Article by Dave Bradley
“You could have the line of maples that they cut down there and you could have that oak tree, you could have both.” – So says Chair of An Taisce Donegal Local Association Noel Foley as it seems that the end is nigh for one of Letterkenny’s oldest residents.
The decades-old Sessile oak tree got a stay of execution and, despite a series of protests, Donegal County Council have said that they are unable to change the plans.
Noel said, “I got a letter from the Council, and they say that whatever works are going to be going on will damage the roots and they cannot keep the tree.”
“They have promised a whole plethora of new plants to be put in such as native trees like crab-apple, some Oak trees and hollies.”
The Sessile oak is Ireland’s national tree and provides a home and food for a number of different species including birds bats and insects.
Noel said,” I can’t age it precisely, my guess is someplace between 75 and 90 years of age. You would expect a Sessile oak to live for hundreds of years, so this one here is in its prime.”
Oak trees are normally quite tall so why does this oak look so different?
“What’s a bit unique about this tree is that when it was only a seedling the top bud would have broken and the side buds have taken over. That’s why you see all these branches going out in every direction. This gives the tree a lovely architectural quality like a sculpture.”
Noel is also concerned about the wider impact of the decision to cut down the tree will have.
“People came together and protested, and they were hoping that the council would listen.”
“The tree will be a loss in itself but the biggest loss will be people’s faith in sustainability.”
“The Active Travel Project is all about sustainability and you have this tree wiped out as part of the process. It’s made people cynical.”
As the poem stuck to the tree says, ‘Why me an old Oak tree?’
Statement from Donegal County Council on the Ballyraine Oak Tree:
The N56 Letterkenny Urban Active Travel project is a vital project delivering improved safety, function, capacity and active travel facilities on the N56 through Letterkenny. The planned works between the Polestar and Creamery roundabouts include the provision of segregated pedestrian and cycling facilities as well as providing new signalised junctions at both the Ballyraine and Creamery roundabouts. This will not only provide essential improvements to the safety of vulnerable road users, it will also help address the major congestion issues in the area by improving the flow of traffic through two major junctions on the N56.
The works immediately adjacent to the oak tree at Ballyraine park involve provision of a segregated cycle lane and footpath, provision of an additional traffic lane for the new signalised junction at the Creamery roundabout and improved definition and safety of the access to Ballyraine park.
As part of the design process, DCC have considered all alternative options in this area with regard to retention of the oak tree. However, the required safe and effective infrastructure described above cannot be provided without major impact to the root structure of the oak tree. As a result, it is not possible to retain the tree and it must be removed. Any option involving the retention of the tree will significantly reduce the effective function of both the new junction and the safety and function of the pedestrian and cycle facilities. It would involve removing some of the major elements required to improve traffic flow at the Creamery junction for thousands of road users, and significant reduction of quality for other elements.
As such the current course of action was not taken lightly. A significant number of measures were included to mitigate the impact of the trees removal. To identify the most suitable measures, DCC have undertaken extensive consultation with all stakeholders involved with this project and continue to do so.
It has been agreed that care will be taken during removal of the tree to retain the majority of the trunk sections to allow for alternative uses of the trunk and truck sections after removal. DCC will liaise with the local community in the area to agree the most suitable use of these as well as any other possible initiatives to preserve or continue its memory. For example, there is the potential to work together with the local school and men’s shed for the creation of public benches, planters etc.
DCC also intend to harvest the acorns from this tree prior to removal and replant a number of them in the local area. These acorns will also be offered to local residents who may wish to plant them themselves.
In addition to the above, there is a significant amount of landscaping and planting being provided ats part of the scheme, with a particular focus on providing a net gain with regards to biodiversity impact. The project when complete will involve significant landscaping works which will include semi-mature trees, shrubs, bulbs, wildflower meadow areas, hedging, raised planters and park benches.
