100,000 new trees are to be planted over the next five years in Ireland as part of a carbon reduction pledge from a major supermarket chain.
A site in Rockfield, Co Limerick welcomed 16,000 new trees as part of Aldi Ireland's new project.
Native Irish species - oak, birch, hazel, and alder trees - have been chosen for the five hectare plot.
The plantation will also help the growth of local flora and fauna and aligns with Government plans to plant 22 million trees a year until 2040.
Fine Gael TD Patrick O'Donovan attended the launch and said he was delighted to be invited to plant a tree at the event.
He said: "The Government has recently laid out our priorities under the Climate Change Agenda.
"This includes a major emphasis on planting millions of trees across the country.
"It is important that companies and individuals play their part to help reduce the amount of carbon we emit, so this initiative by Aldi is very welcome.”
Aldi are working alongside private forestry company Green Belt who helped assess the site.
CEO of Green Belt, John O'Reilly, said: "Aldi’s co-funding of the establishment of native woodland sites is an extremely innovative step and is one of the first of its kind in Ireland.
"This could herald a new chapter for Irish forestry, with corporate Ireland helping Ireland to establishment new native woodlands by recognising, valuing and compensating land owners for the Ecosystem Services provided by these woodlands.”
Aldi group buying director, John Curtin, said: "This particular project supports our Carbon Reduction Pledge.
"We can look to what we are creating here today and how it will grow as we plant 100,000 trees over the next five years.
"When we return here in twenty years’ time, we will find a natural woodland, bursting with wildlife.”
