The E.U. and Trees!
I once held out hope that Ireland’s participation in the European Union would create a sense of joined up thinking about the state of our sick environment and how we could start to create instead of continually destroy.
That somehow, policy and directives from Brussels would create enlightenment and lead to the wholesale planting of trees on our monocultured island…but recent discussions with someone in receipt of E.U. grants for tree-planting has led me to be very concerned indeed!
Monoculture Monsters
The state of tree planting here in Ireland can be summed up as inadequate, with the emphasis on monoculture plantations of Sitka Spruce, planted for harvesting, in long, tight rows, where only a huge machine could possibly access the nightmare of environmental sickness.
These trees are planted for money and regarded only in fiscal terms.
Monoculture is the order of the day because the environment is tied into the “Merchants of Greed,” as John Seymour called them…the institutions now viewed as the great destroyers of our country!
Today’s Video…
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I would like to say a couple of things about the comments. I think the French have always been bolshy enough to resist EU law if it doesn’t suit them and especially when it will mean that their age old culture is threatened. As far as the hedge planting in the UK is going – that is the same here, at least in SCAs – it is just that there are different departments saying to do different things. I was in Meath yesterday and a woman mentioned that she had noticed lots of trees had been recently cut down, including very old ones. I told them about the EU policy of which they had not heard. On my way home via a different route I too saw lots of old trees hacked down. It is heart breaking. By the way, the song is The Curragh of Kildare. I love it, one of my favourites.
There is a serious amount of trees being cut down in Roscommon and Leitrim, and, like the person you spoke to said, these are old, mature trees. It is not being reported in the media! Thanks for the name of the song! XX
Thank you for my seeds. So looking forward to seeing the garden grow. Keep up all the excellent work. Much appreciated.
Good to know they arrived! Blessings XXX
I think many humans get DOMINION and STEWARDSHIP mixed up!
It’s kind of like it is here in the southern US. We have huge stands of Southern Pines for a fast and profitable harvest. Our woods here on our place consists of a variety of trees, even though we do have some pines intermingled.
Our governments should be leading the way, not the other way round, sad to say!
Why do you suppose it’s so different in two EU countries ? Here the farm land is as it’s always been mixed hedgerows and copses everywhere.I hate monoculture forests they have no soul ,unlike the woods all around our house where you can feel the magic !
The French people are more determined about what they will and will not tolerate…which is a very good thing! Also, France is a secular republic, thus avoiding patriarchal influence on that grand scale so experienced here in Ireland…religion teaches that humans have dominion over Mother Earth…not a good point to start an environmental movement in my experience. But, you know, there are a myriad of reasons…
Vive la différence !
It’s why we live here………let’s hope the UK referendum doesn’t screw that up for us !
Thanks for this lovely post, Permagoddess!
My pleasure!
I read about this single farm payment scheme, I think it applies in the UK as well. Just when they had actually started planting hedges again.
The EU is negotiating TTIP with the US government. Wait till that comes into force!
Hi , the same comment I put on Facebook.
The many thousands of acres of french woodland (mixed deciduous)is carefully managed by the ONF (french forestry commission and monoculture planting is strictly limited,same EU ,different interpretation of the rules ? 🙂
The EU have insisted that farmers in Ireland tear down trees and hedges in order to qualify for the single farm payment…to view the land from satellites without obstruction! It’s happening all around me!
mwwd – It is so heartening to here what you say about France. We are getting up the courage to move from the UK to France and are yearning for the forests and clean air of a truly rural place to live. The UK seems to be on a similar path to Ireland, sadly. Are there specific areas we should look at to find those beautiful deciduous woodlands? Any pointers gratefully received. It all feels a bit daunting right now 🙂