Seeds of Inspiration Review
A book and video, titled Seeds of Inspiration, by John McKeon was launched in Iontas Theatre, Castleblayney, County Monaghan on 14thMay 2026. A dedicated supporter of biodiversity, John has been propagating and preserving Ireland’s native trees over the past 25 years, paying particular attention to the trees native to Monaghan.
Seeds of Inspiration is an hour long documentary and book, available both in English and Irish. At a time of global biodiversity loss, habitat destruction and plant diseases, our native trees are very important. Trees such as oak, birch and hazel provide food and shelter for a myriad of species and form ecosystems which ensure their continuity. A mature oak supports up to 2,300 species including insects, birds and mammals as well as lichens and fungi.
The concept of local is very important when it comes to tree planting and John believes that the importing of trees and plants may contribute to some of the destructive diseases we have witnessed, such as Dutch elm disease and ash die-back. Trees develop resilience in certain types of soil and climate conditions over the years and attract certain species, native to their area. Natural habitats, ecosystems and symbiotic unions evolve.
Back in the 1970s, there was a drive towards farm modernisation, which included hedge removal to make bigger fields and the prolific use of fertiliser. John explained that on his own farm he converted four fields into one, to soon discover he needed electric fencing for economic use of grassland. Sounds of childhood disappeared. Electric fences do not support wildlife.
In a serious programme to boost biodiversity John divided the big field back into four fields with native Irish hedgerows surrounding his new fields. Within his extensive hedgerows, planted about fifteen years ago, are crab apple, wild cherry, guelder rose, spindle, dog rose. Also included are oak, hazel, holly, rowan, ash and wild fruit trees.
Comparatively speaking Monaghan county has low tree cover and has suffered the impact of Dutch Elm disease and ash disease. In an endeavour to change this situation John gives the trees a helping hand by collecting some of the myriad of seeds and propagating them in tree nurseries. Some trees, the elm for example, have no dormancy and need to be sown as soon as seeds are collected. Others need up to two years dormancy. The germination rates may be low, especially for elm, and for this reason it is wise to sow plenty of seeds in a small area.
John’s tree nurseries serve as an educational resource for schools, community gardens and local agricultural shows, where he brings moveable trays of small saplings. The nursery is also a welcome supply source. Pocket Forests, who were planting six pocket forests and two native hedgerows in Monaghan town, were able to procure their plants and saplings native to the county from John’s Nursery. For further information on the book and video or on John’s work for native trees see: https://iwt.ie/seeds_of_inspiration/