Markethill Wood

The Woodland Trust notice beside the wood reads

"In March 2001 the Forest Service gifted this small area to the Woodland Trust for the use of the people in Markethill. After the conifers were removed, and working with the community group of Markethill District Enterprises and the gardening club based at the Old Courthouse, we established that a planted native woodland was acceptable to all. On May 4th of 2001 the deputy first minister Seamus Mallon MLA, MP, planted a tree and opened the wood. A path now leads through the site in a loop back to this gate.

Opposite is the much larger Gosford Forest Park and arboretum whilst the Old Courthouse on the main street provides an insight into the great deal of community work going on in Markethill village.

When this small native woodland has grown tall it will provide a lovely entrance to the village and Babs Evans' three sculptures now add to the visual and walking interest by depicting owl, badger and deer, as some of hte wildlife of the vicinity."

Report of 4 May 2001

MALLON ENCOURAGES PROTECTION OF OUR WOODLAND ENVIRONMENT

We must work to conserve and improve our environment, Deputy First Minister Sˇamus Mallon MP, MLA said today. He was speaking in Markethill, Co Armagh, at the launch of a new community woodland as part of the Woodland Trust's 'Woods on your Doorstep' Initiative.

Mr Mallon said: "We have a duty to protect and, where possible, enhance our natural environment. In recent decades, we have lost much of our ancient native woodland to agriculture and conifer plantations. That is why in our Programme for Government, the Executive has given a commitment to extend our woodland by 700 hectares in the coming year and to manage our woodland sustainably."

The Deputy First Minister also praised the Woodland Trust for its work in re-establishing woodland in local communities. He said: "I was surprised to learn that the north of Ireland has the lowest tree cover in the Europe Union. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Woodland Trust for its efforts to re-establish our woodlands through the planting of over 300,000 native trees by the end of the year.

"I acknowledge the Trust's ongoing work to make our woodlands more open and accessible to all. Native woodland provides a rich habitat for our natural wildlife as well as giving local communities a better quality of environment to appreciate and enjoy.

"By working in partnership we can improve our local environment as well as increase an awareness of the need to conserve, restore and enhance the woods and forests of the north of Ireland."

Markethill Wood was developed in partnership with the Forest Service and Markethill District Enterprises. It is one of 50 new community woodlands being established in Northern Ireland by the Woodland Trust in partnership with the Forest Service. The 'Woods on your Doorstep' project provides opportunities for communities to become involved in the design, planting and management of woodland locally.

The project was supported by The Millennium Commission (with national Lottery funding), The Forest Service, and Northern Ireland Electricity.