For Tree Day, branch out with these two houses: one with fruit trees and a yew, the other with maple, cherry, birch and more, writes FRANCES O'ROURKE
CO WESTMEATH: €340,000: A PRETTY pink period farmhouse which has been renovated with lots of TLC is for sale in Castlepollard, Co Westmeath, for €340,000. And given that today is Tree Day (treeday.ie), it's worth noting that it's just two miles from Tullynally Castle, owned by Ireland's number one tree fan, Thomas Pakenham, author of Meetings with Remarkable Trees.
Millstream, a 250sq m (2,691sq ft) four-bedroom house on an acre, is a much more modest home, but it does have a little orchard with apple, pear and plum trees – as well as an Irish yew. It is for sale through agent Knight Frank.
The heart of the house is a large, bright, open-plan livingroom/diningroom/kitchen. It has exposed beams and a double-height ceiling. There is another livingroom/study on the ground floor as well as a utility room off the kitchen and two bedrooms, both en suite.
Two sets of French doors open onto the front lawn on one side and a rear courtyard on the other.
Upstairs, there are two more bedrooms, also en suite.
There are several stone outbuildings. Services include solar panels for hot water and broadband.
Millstream has views over the countryside and could appeal to someone keen on country pursuits – there’s angling in lakes such as nearby Lough Derravaragh, hunting packs, golf clubs and Kilbeggan Racecourse.
Millstream, Castlepollard, Co Westmeath
Period farmhouse on an acre of land with an orchard and outbuildings.
Agent: Knight Frank
CO MEATH: €1.5M:THERE are hundreds of trees at Satara, a modern house on 58 acres by the banks of the River Boyne.
The boundaries have been planted with Norway maple, cherry, birch, purple willow, alder and beech, so tree huggers would be more than satisfied.
However, the property, which agent Colliers describes as a miniature stud, will hold even more appeal for a horsey family.
The house, at Bective, Navan, Co Meath, comes with six paddocks, most of which are post and railed, and an American barn with 18 loose boxes. It is for sale for €1.5 million.
The house, built in 2004, has a stone exterior and plenty of insulation: there are double-glazed oak windows, marble-tiled floors with underfloor heating, double insulated outer walls and extra thick inner walls.
As in Millstream, there’s a large double-height open-plan kitchen/dining/living area at the heart of the house, with a minstrel gallery looking down into it.
The kitchen has a large island with a limestone worktop and countertops. One of the four bedrooms is downstairs.
Outbuildings include a toolshed as well as the 604sq m (6,500sq ft) American barn, which, for those of us who aren’t horsey, is a fully-covered stables with a centre aisle you can drive your tractor down.
Satara, Bective, Navan, Co Meath
Four-bedroom house on 58 acres bounded by trees with six paddocks and outbuildings including an American barn.
Agent: Colliers
