An Irish Rail landbank just outside Carrick on Shannon is to be the first site to be planted with over 14,000 trees under the "Creation of Native Woodland on Public Land" scheme.
The local project will involove 10 acres of land in the townland of Danesfort to the south west of Carrick on Shannon, beside the Dublin to Sligo Line.
Forestry contractors VEON will plant the native species such as Alder, grey willow and ash and the plantation will also incoprportate ground flora comprised of Meadowsweet, creeping buttercup, yellow flag and water mint.
The Department of Agriculture Food and Marine has developed the project to meet one of the main biodiversity commitments in the Programme for Government
Irish Rail spokesperson Eimear Bambrick says the site will also enhance biodiversity and soil and water quality.