Hometree is thrilled to invite you all to join us for the highly anticipated third edition of the Ardnaculla Summer School. Ardnaculla Summer School is a community and ecology festival promoting learning, connection, and regeneration.

Hometree’s mission is to be a conduit to the natural world and the people who know how to restore it and are curious to get involved. These events will be gently facilitated, deeply informative and help move us a step forward in living in partnership with nature. So if you are a farmer, landowner, student of the world, or generally interested in connecting with nature and understanding the challenges of working within complex systems, these three days are for you.

Education - As the ecological decline increases interest in nature has soared. If we don't understand nature, how can we be expected to protect it? Only when we recognise that our health, well-being and future are inextricably entwined with those of the natural world that its true beauty and worth become apparent.

Afforestation - Establishment of a permanent forest and agroforestry. Native woodlands are a critical part of Ireland’s natural heritage and culture and are uniquely important for biodiversity. They provide homes to numerous woodland mammals, birds, insects and plants that can thrive nowhere else. Such forests reflect our traditional landscape and restore astonishingly diverse benefits, from carbon sequestration and water filtration to habitat provision for many creatures.

Conservation - The management of nature and Earth's biodiversity to avoid habitat destruction, excessive extinction rates and the erosion of biotic interactions. Become a conservation member. Nature has a prolific ability to regenerate itself, and observing its recovery can be a thrilling experience. In many instances, nature can heal itself and in others, humans can greatly assist it. Working with leading experts, Hometree works to re-establish thriving ecosystems resilient and legally protected over the long term.

Ardnaculla Summer School 2024 is a part of Dinnseanchas Project and a recipient of the Creative Climate Action fund, an initiative from the Creative Ireland Programme. It is funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in collaboration with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The fund supports creative, cultural and artistic projects that build awareness around climate change and empower citizens to make meaningful behavioural transformations. For more on Creative Climate Actions, see here.

8:00 a.m.
Mindful Movement in Nature with Katie Ahern, Hometree HQ Outside

8:30 a.m.
Off-Site - Ringforts Visit with Aindrias de Staic and Edel Barry
Off-Site - Ancient Woods Visit with Seán Ó Gaoithín

9:00 a.m.
Ebb & Flow with Easkey Britton, Hometree HQ Classroom
Meadow Weaving with Julie Griffiths, Hometree HQ Outside
Making Meadows with Mark Bryson, Hometree HQ Cottage 

11:00 a.m.
Farmland Biodiversity with Fiach Byrne, Hometree HQ Outside
Deep Adaptation workshop with Matt Smith, Hometree HQ Cottage
Nature Sketching with Dana Tagar, Hometree HQ Outside
True Harvest Seeds with Debbie Gillies, Hometree HQ Classroom
Off-Site - Invasive Cherry Laurel Workshop with the Gaelic Woodland Project

12:00 p.m.
Hometree Tour with Jeremy and Mitch, Hometree HQ Outside

12:30 p.m.
Voice and Vibration with Ebanie Powell, Hometree HQ Outside

2:00 p.m.
Hometree Update with Matt, Ray, Sarah and Jeremy, Hometree HQ Classroom
Pathways in Landscape with Tadhg O'Sullivan and Lucy Taylor, Hometree HQ Cottage
Lives of Lizards with Linda Lyne, Hometree HQ Outside

3:00 p.m.
Creativity and Change with Tania Banotti, Zoë Rush and Shane Finan, Hometree HQ Classroom
Irish Aspen Project with Daniel Buckley, Hometree HQ Outside

4:00 p.m.
Irish Wildlife Sounds with Seán Ronayne, Hometree HQ Classroom

6:00 p.m.
Evening Event with talks, panel discussion, food and music, Pot Duggans