29-Jan-12: Saturday the 28th of January was a cold a crisp day but very suitable for planting out new hedging. So members of Balbriggan Tidy Towns Association were joined by Scouts from the 34th/161st Troop, members of the Martello Residents association, members of the Fingal Green Party from Balbriggan, Donabate and Skerries and a number of volunteer Balbriggan residents.

Ciaran Wiseman BTT and Scouts of 34th/161st Troop

The target for the 22 strong team was to plant 500 Yew hedge bushes around the northern and eastern outer perimeter wall of Balbriggan Garda station. When work started at 11am it seemed like a daunting task but once they got started the team soon got into a rhythm, planting approximately 100 plants an hour.

Work was completed five hours later, at 4 o’clock, when the last plant was put in place by Mr Joe Troy, chairman of Balbriggan Tidy Towns. The bland wall is now greatly enhanced by the dark green hedge plants and the hedge will develop over the next few years to soften the look of the wall and metal railings making the main R132 road into Balbriggan a more pleasant route. In addition this type of hedging is very suitable for wildlife and will provide shelter and nesting sites for a variety of native birds.

Diarmuid O Suilleabhain from Skerries, Zoe Nelson from Balbriggan, Rita O'Sullivan from Donabate

The plants were very generously donated by Balbriggan Town Council who actively continue to support the Tidy Towns team in enhancing the natural Balbriggan environment.

Over the next number of weeks daffodils and tulips planted in 2010 by the Tidy Towns team will once again flower all over Balbriggan reminding us that planting is an investment that gives our residents and visitors pleasure year after year.

Thank Yew! to everyone who helped on Saturday, Tidy Towns specifically wish the Scouts involved success in attaining their Community Badge.

If you would like to join Balbriggan Tidy Towns in future planting events please visit www.Balbriggantidytown.net.