2024
Telling Stories About Trees: The Science and Culture of Ireland's Tree Collections
On Thursday, 14th November, Dr. Eoin Lettice delivered a presentation titled ‘Telling Stories About Trees: The Science and Culture of Ireland's Tree Collections’ for the Cork Literary and Scientific Society
Eoin's talk covered a brief history of trees in Ireland, emphasising their scientific and cultural significance. Eoin discussed how pollen analysis serves as a scientific tool for mapping the historical arrival of native species such as hazel, pine, elm, and oak. He highlighted specific tree species, including the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) and common yew (Taxus baccata), illustrating their cultural importance, particularly in local place names like Maigh Eo (Plain of the Yews).
Eoin emphasised the importance of conservation and collection efforts, mentioning notable species like Wollemia nobilis and the 'Hiroshima' Ginkgo biloba, which are being preserved at the UCC Arboretum. He highlighted the primary threats to Irish forests, including deforestation and the presence of plant diseases such as Ash Dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) and Sudden Oak Death (Phytophthora ramorum). He demonstrated how afforestation is essential for meeting climate and biodiversity targets, referencing the Climate Action Plan, which aims for 8,000 hectares of annual afforestation, with a mandate that 20% of new conifer forests be broadleaf species by 2023, increasing to 50% by 2027. Eoin noted that restoring Ireland's forests is vital for biodiversity, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Ireland’s climate targets.
Eoin discussed the important international Tree Root Microbiome Project, on which the UCC Arboretum has collaborated. This is a five-year research programme aimed at enhancing forest resilience by creating the first-ever tree-root-microbiome model. He moved on to discuss the Irish Tree Explorers Network (ITEN), which focuses on the scientific, cultural, and literary aspects of trees and building a nationwide living tree collection. The presentation concluded by highlighting ITEN's public outreach activities, demonstrating the growing interest in tree knowledge and appreciation within the Cork community.
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The ITEN team
Based at UCC, the team includes Dr Eoin Lettice, Dr Barbara Doyle Prestwich, Emma Hutchinson and Gabriella Chisholm from the School of BEES and Prof. Claire Connolly and Dr. Claire Nolan from the School of English and Digital Humanities.
To keep up with project news and updates, follow iten_ucc on Twitter and the Irish Tree Explorers Network on Facebook, Instgram and LinkedIn.