A greener, more biodiverse Drogheda is beginning to take shape, thanks to the creation of six new Stepping Stone Forests, compact, fast-growing native woodland patches designed to thrive in urban spaces.
The project is being led by Drogheda Tidy Towns in collaboration with Stepping Stone Forests, with generous support from Amazon, and the active involvement of local residents, schools, and volunteers.
So far, ground preparation has been successfully completed at four locations: Ballsgrove, Knockbrack Downs, Tredagh Lodge Day Care Centre, and Rosevale. The final two areas to be prepared are Brookville on June 23rd and Riverbank on July 24th.
The first site, Ballsgrove, was prepared with great involvement and enthusiasm of the 5th class pupils from Marymount School, who worked alongside Amazon and Tidy Town volunteers to lay recycled cardboard and mulch as part of a no-dig method. This process mimics the natural forest floor and helps build healthy, nutrient-rich soil, setting the stage for dense planting of native Irish bare-root trees towards the end of the year.
Each of these mini forests will play a role in enhancing biodiversity, sequestering carbon, and improving soil and air quality, while also offering local communities peaceful green spaces and opportunities for environmental learning. Though compact in size, these mini forests form vital stepping stones for birds, insects, and native wildlife moving through urban areas.
Similar preparation work has taken place at Tredagh Lodge Day Care Centre, Knockbrack Downs, and Rosevale, with fantastic support from residents, community members, and volunteers.
Each event has brought people together with a shared purpose: to improve their local environment and contribute to a more sustainable future.
John Kiberd of Stepping Stone Forests commented: “It’s been a great pleasure working on these Stepping Stone Forests with the Drogheda Tidy Towns team. They are a very enthusiastic group, and the organisation of each event has been very professional. These mini-woodlands will help to sequester carbon and to enhance the biodiversity in urban spaces.”
A cornerstone of the project has been the incredible support from Amazon, both through funding and, notably, the active participation of their employees, who turned out in large numbers at every site. Their enthusiasm and hard work were vital to the success of each preparation day.
Amazon Community Engagement Manager, Joanne Reynolds, said: “We are thrilled with the incredible community spirit shown throughout this collaborative tree-planting initiative.
“Over the past month, we’ve worked hand-in-hand with local residents, schools, and businesses in Drogheda to carefully plan and execute this ambitious project that will see over 2,000 native trees planted. We’re particularly grateful to the local organisations involved and to the volunteers who have dedicated their time and energy to make this vision a reality.”
The project also benefited from the generous donation of mulch by Michael Spillane, which is essential in creating the rich organic base needed for these forests to thrive.
Gerry Leydon, Chairperson of Drogheda Tidy Towns commented “This project has been a fantastic community effort, with support from residents, schools, volunteers, and the amazing Amazon team whose hard work made this possible. Huge thanks to John and Caragh from Stepping Stone Forests for their guidance. We’re excited for the planting phase and can’t wait to see these mini urban forests take root and flourish in Drogheda.”
This Stepping Stone Forest project in Drogheda will see approximately 4,000 native trees and shrubs planted, featuring an impressive diversity of at least 25 different species, carefully selected to support local biodiversity, strengthen ecosystem resilience, and create a thriving, nature-rich habitat for generations to come.
