What a Real Native Woodland Scheme Might Look Like

Ray Ó Foghlú, Hometree’s Development Lead, reflects what a real native woodland scheme might look like. Whilst the 2023-2027 Forestry Programme comes with a new emphasis on native species, a meaningful commitment to our last remaining native woodlands is missing. Ireland’s total forest cover is around 12%, but our true native woodlands are thought to be as low as 1.5%. Although they occupy a small area, they are quite evenly distributed, showing up in most parishes, or even townlands, clinging on in river valleys, rocky outcrops, and in wet places.

EducationBaiba Šustere18 April 2024Native Woodlands, Uplands

Wildwood Seed Project 2024: Preserving the Local Provenance Trees

In December Hometree was given the green light to continue to expand our seed collection programme. As a part of this programme we created a robust long-term strategy around future proofing seed supply for Hometree's Organic Tree Nursery. In addition, we onboarded and trained more certified seed collectors at strategic locations along the West Coast of Ireland.

Education, Tree NurseryBaiba Šustere26 March 2024Native Woodlands, Seed Bank

Current Forestry Policy is Hostile to Native Woodland Creation in the Uplands

Ireland's uplands have a unique aesthetic, one unfamiliar to visitors from Europe and North America. While trees grow thousands of meters up into the Alps or the Appalachians, our mountains stand bare. This landscape is so familiar to us now that many, even those who know the land would contend that trees simply won't grow there— 'it’s too exposed,' 'the soil is too poor’.

EducationBaiba Šustere25 January 2024Native Woodlands, Uplands

A Golden Age of Woodland Restoration May Be Ahead of Us… But It Won’t All Be Plain Sailing

Ireland’s national tree planting schemes are in trouble. Last year just 2,000 hectares of forest were planted from a target of 8,000 hectares. Licencing issues, environmental court challenges, and disease concerns have left the sector reeling.

EducationBaiba Šustere3 October 2023Native Woodlands, Biodiversity

The Wildwood Seed Project: the Search for Atlantic Hazelwoods, Part 2

Two intriguing points about the Hazel tree are: one, it just doesn’t know when to grow old; two, it doesn't even have the decency to grow as a majestic tree. Though I feel a disservice towards not giving it a fair hearing. So, let’s talk about Hazel!

Education, Tree NurseryBaiba Šustere14 September 2023Native Woodlands, Seed Bank, Uplands

Early Autumn Update on the Wildwood Seed Project, Part 1

Hometree always pays close attention to where we’re getting our saplings from and the provenance of the seeds that we’re using. As designated seed collector, I’m extremely fortunate that opportunities for extreme exploration and harnessing of local knowledge come with the job.

Education, Tree NurseryBaiba Šustere9 September 2023Native Woodlands, Seed Bank

Out Collecting Seeds and Finding the Mother Tree

Throughout June, we focused on scouting for and collecting seeds of three localised native species: Irish Wych Elm, Downy Birch and Wild Cherry for Hometree’s Organic Tree Nursery situated in Ennistymon. It is a lesser imagined part of Hometree’s mission statement but the constant, regular witnessing of nature doing its own thing isn’t a luxury, it is absolutely essential to human survival and wellbeing.

Education, Tree NurseryBaiba Šustere27 June 2023Native Woodlands, Seed Bank

Tree Planting Season: What is it?

Last month saw the end of our latest tree planting season. As with all work done in Nature, we must keep up with the seasons. Since the arrival of Spring there has been a flourish of life on our sites and in our nursery, from seeds germinating, saplings budding, and flowers emerging.

EducationBaiba Šustere25 April 2023Tree Planting, Native Woodlands

The 2022 Irish National Forest Inventory

The 2022 Irish National Forest Inventory has just been released. This major report undertaken every four years by the Forest Service assesses the extent, constitution, and health of Ireland's forests.

EducationBaiba Šustere24 February 2023Native Woodlands

Can Ireland Deliver Native Woodlands at Scale?

Ireland has just 1% of its native woodlands left. Although the state is currently experiencing significant difficulty delivering its outgoing, and incoming forestry policy, it has in the past facilitated ecologically sound native woodland expansion at landscape scale.

EducationBaiba Šustere23 February 2023Native Woodlands, Wild Atlantic Rainforest

The Wild Atlantic Rainforest Project on Ear to the Ground, RTE One

The Wild Atlantic Rainforest Project is a unique opportunity to create healthy ecosystems, build climate resilience and repair our connection with nature. In December, 2022, the crew of Ear to the Ground, RTE One, visited us to learn more about our work and The Wild Atlantic Rainforest Project launched early in November, 2022.

EducationBaiba Šustere2 January 2023Wild Atlantic Rainforest, Native Woodlands

Hometree Blog

A place where we can share our work and offer you a greater insight into nature restoration, tree planting, biodiversity and a variety of projects that are fundamental to addressing both Ireland’s declining biodiversity and the unfolding climate challenge.

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