Queen’s Green Canopy Trees Planted At Balcas
In a gesture which recognises both the 60th anniversary of Balcas and the Queen’s Green Canopy project, a spruce, a birch and a rowan tree were ceremoniously planted today by Viscount Brookeborough, the late Queen’s Lord-in-waiting for over a quarter of a century.
The timber producing spruce tree was the 60th planted this month in a dedicated area on site at Killadeas along with 5 birch and 5 alder trees, a mix which ensures biodiversity benefits, a practice now common place in commercial forestry.
Brian Murphy CEO, commented: “Balcas are delighted to plant these trees, both in memory of her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and in support of the Queen’s Green Canopy that commemorates the platinum Jubilee of 2022. Sitka spruce is the workhorse tree for CO2 sequestration and for timber for our nations built environment. Over the coming decades we see sustainably managed timber and wood fibre as being ever more important in the world as it substitutes for so many less CO2 friendly materials, and we see our managed forests as carbon sinks, and places of leisure and education.”
Also in attendance was James Hamilton Stubber, Chairperson of the Queen’s Green Canopy Project NI and Nigel Manley, Head of Forestry, Balcas.
