4,500 newly planted trees and meadow to benefit patients and environment
PUBLISHED ON THURSDAY, JULY 6TH, 2023
Peamount Healthcare, Microsoft Ireland, Trees on the Land and HSE Climate Action Team come together to deliver biodiversity project
Today, Thursday 22nd of June, Peamount Healthcare along with the health service, and community and industry partners are pleased to officially open new green spaces for the benefit of service users, residents, staff, the wider community, and environment.
The project initiated by the HSE’s Climate Action & Sustainability Office aims to increase the benefits that the outdoor green spaces on the campus can deliver for healthcare (green therapy) and the environment.
It involved the planting of over 4,500 native trees, 75 heritage apple and nut trees in three new orchards and the creation of 2ha of hay meadow. Microsoft Ireland supported the tree planting initiative with 70 of their volunteers spending two days on the 65-acre site to complete the project.
Opening the new green spaces at Peamount Healthcare, Dr. Philip Crowley, HSE National Director for Strategy and Research said, “I am delighted to officially open these new green spaces and to meet management, staff and service users to hear about the extraordinary work that has been undertaken for the benefit of service users, staff and the community. The HSE has recently launched its climate action strategy which is the overarching organisational commitment to future proof and encourage sustainable and environmentally friendly initiatives such as this one by Peamount Healthcare. Congratulations to all involved. I look forward to seeing this initiative flourish into the future.”
Tanya King, CEO, Peamount Healthcare said, “At Peamount Healthcare we pride ourselves on providing a specialist set of high-quality healthcare and social care services for our service users. This project improves and maintains access to all these areas for residents, staff, and visitors and supports our vision to help people to live more independently. We very much appreciate the support of the HSE, Microsoft Ireland, One Tree Planted and Trees on the Land for all their support and efforts to bring this important tree planting initiative to life. By helping to create more natural green spaces, Peamount Healthcare service users, their families and the local community can come to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the natural environment and further enhance our fork to plate programme that is having a positive nutritional impact for our residents. Peamount was established for the wonderful benefit of the fresh air and green spaces in the treatment of TB and this has come full circle today”
Peggy Blackburn, a service user of the Day Service at Peamount Healthcare who lives locally and is a past staff member of Peamount, said, “We are very happy with the new outdoor quiet spaces. We can sit quietly and listen to natural sounds, like the birds singing and the bees humming. It is so peaceful and relaxing.” The residents/clients who have chosen to enjoy the meaningful activity, Food to Table, are growing herbs, berries, salads and vegetables from seeds, under the therapeutic support from the Activity team. We enjoy watching them grow and harvesting when ready. The cooking group have made chutneys, soups and sauces, that make tasty healthy treats. The additional apple trees from the orchard are very welcome. Staff and management champion biodiversity, while promoting people’s health and wellness goals.
Brian Gaynor, Trees on the Land said, “We were delighted to work with Peamount Healthcare, the HSE Climate Action Team, One Tree Planted and Microsoft Ireland to deliver 4,500 native trees and the meadows. The additional tree cover will create new and connect existing habitats to support local biodiversity, create a greener neighbourhood for the community and soak up local carbon dioxide to help create a healthier environment. We’d like to thank Peamount Healthcare and our other partners for all their help and support with the project over the last few months.”
“We are thrilled to have partnered with Microsoft Ireland on such an impactful urban forestry project,” said One Tree Planted Founder and Chief Environmental Optimist Matt Hill. “We admire their commitment to support communities where they work and include employees in the initiative. As the trees grow, they will restore habitat for biodiversity, increase tree cover and green space for the Clondalkin community, and improve climate change resilience.”
“We are thrilled to have partnered with Microsoft Ireland on such an impactful urban forestry project,” said One Tree Planted Founder and Chief Environmental Optimist Matt Hill. “We admire their commitment to support communities where they work and include employees in the initiative. As the trees grow, they will restore habitat for biodiversity, increase tree cover and green space for the Clondalkin community, and improve climate change resilience.”
Commenting on the project, Eoin Doherty, Microsoft’s Cloud Operations + Innovation EMEA Regional Leader said: “At Microsoft, we want to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more. This includes empowering the local communities in which we operate. That’s why we were delighted to support this tree planting initiative. By working together with Peamount Healthcare as well as schools, clubs and individuals in the area, we were able to plant native trees in the local community. A special thanks to our partner, One Tree Planted, and Trees on the Land who together are helping to advance sustainability initiatives and enhance biodiversity.”
