Save Togher Wood

The 300 acre Coillte forest at Togher, Portlaoise is in danger of being sold off for commercial development.

Togher Wood has long been a recreational amenity for the people of Portlaoise and the surrounding areas. Portlaoise is one of the country's fastest-growing towns and as such, we all have to endure some erosion of our green areas to accommodate roads, housing developments and business parks. However, destroying a beautiful mature forest to make way for a commercial development and its accompanying noise and air pollution is unacceptable.

Coillte maintains a commitment to a policy of nature conservation and sustainable forestry. Coillte also states that forests are not only about trees and timber. They are also places of great beauty and tranquillity which provide a haven to which we can all escape from the stresses of everyday living. The eradication of Togher Wood contradicts their policy of nature conservation and sustainable forestry.

Send a message to Laois County Council and Coillte that you want Togher Wood to be preserved as it is for the enjoyment of future generations by signing our petition.

I object the planned sale of Togher Wood to developers for any purpose other than it's existing uses as a source of sustainable forestry and as a recreational amenity for the people of Portlaoise. I want Laois County Council to zone Togher Wood as a recreational/agricultural area to ring fence it against developers and protect this valuable amenity as a green area for the people of Portlaoise.

Thank you.