4 December 2001
TV STAR BELLAMY JOINS DRD EFFORT TO SAVE FAMOUS LANDMARK
Regional Development Minister Peter Robinson MP MLA was joined today by renowned environmentalist David Bellamy at the culmination of a major initiative to preserve one of north Antrim’s most famous landmarks.
The Frosses Trees were planted in 1839 by eminent engineer Sir Charles Lanyon during the construction of the road across bog land so that the roots would support the road to prevent it subsiding. Since then, they have become a favourite roadside feature for tourists in Northern Ireland
They faced extinction just three years ago as the Scots pines, which form the distinctive canopy across the road, reached the end of their natural life. However, a major regeneration scheme initiated by the Department for Regional Development’s Roads Service resulted today in around 1,000 trees being planted by almost 300 schoolchildren.
The event also marked an important milestone for Roads Service, which today topped the one million mark for planting trees during the past decade.
Mr Robinson said: "The importance of the Frosses trees is recognised by everyone who lives locally as well as the five million motorists who travel along this route each year.
"Over the years, Roads Service have been forced to remove some trees to ensure the safety of road users leaving just 104 of the estimated 1,500 which were originally planted. Three years ago, Roads Service received two reports on the condition of the trees – one was bad and the other was worse – and the future of the landmark looked very bleak indeed.
"For that reason, Roads Service, supported by Ballymoney and Ballymena Borough Councils, Belfast City Council parks and amenities department, Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland and the Woodland Trust developed a strategy to sustain the feature well into the new millennium.
"The approach included a schools’ project culminating in today’s event in which 47 local schools and nurseries were invited to help re-grow the trees from seeds collected on the site during tree surgery.
"I am delighted that 300 schoolchildren from Ballymoney and Ballymena have been involved in today’s replanting project with young trees they have grown from seedlings and cultivated on school grounds. The maintenance of the Frosses will benefit not only the children here today but their children and future generations."
Mr Robinson said that the project was an excellent example of sustainability and of cooperation between the Department, local councils, voluntary organisations and most importantly schools and thanked all of those involved.
He said: "I would particularly like to thank Professor Bellamy for supporting this project in his capacity as vice president of Conservation Volunteers. The fact he has been willing to give so much of his time to this project reflects the importance of the occasion.
"I must also pay tribute to Terry Fulton of Roads Service’s Northern Division who instigated this project and managed its implementation.
"I am also delighted that Roads Service continues to be a major planter of trees in Northern Ireland and has topped the one million mark during the past 10 years. The policy will continue with the building of the Toome By-Pass, which will have 150,000 new trees, 90,000 of which will be supplied by Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland, who have assisted Roads Service in this event today."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- In November 1999, almost 50 of the Scots Pines had to be felled and the remaining trees pruned. Roads Service planted 400 replacement Scots Pines during Tree Week 2000 and collected over 1,000 seeds on site to help in the regeneration of the site.
- The collected seeds were propagated by Conservation Volunteers for Northern Ireland. School packs containing 10 of the seedlings were sent to schools throughout the Ballymoney and Ballymena Council areas.
- The replanting strategy involved Roads Service in conjunction with Ballymoney and Ballymena Borough Councils, Belfast City Council, Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland and the Woodland Trust.
For further information contact Eamon Deeny on 028 9054 0004 or 07768 798916.
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