'Touch not a single bough'

Sir, – As George Pope Morris says in his famous poem “Woodman spare that tree,/ Touch not a single bough! /In youth it sheltered…

Sir, – As George Pope Morris says in his famous poem “Woodman spare that tree,/ Touch not a single bough! /In youth it sheltered me, /And I’ll protect it now.”

The tree now in question is tree No. BNDF025479 at Ballygannon, Co Wicklow. It also applies to 1.2 million native trees planted in the year 2000 for each household in the country, under the People’s Millennium Forest Project, sponsored by Coillte and AIB.

With the present Government’s “flog it” if it’s profitable approach to our State assets, and with Coillte being part of the silverware, are we to assume that the People’s Millennium’s Forests are to be included in the sale, and if so, will the Government have to consult the 1.2 million households to get their consent?

If not, my treasured certificate stating that a native Irish tree had been planted for the Booth Family is worthless, and can be condemned to the green bin.

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Maireann an crann – “How are ye”. – Yours, etc,

TOM BOOTH,

Binn Eadair View,

Sutton, Co Dublin.