11-Feb-12: Balbriggan Tidy Towns team have had a third successive Saturday of planting. This week (11th Feb) the team were on the verge across from the round-about on the Harry Reynolds Road, planting 300 Pyracantha bushes up against a wall prone to graffiti. It is hoped this famously thorny species will put a stop to this terrible scourge senseless vandalism. A team of approx 12 Tidy towns members and local residents worked systematically to plant a hedge that will produce wonderful foliage and glowing red flowers later in the growing season which are attractive to a wide variety of wild bee species and butterflies. Again thanks are due to Balbriggan Town council and in-particular Town Clerk Brian Murray for the support given to this significant planting project.

BTT volunteers and local residents Ciaran Wiseman, Alex McCullagh, Trevor Sargent, Peggy Fletcher, Zoe Nelson, Ray Conway, Jo from Martello Heights, Pat and Ann from Tara Court and Tom Fletcher.

On the previous Saturday morning (4th February) Balbriggan Tidy Towns were out with the residents of Tara Court to plant 420 white-thorn slips along the perimeter of the green area that adjoins the Harry Reynolds Road. Approximately 20 enthusiastic volunteers planted the white-thorn slips, which were funded by Balbriggan Town Council, along the inside of the metal perimeter fence and also along boundary walls. While not very noticeable at the moment, in years to come these white-thorn slips will grow to form an attractive hedge around this open area, often used for children's football training and games, with seasonal flowering providing some much needed colour and also providing a safe habitat for a range of small birds and insects.

With the planting of 500 Yew bushes planted at the Garda station on the first Saturday of February 2012 that brings the total number of plants to over a 1000 planted so far this month. Planting has been undertaken by the Tidy Towns volunteers, Fingal Green Party volunteers and many local residents. The work continues next week in Ashfield Park estate when trees will be planted along the communal areas, we need all hands on deck ! So if your free at 11am on Saturday 18th, bring your wellies and a spade and lets continue making Balbriggan beautiful.

See balbriggantidytowns.net for more details.