You can sponsor the return of Ireland's first redwood forest since the Ice Age

A castle estate in Co Offaly is hoping to plant 2,000 redwoods to help preserve the giants which are threatened by climate change.

You can sponsor the return of Ireland's first redwood forest since the Ice Age

A castle estate in Co Offaly is hoping to plant 2,000 redwoods to help preserve the giants which are threatened by climate change.

The seventh Earl of Rosse has allocated land on the grounds of Birr Castle Gardens, Co. Offaly, which is home to the giant telescope built by the 3rd Earl of Rosse in the 1840s and was the world’s largest for more than 70 years.

The development, called Giants Grove, has been planned along with Crann - an environmental organization dedicated to the promotion and protection of trees, hedgerows and woodlands in Ireland - to return the majestic trees to Ireland that were once native here before the Ice Age around three million years ago.

There are some specimens in Ireland, such as in the Powerscourt Estate and Charleville Estate both in Co. Wicklow, but none to this extent.

They hope to start the project in Spring next year and are asking Irish people at home and abroad to sponsor the land that will support the trees in their names or the names of loved ones who have passed away.

The €500 sponsorship will cover the planting of the trees and create a trust fund for the upkeep of the forest grove.

In return, you will get a certificate with the GPS coordinates of your specimen in the post by April 2017 and the kudos that comes with knowing that you have ensured that these magnificent trees will be protected against the threats of climate change.

Participants will also have their names inscribed in a book of honour at Birr Castle.

Lord Rosse told IrishCentral.com that the project is “very close to my heart".

He said: "Our grandchildren, their grandchildren, Birr, Ireland and the world will benefit from this magnificent forest grove. These will be the biggest trees in Ireland and the largest collection outside of California.

"By investing in this project with us, the sponsors will have the opportunity to make a personal impact on Ireland’s environment and world biodiversity conservation."

H/T: IrishCentral

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