forward to working with Coillte on the future development of Dartrey."

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Mr. Fitzpatrick acknowledged that some work will need to be done in the short-term in order to make the wood safe for visitors. "We will be working with the local group to examine the roadside trees and assess them for damage and decay, some of which will require tree surgery."

For more information Contact

PJ Fitzpatrick, District Manager,
Coillte :Tel: (044) 42744 or (086) 2502575,
Email: pj.fitzpatrick@coillte.ie

Additional Information:

There is a total of 439 oak trees growing in the 13-acre wood on Dartrey Estate. It is estimated that these trees were planted in 1820. The beech trees are much younger, and were planted in 1948. The wood is located in a pNHA (proposed National Heritage Area).

The proposed plan for the wood involved the following, the goal of which was to introduce young oak trees into the wood, giving a greater diversity of age classes and a significant improvement in the ecological integrity of the wood:

Felling of 15 oak and 22 beech trees in 2003 and replanting in the open spaces with native oak trees at a rate of 6,600 trees per hectare Planting of additional broadleaves throughout the estate.

A review of the management plan in consultation with the community in 2008, with the goal of felling an additional 10 oak and beech trees, followed by further replanting of open spaces.

After 2008, review of the plan on a 5-year basis with the goal of felling 10 further oak and beech trees each 5-year period followed by replanting of open spaces.