| tree_survey_report_word_doc.doc |
| bs5837_tree_survey_template_moanghan_town.xls |
| monaghan_tidy_towns_tree_project_intro.doc |
| monaghan_town_tree_survey_2012_cover.doc |
| treeplantingplan_3.doc |
The Trees of Monaghan Town
by Denis Flannery, Horticulturist, Monaghan County Council.
Trees are beautiful objects that also offer us important practical benefits. Their contribution to our towns is immense especially with regard to our own health and well being. Ireland stands out in Europe in having one of the fastest rates of urbanisation at present. We are changing from a once rural population to a predominantly urban one. The value of houses where there are trees is higher than where there are not. Trees enhance the landscape and soften harder areas among building or other hard surfaces. Street trees enhance visual amenity and form an extension to the planting in the front of Private properties.
The associated problems of urban sprawl, a degraded urban environment and the loss of biodiversity require sustainable urban design and appropriate land-use and planning to help counteract the effects (EC, 2004).
As a result there is great public value on trees. Trees help to moderate climate temperature sunshine and wind conditions by providing shade and shelter. Along roadsides, trees reduce noise, remove pollution and particulates, also provide clues to the changing road configuration and they provide habitats for wildlife.
The location of trees with in a built up area has benefit of offering a green infrastructure to the local community. There are many studies published as to the benefits of trees in urban areas on many aspects of our lives. Urban housing developments that are adjacent to natural amenities such as woodland, parks are more attractive places to live and this is often reflected in market prices. The estimated impacts are necessarily case and location specific and have a wide range of values. Having a well-managed greenspace nearby was found to result in average property premiums of 2.6% to 11.3% (Economic benefits of green-space, Forestry Commission: Edinburgh 2012). Several studies from the US and UK have shown that street trees and views of natural landscapes and waterways can increase property values by between 5% and 18% (Johnston & Newton, 2004, National Urban Forestry Unit, 1998).
Trees in cities and towns, whether on streets, in woodland or in parks, gardens or schools provide a wealth of benefits relating to biodiversity. They are unique in their ability to support a great variety of wildlife in some of the harshest locations in our urban areas. Many of these species are relatively common – robins, blackbirds and tits are easily recognised by children from nursery rhymes – whilst others, such as bats and bees, are in decline. Native species of trees are particularly important having been around for thousands of years and many hundreds of different species have developed over time to be dependent on them. Willows alone offer food and habitat for over 450 species, many of these are insects that then themselves provide food for birds (© 2011 Trees for Cities).
Species Mix
The plantings that have taken place in Monaghan town consist of street trees and park trees. In some instances non native species have been selected due to their ability to grow in difficult conditions such as in car parks and along road ways.
A variety of pests and diseases, some of which appear to be linked to climate change, have started attacking common trees. Planting a mixture of trees is be essential if streets are to avoid the problems assonated with monoculture. An example of this is the carnage that affected the elm population in the 1970s as a result of Dutch elm disease. Between 50 and 60 per cent of the trees planted in towns should be native and around 40 per cent should be non-native trees. This will allow the type of genetic diversity within the population that could cope with a changing environment that may exists in 100 years.
Monaghan county council with the help of Monaghan Tidy Towns have endeavoured to increase the number of trees that are planted in and around the town. Over the past 4 years over 250 street and park trees have been planted. It is our aim to increase the number and variety of trees that are planted over the years to come.
by Denis Flannery, Horticulturist, Monaghan County Council.
Trees are beautiful objects that also offer us important practical benefits. Their contribution to our towns is immense especially with regard to our own health and well being. Ireland stands out in Europe in having one of the fastest rates of urbanisation at present. We are changing from a once rural population to a predominantly urban one. The value of houses where there are trees is higher than where there are not. Trees enhance the landscape and soften harder areas among building or other hard surfaces. Street trees enhance visual amenity and form an extension to the planting in the front of Private properties.
The associated problems of urban sprawl, a degraded urban environment and the loss of biodiversity require sustainable urban design and appropriate land-use and planning to help counteract the effects (EC, 2004).
As a result there is great public value on trees. Trees help to moderate climate temperature sunshine and wind conditions by providing shade and shelter. Along roadsides, trees reduce noise, remove pollution and particulates, also provide clues to the changing road configuration and they provide habitats for wildlife.
The location of trees with in a built up area has benefit of offering a green infrastructure to the local community. There are many studies published as to the benefits of trees in urban areas on many aspects of our lives. Urban housing developments that are adjacent to natural amenities such as woodland, parks are more attractive places to live and this is often reflected in market prices. The estimated impacts are necessarily case and location specific and have a wide range of values. Having a well-managed greenspace nearby was found to result in average property premiums of 2.6% to 11.3% (Economic benefits of green-space, Forestry Commission: Edinburgh 2012). Several studies from the US and UK have shown that street trees and views of natural landscapes and waterways can increase property values by between 5% and 18% (Johnston & Newton, 2004, National Urban Forestry Unit, 1998).
Trees in cities and towns, whether on streets, in woodland or in parks, gardens or schools provide a wealth of benefits relating to biodiversity. They are unique in their ability to support a great variety of wildlife in some of the harshest locations in our urban areas. Many of these species are relatively common – robins, blackbirds and tits are easily recognised by children from nursery rhymes – whilst others, such as bats and bees, are in decline. Native species of trees are particularly important having been around for thousands of years and many hundreds of different species have developed over time to be dependent on them. Willows alone offer food and habitat for over 450 species, many of these are insects that then themselves provide food for birds (© 2011 Trees for Cities).
Species Mix
The plantings that have taken place in Monaghan town consist of street trees and park trees. In some instances non native species have been selected due to their ability to grow in difficult conditions such as in car parks and along road ways.
A variety of pests and diseases, some of which appear to be linked to climate change, have started attacking common trees. Planting a mixture of trees is be essential if streets are to avoid the problems assonated with monoculture. An example of this is the carnage that affected the elm population in the 1970s as a result of Dutch elm disease. Between 50 and 60 per cent of the trees planted in towns should be native and around 40 per cent should be non-native trees. This will allow the type of genetic diversity within the population that could cope with a changing environment that may exists in 100 years.
Monaghan county council with the help of Monaghan Tidy Towns have endeavoured to increase the number of trees that are planted in and around the town. Over the past 4 years over 250 street and park trees have been planted. It is our aim to increase the number and variety of trees that are planted over the years to come.