River Shannon TreeWalk

national | environment | press release Monday March 26, 2007 20:50 by Pears - river Shannon TreeWalk

Journey from source of riverShannon to sea,planting apple and broadleaves along the way

from the 10th April 07 the TreeWalk will kyayk and foot it on and beside the river shannon,carrying trees to plant with school communities and others, invites welcome, feel free to participate.

From 10th April the Shannon river TreeWalk will flow from the source of the river to the sea.
we will try to carry all we need with us in our kyayks,which can accomadate 3/4 people each and supplies.
we wil travel with native trees,lots of hazel,a very friendly tree supplying people with fuel, craft material,building timber,nuts, heritage apple trees,once a common sigth in most folks kitchen gardens not to long ago and some others. by doing this we may raise awareness of the interrelationships exisiting with people and treelife,especialy concerning food sources and fuel and shelter and of rivers dependence on trees.
This is a new departure for the TreeWalk, engaging with the river Shannon, what will we learn along the way?
We are set to enjoy the experience and will have experienced boat people as well as novices in our fleet.
over the winter we built two large canvas and ash kyayks and they are nice boats.
We have many more at our disposale,so you can join in without owning a kyayk.
This coming weekend 1st April we will practise on the Shannon and will have our last gathering of interested folk, during which all questions and loose ends can be answered and sown up. All are welcome to attend,and participate just contact the number at the bottom of this article.
The journey is open to all to partcipate in, by foot or boat we are giving ourselves at least three weeks to complete the trip.
so if you can only make some of it ,thats fine all contributions and energy will be appricciated.
There is a core group that have been organising,and promoting the TreeWalk ,but it is a inclusive participatory group effort,within which all views and ideas are given equal space and respect for consideration. this is how we hope to work all along the way.
Past TreeWalks have been colourful, musical,juggeling,singing,laughterful,educational,inspiring, heartwarming,experiences with a fair share of challenge and deligth. its not always just a stroll in the country. They have been a chance for people to connect and become friends,easing feelings of exclusion,isolation and apathy.
Any folk stories,music, poems or useful knowledge of the river Shannon is apprecciated.
If you want to join in the TreeWalk please contact :
Pears/04325461or Pears/091633147.

Thanks