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It was standing room only at the Lecture Hall in Rostrevor last night for the 'In Tune With Nature' opening concert as part of the Fiddlers Green Folk Festival. Musicians Cathryn Craig, Brian Willoughby, Fil Campbell, Tom McFarland, Anne Harper and Colum Sands provided the backdrop to the night with wonderful songs and stories. Additionally as part of the night tributes were paid to two local environmental champions.
Paul Clerkin was presented with an award depicting Rostrevor's famous Invisible Tree for all his work with trees locally. Around 2015 he decided to record the trees in Kilbroney Forest Park resulting in Newry, Mourne and Down District Council producing a leaflet on the different types of trees and their location in the park See Kilbroney-Tree-Trail-Leaflet. He has also written a book 'The Trees of Kilbroney Park.
Clerkin is a wealth of knowledge not just on the type of trees but who planted them. An obvious labour of love he organises a tree trail from time to time and this Thursday at 11.30am he leads a walk and talk tour of Kilbroney Meadow as part of the festival. Meet at the Lecture Hall. Clerkin explained "We walk around the trees, talk about the species, the country of origin, the use of the timber, mythology and folklore and the families that planted them." adding "All my life I've loved it".
Eamon Burke was also acknowledged for his sterling campaigning work in trying to save a line of 200 year old oak trees at Greenbank in Newry. Ultimately they were felled by the Department for Infrastructure in October 2022 under the cover of darkness as part of their 'Flood Alleviation Scheme', but Burke did manage to save hundreds of Acorns from them which will ensure they will live on.
The Lecture Hall was also the location of an art exhibition which is open throughout the festival.
Fiddlers Green Festival and In Tune with Nature events continue all this week. You can find out full details at fiddlersgreenfestival.com
