Concern over native trees

Concern over native trees

23 April 2025

CONCERN has been expressed that only one third of the trees at Newcastle’s Donard Wood at the foot of the Mournes are native.

The news has been confirmed by Stormont environment minister Andrew Muir in a reply to South Down MLA Colin McGrath.

Bordering Donard Park and the foot of the mountains, the north east section of the forest contains a Heritage Stand of Scots and Corsican pine planted in 1927.

A south east section, beside the Glen River, was the former site of Donard Lodge built in the 1830s by the Annesley family and demolished in 1966 after falling into ruin.

The Annesley’s planted a number of exotic trees in the area surrounding the house, including Giant Redwoods and Monkey Puzzles.

Mr McGrath has expressed concern that only 30 per cent of Donard Wood is comprised of native tree species.

He said for many people in Newcastle, Donard Wood is their entry to accessing Slieve Donard and the Mournes. 

Mr McGrath said the health benefits that are accessible not just through exercise, but even just by being immersed in wooded areas is something no one should take for granted.

He also suggested as people become more aware of the climate threat and the need for active and healthy lifestyles, the availability and growth of forests is something people need to be conscious of. 

But the MLA warned trees simply can’t be planted trees for the sake of it but, rather, be guided by highly trained and specialised experts who can advise on what we should be planting and where.

“I recently tabled questions to the Minister Muir on Donard Wood to determine how much of the wood consists of native trees and non-native trees,” he said.

“The reason for this being that we know native trees have a better capacity for combatting climate change and are actually more beneficial to the local area.”

Mr McGrath said he was “quite shocked” to find out that only 30% of Donard Wood are native trees, with the remainder comprising non-native species.

“While I appreciate that over the past 20 years significant work has been done to harvest and re-establish native species, I am concerned as to whether the DAERA Minister can detail how we will rebalance this on a longer term basis,” he said.

“I will now be engaging with our local Newry, Mourne and Down Council team on this as well as the organisations involved and look forward to progressing the matter.”