Support the Restoration of Wild Atlantic Rainforest
Restoring large landscapes and complex ecosystems while remaining connected to the communities living, visiting, and working there is the challenge of our lifetimes. The Wild Atlantic Rainforest Project will address this challenge by protecting fragments of Ireland’s ancient oceanic woodlands and creating new woodlands where they once existed. We envision these wild spaces woven through a patchwork landscape of blanket bogs, species-rich grasslands, and vibrant human communities.
Irish biodiversity is threatened and in need of urgent attention. This is a unique opportunity to create healthy ecosystems, build climate resilience and repair our connection with nature. We have a short delivery timeframe, which reflects the urgency of this project. We hope its positive impact, enjoyed for generations to come, will be its legacy.
If you would like to speak to one of the project coordinators about strategic partnerships or affiliate programmes, email matt@hometree.ie for information about funding and investment opportunities.
- Matt Smith, Hometree CEO
Support the Restoration of Wild Atlantic Rainforest
This scale of this undertaking will require a broader network of public, private, and corporate partners. If you would like to get involved please email matt@hometree.ie
If you would like to support the Restoration of Wild Atlantic Rainforest and get your hands dirty, plant trees, and take care of the land, we will be organising maintenance and volunteer days on the first site early next year. Please reach out to Mitch, hello@hometree.ie
Click play to watch film
Temperate Rainforest
The natural habitat of much of our western uplands is temperate rainforest, a rich and diverse habitat of trees, shrubs, ferns, mosses, and lichens. Although it has been in decline for millennia, small pockets remain. Temperate rainforests are a rare and internationally significant piece of Ireland’s natural heritage. If we give them a chance, they will re-establish themselves on the land through natural regeneration.
“It’s not just the lushness of the growth of mosses, liverworts and ferns in temperate rainforests that is remarkable, but also the richness and diversity of species present. They are our richest terrestrial habitat.”
- Rory Hodd, ecologist
Wilson’s Filmly Fern (Hymenophyllum wilsonii)
Great Scented Liverwort (Conocephalum conicum)
Rock Fingerwort (Lepidozia cupressina)
Mission
To restore lost and damaged ecosystems.
Integrity
A not-for-profit overseen by the charity regulator and an independent board.
Evolution
From a grassroots movement to an independent organization delivering public and private nature restoration projects.
Team
Manus Crowley
Forester
Manus Crowley is the Managing Director and Forestry Consultant with Enfor Ltd. Manus has over 10 years of work experience working in the forestry sector in Ireland. In 2003, Manus completed a BSc in Environmental Biology at University College Dublin. In 2006, he trained as a Forester at Bangor University in North Wales by completing an MSc in Forestry. Manus is the treasurer of ProSilva Ireland who are actively involved in the promotion of continuous cover forestry, CCF, which is an alternative forestry management system.
Sarah Broderick
Environmental Scientist
Sarah has 7 years experience working in environmental behaviour change and resource efficiency. Before joining the team at Hometree, she worked on projects dealing with the environmental impacts of human behaviour ranging from food production, food waste, composting and seaweed harvesting to hospitality, healthcare and large cultural events. She studied Environmental Science in UCC and Data Analytics in UCD. Sarah has experience working in habitat restoration for the University of California.
Ray Ó Foghlú
Project Lead
Ray’s background is in Environmental Science, specializing in Forests and Water Quality. He currently delivers the Illaun Farm- Forest Program, where he works directly with farmers to integrate native trees into their farm systems. He worked for a decade with An Taisce, Ireland’s National Trust, on various environmental programs. He is a contemporary Nuffield Scholar, with the research topic “Acquiring Social License to return Trees to the Irish Landscape.” Last year he co-authored “Under Summer pastures,” a book about Ireland’s remnant temperate rainforests.
Mitch Corbett
Nursery Manager
Mitch is co-founder of Hometree Charity. In 2013 Mitch co-founded a regenerative agriculture farm and was the head gardener at the Cliffs of Moher Yoga centre. Mitch is an essential part of Hometree, and when he’s not out planting, harvesting, building or fixing things he reaches out to get people interested and involved in our tree planting and maintenance days. Mitch strives year-round to ignite a tree planting fire in those who are interested. During the tree planting days, Mitch is out there planting as many trees as possible.
Matt Smith
Project Manager
Matt Smith is the CEO of Hometree Charity. In 2013 Matt co-founded a regenerative agriculture farm, and in 2014 he co-founded Hometree Charity. Matt is a published writer and owns an annual ocean-based publication. Matt has been a consultant and ambassador for Finisterre, a UK ethical clothing company for a decade, Matt holds a foundation degree in Natural Science and recently completed a critical leadership course with Cumbria University with Prof Jem Bendell. From 2008 to 2013, Matt sailed around the world backwards (against the trade winds).
Our Board
Hometree Charity Number (RCN) 20206254 is overseen by an independent board of directors. All income is directed towards the core purpose of encouraging biodiversity and land regeneration.
