Urban Orchard Project Planting

Our proposal in November to plant fruit trees, supplied free by the Wild About Navan environmental group, has been accepted by residents who responded. Also included is the proposal to improve the presentation of the wall.

After the workshop held at Solas Glan Community Gardens, and considering comments from residents, the following has been proposed for the area on the main green and tree planting will commence immediately followed soon after with clearing the area for wildflowers.

You will note that it is considerably smaller than the proposal initially suggested (Initial Proposal link) and ensures that children's play space remains.

The fruit trees will not become the large trees that most of us would have expected. Within an Urban Orchard trees are planted only 2m apart and will be pruned to ensure that the branches, and their fruit, remain within reach. Therefore they will remain compact and small. Six trees have been provided: Blood of the Boyne Apple, Wild Cherries, Damsons, and Crab apples.

Also included in our proposal are holly trees supplied via Johnstown Tidy Towns and their involvement with Meath County Council. The holly leaves are evergreen with berries appearing in winter and planted to screen the wall and add extra security to residents. The plants will appear more like a bush than a traditional tree.

Space will be cleared for Wildflowers to be sown along the wall where the leaves are at present. These will provide vibrant colour throughout the summer in the same way as those sown along the fence line of Bothar Sion. Wildflower areas significantly reduce grass cutting costs if planted on a much larger scale. This may encourage residents to support future proposals to transform unused larger portions of the main green.