Darndale in Dublin is joining Milan, Barcelona and Brașov as one of four locations across Europe planting thousands of trees as part of European Urban Forest Week.
Dubbed the 'Darndale Donut', 3,000 native trees - including oak, birch, willow and hazel - are being planted across 4,500sq/m at Darndale Park by pupils from the local Our Lady Immaculate National School and volunteers.
It is part of a 'UForest' project that promises four events in four EU countries, Ireland, Italy, Romania and Spain, with one goal: "transforming cities from grey to green".
Darndale Together Implementation Oversight Group, which is working to tackle anti-social behaviour in the area and improve community esteem, proposed the site.
"To fully embrace inclusion and unity, the forest has been planted in the shape of a doughnut, with trees forming an outer ring and a small clearing within," said group chairperson Dr Jack Nolan.
"The goal is to raise awareness of the benefits of nature, while providing some basic skills to students to teach them how to plant and take care of trees."
"The Darndale community will play a full part and be involved in maintenance as well tree planting activities, creating a bond among the community and its new urban forest will be key."
"Things are changing for the better in Darndale.
"This initiative is a vote of confidence in an area on a journey of significant advancement and will have major social and environmental benefits for Darndale and its surrounds."
The project is led by Trinity College Dublin's Centre for Social Innovation, with Dublin City Council providing the site, trees and ongoing maintenance.
"With 84% of the population of Europe expected to live in urban areas by 2050, planning more sustainable and liveable cities is crucial, said Professor Mary-Lee Rhodes, Co-Director for the Trinity Centre for Social Innovation.
"Forests can reduce heat, provide better air quality and increase biodiversity."
