The National Trust plans to plant 20,000 native trees at a Co Armagh historic home in a bid to help introduce wildlife corridors in the area.
The trees will be planted on an 18 acre site at Ardress House, a 17th century farmhouse, on the outskirts of Portadown.
Remodelled in Georgian times, the farmhouse is set in 100 acres of countryside, which includes apple orchards, woodland and riverside walks.
A small team of National Trust volunteers and workers currently care for the property and its landscape.
The new tree project aims to improve the local environment, enhance water management and develop wildlife corridors to the area.
It also forms part of the National Trust’s wider ambition to plant and establish 20 million new trees by 2030.
As the UK’s single biggest landowner, the Trust plans to use its resources to increase the number of trees, in an effort to mitigate the effects of climate change.
It estimates that one tree could remove one tonne of carbon dioxide from the air over its lifetime.
The Ardress House project aims to cultivate a mixed native woodland, combining oak and birch trees, which will embrace the Trust’s ethos of sustainability and biodiversity.
It is being spearheaded by a collaboration between the Mid Ulster National Trust, the Forest Service, Commemorative Woodlands and Indi Woods.
They will oversee every aspect of the project, from assessing the site to selecting the plants, ensuring each tree fits seamlessly into the landscape of Ardress House.
All the trees will be sourced from Co Wexford and supplied by Not So Hardy Tree Nursery.
The National Trust said: “As each tree takes its place in the soil, a profound legacy of sustainability and conservation takes root at Ardress House.
“It’s not merely about planting trees, it’s a brighter future for generations to come.”
