New trees planned for this Kildare estate

The matter of tree planting in Castletown Estate, Celbridge, Co Kildare was the subject of a motion tabled by a Social Democrats councillor at a recent municipal district meeting.

Cllr Claire O'Rourke motioned “that the council re-instates the budget for tree planting in Castletown Estate, allocated by the Parks Department in February 2024.”

According to Cllr O'Rourke, 10 new trees which had been allocated for in the 2024 budget “were subsequently not planted.”

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She told the council that Kildare County Council's policy of only budgeting for the cutting down of trees and not replacing them, “is inconsistent with its environmental protection objectives.”

She said she was very happy with the council's response, and that she would liaise with the residents' association.

Supporting the motion, Cllr Nuala Killeen (SD) said it was important to keep track of the planting that is taking place, and she thought it was “great” that 90 semi mature trees and 300 sapling/hedging were planted in the municipal district last year, which she hadn't been aware of.

She was “pleased to see” that planting was being undertaken by the council, she said.

A report issued by the council confirmed that the council only remove trees that are “dead, dangerous or cause structural damage.”

The report further confirmed that a programme of tree planting is carried out every year, which involves planting locations where trees have been removed and new locations.

The planting, the report continued, consists of semi-mature trees, hedge and sapling planting.

Last year 90 semi-mature trees and 300 sapling/hedging were planted in the municipal district.

The report stated: “The council will plant 10 trees in Castletown Estate, Celbridge in the coming season November 2025 and will be happy to work with residents through Cllr O'Rourke in relation to choice of species and location.”