Campaigns

Town Trees

Trees are amongst our most priceless assets, especially when planted within urban areas. They provide much-needed shade on hot days and soak up excess rainwater.

These are two critical concerns that will confront us in the coming years due to climate catastrophe. To test this out, Suircan conducted a temperature test on a hot day in August 2023 which showed an average of 10 degrees difference between the sunny side and the shady side of several trees throughout our town.

In concrete spaces such as town centres, trees are equally important for biodiversity, especially birds and insects.

Tipperary County Council’s Clonmel Urban design project called for the felling numerous Town trees, this provoked a response from Suircan and other organisations via the “tie a ribbon around a tree” protest.

Since then Suircan has worked with the local council helping with the new tree strategy for Tipperary which is in progress.

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• Historic Trees: Suircan encourages everyone to plant native trees and currently has a project collecting acorns from local historic trees. Within a few short years, these new, young trees are available for planting on farms, plus in public and private spaces. 
  If interested in getting a tree please E-mail suircanclonmel@gmail.com
• Further education: From time to time, Suircan brings experts to Clonmel for free public talks. Professor Gerard Mills of UCD gave a wonderful lecture called “Greening Our Town”. Trees are our lungs and are a vital part of that greening process.

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Parkville Farm

In conjunction with hedgerows Ireland, Suircan members have taken part in protests aimed at highlighting the practices of wealthy individuals/organisation purchase of farmland usually followed by the destruction of hedgerows.

The excessive prices paid for the land also result in pushing land prices beyond the reach of ordinary farmers.