Dromara group branches out with planting project

Kara and Mya Campbell, from Dromore, bring a splash of colour to a new allotment in Dromara. Green-fingered teenagers from Dromara Community Group are creating this budding natural resource and celebrating a tree-planting milestone: a hearty one million trees now brighten neighbourhoods across the UK, thanks to IKEAs Trees for Communities initiative in partnership with the Woodland Trust. Looking on are Lynn Campbell, IKEA Belfast; Gail Burns, group leader; and Patrick Cregg, Woodland Trust.

Home furnishing retailer Ikea celebrated planting the millionth tree in its ‘Trees for Communities’ initiative when staff from the Belfast store visited the Dromara group’s allotment.

Run in in partnership with the Woodland Trust, the Ikea initiative provides packs of native trees to schools and community groups through a donation from the company’s Family loyalty programme.

In Dromara, young people - aged 16-21 -have set their sights on creating an allotment with over 100 native trees.

Dromara group leader Gail Burns said: “This project is meaningful in so many ways.

“It can sometimes be hard for teenagers to find their place in the community and this is an opportunity for our young people to do something really constructive.

“Their determination to transform this land, previously used as a local dumping ground, is truly heartening.

“They’re full of ideas and are delighted that others are taking an interest in their work.”

Woodland Trust NI director Patrick Cregg said the province was one of the least wooded places in Europe.

“The determination of teenagers especially, as in the example of Dromara Community Group, is truly inspirational,” he added.