Alice MacNeil
Business + Financial Director
Alice works for Fresh Ventures - a venture building program and start-up studio based in The Netherlands, founded to address systemic challenges in the food system. Her background is a hybrid of business development in early-stage innovation at Metabolic and Accenture, and work with regenerative CSA farms across Europe.
Manchán Magan
Trustee, Ethics + Governance Advisor
Manchán is an Irish author who has made travel documentaries for Crainn na hÉireann, TG4 and Amazon Prime’s 12-part series on native trees of Ireland. He writes for The Irish Times and presents an RTÉ Radio show + podcast about the nation’s heritage. His books explore the insights the Irish language offers into landscape, lore and psyche.
Easkey Britton
Trustee, Ethics + Governance Advisor
Dr Easkey Britton is a social ecologist, surfer, writer, and artist, who channels her passion for the sea into social change. She contributes her environmental and human health expertise on national and international research projects, including the Erasmus+ funded INCLUSEA project fostering greater inclusion for people with disabilities in surfing in Europe.
Project Advisors
A project of this nature and scale necessitates insights and scrutiny at the highest level. We have assembled an independent advisory board to support our team’s decision-making on every aspect of this project.
Allan Mee
Farmer Engagement
Michael Chambers
Upland Landuse + Culture
Dr. Rory Hodd
Rare Habitats
Fiona McCauliffe
Ecology + Upland Farming
Dr. Catherine Farrell
Peatland
Partner Testimonials
“Partnering with Hometree has enabled the Medtronic Eco Team to educate and empower our people, discovering and realising the significance of native Irish trees and the importance of biodiversity and habitat creation. We have grown together through this partnership, and we, at Medtronic are excited to continue this important collaboration with Hometree.”
- Niahm Smyth, Medtronic, Global leader in medical technology
“Their integrated approach is essential when investing in and working to renew our natural capital: for nature, climate action and ultimately people.”
- Dr Catherine Farrell, Trinity College Dublin, Research Fellow in the School of Natural Sciences
“The level of belief and understanding on biodiversity by Hometree staff and advisors was infectious. Honestly, it was a joy to be part of it all.”
- Noel McMahon, Suckler Farmer & Hometree Agri-environmental Scheme participant
“We were delighted to partner with them and could not recommend them highly enough.”
- Meta, Mark Culleton, Dublin Campus Facilities Lead
The Wild Atlantic Rainforest Project Sites
Cnocán Bán Site
Size: 280 acres
Location: Connemara's Gaeltacht region
Current Condition: Overgrazed land with only ten native trees remaining. Characterised by a temperate rainforest and blanket bog biome, and an extreme oceanic climate with heavy rainfall.
Vision: A groundbreaking project requiring collaboration from various partners. The focus will be on controlling domestic and wild herbivores, exploring natural gorge areas, and potentially restoring upland forests of Scots pine.
Ballyfarney Site
Size: 88 acres
Location: Ballyfarney, near Easkey River, County Sligo
Current Condition: The site comprises of a western blanket bog and a strip of alluvial soil by the Easkey River, there is also an ancient hazelwood on the sites eastern boundary. The site was partially used as an agricultural land, and historically was used for peat harvesting.
Vision: The site will serve as a hub for environmental engagement and addressing the climate crisis, embodying a commitment to collective action and stewardship. The vision is to transition the bog on this site from a carbon source to a carbon sink, and we look to support unique bog species and provide habitats for birds, kingfishers and otters. This project was made possible through the collaboration with The Canopy who has supported Hometree in acquiring Ballyfarney Site.
Gowlane Site
Size: 8 acres
Location: Lee Valley, County Cork
Current Condition: Grassland with limited diversity but surrounded by excellent mature hedgerows, existing field boundaries, a wet grassland acre, riparian willow woodland, and a small native woodland on the western boundary.
Vision: Demonstrate how native trees can be integrated into farming systems for compliance, animal husbandry, and well-being. The site will be used for educational and business groups from Cork as part of Hometree’s ESG/Team building programs.
Funding Call
This ambitious project is the first of its kind. Until now, all Hometree’s woodland creation sites have been made possible by grassroots contributions. This scale of this undertaking will require a broader network of public, private, and corporate partners. Temperate rainforests resonate strongly with the public. We believe the impact of this project and the commitment of its supporters will be heard about in every home in Ireland.
For Partnership Details:
Matt Smith
Matt@hometree.ie
0877059979
Ray Ó Foghlú
Ray@hometree.ie
0872249226
The Wild Atlantic Rainforest Project is supported by:
Sponsors for an acre of a rainforest
Paddy O'Byrne
Clare Condon
Michael Gilmore
Rory O'Connor
John Gerrard
The Connacht Hotel
Flow Hive
Keeper Solutions
Inwardbound
Siege Events ltd
Eve McElveen
Affiliates
Gannon Family
National Park and Wildlife Services
