Ticknock Forest Park, which attracts 150,000 visitors each year, was due to be cut down

The Green Party today welcomed Coillte’s announcement that they would halt planned clear felling of 20 acres of trees in Ticknock Forest Park, but called for Coillte to convert their 2,500 acres of forestry in the Dublin Mountains into a National Park.

Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan TD said today: “We welcome the fact that Coillte has put a stay on the clear felling of the Ticknock Forest. The trees are worth far more as a part of a forest park as a recreational facility rather than being chopped down for lumber.

“We now want to see this approach extended to all 2,500 acres of Coillte managed forests in the Dublin Mountains. They can be managed as a new National Park, by switching to a ‘continuous cover’ rather than ‘clear felling’ form of forestry.

“Under this approach you take out individual groups of trees to create small clearings within the existing cover. This allows older and more valuable trees grow alongside smaller saplings. It is better for sustainability, better for biodiversity, more profitable for Coillte in the long run, better for tourism and better for the people of Dublin city.

“Over 160,000 people visit the Ticknock Forest Park each year. Rather than chopping down the forest we need to protect these recreational spaces and Green lungs for our city. We’re glad Coillte have taken this first step in the right direction.”