2005 is the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, an occasion marked by year-long celebrations of maritime history.
The Woodland Trust is playing its part by planting 33 new woods throughout the UK – one for each of the ships in Nelson's fleet. The creation of the new woods marks the bicentenary of the Battle, while celebrating the important link between trees and our maritime history.
Trafalgar comes to Northern Ireland
During October, children had the chance to roll their sleeves up and take part in tree-planting events at a number of Trafalgar woods in Northern Ireland. The new woods are:
• Dreadnought Wood
• Belleisle Wood
• Euryalus Wood
Dreadnought Wood
Land at Holywood’s Redburn Country Park takes the name Dreadnought Wood, after one of the ships of the fleet which was captained and largely crewed by men from Ireland. The land was made available thanks to Environment and Heritage Service.
A series of tree-planting events at the County Down wood gave schoolchildren and local people the chance to make their mark. Thanks to their efforts, 1,000 native trees were planted.
On 21 October, Dreadnought Wood received a royal boost. His Royal Highness Prince Edward made a personal and lasting contribution by planting an oak tree. Press release
Belleisle Wood
Look to the south west of the Province for County Fermanagh's Trafalgar Wood - that's land at Killygowan Island, part of Belle Isle estate. The land, owned by the Duke of Abercorn's family, takes the name Belleisle Wood, after one of the ships of the fleet, the Belleisle. In October, local schoolchildren joined forces to (literally) set sail for a tree-planting adventure at Belleisle Wood. Press release
Euryalus Wood
Meanwhile in County Antrim, Newtownabbey Borough Council is celebrating the Trafalgar bicentenary. Land near Newtownabbey’s Three Mile Water takes the name Euryalus Wood, after one of the support ships in Nelson’s fleet.
