Busy time for Balbriggan Tidy Towns volunteers
Balbriggan Tidy Towns volunteers and local residents Ciaran Wiseman, Alex Mccullagh, Trevor Sargent, Peggy Fletcher, Zoe Nelson, Ray Conway, Jo from Martello Heights, Pat and Ann from Tara Court and Tom Fletcher.
MEMBERS of Balbriggan Tidy Towns team have had a busy February, organising a month-long frenzy of planting in the town as part of its preparations for this year's competition. Most recently, the team were on the verge across from the roundabout on the Harry Reynolds Road, planting 300 pyracantha bushes up against a wall prone to graffiti. It is hoped this famously thorny species will put a stop to this terrible scourge senseless vandalism. A team of approx 12 tidy towns members and local residents worked systematically to plant a hedge that will produce wonderful foliage and glowing red flowers later in the growing season which are attractive to a wide variety of wild bee species and butterflies. Again thanks are due to Balbriggan Town Council and in particular Town Clerk Brian Murray for the support given to this significant planting project. The previous week, the group were out with the residents of Tara Court to plant 420 white-thorn slips along the perimeter of the green area that adjoins the Harry Reynolds Road. Approximately 20 enthusiastic volunteers planted the white-thorn slips, which were funded by Balbriggan Town Council, along the inside of the metal perimeter fence and also along boundary walls. W hile not very noticeable at the moment, in years to come these white-thorn slips will grow to form an attractive hedge around this open area, often used for children's football training and games, with seasonal flowering providing some much needed colour and also providing a safe habitat for a range of small birds and insects. With the planting of 500 Yew bushes planted at the Garda station on the first Saturday in February, that brings the total number of plants to over a 1000 planted so far this month. Planting has been undertaken by the Tidy Towns volunteers, Fingal Green Party volunteers and many local residents. The work will continue at Ashfield Park esate.
