Hometree’s Organic Native Tree Nursery
The Hometree nursery’s aim is to increase the number native provenance trees and promote soil health through organic farming practices. All profits made from the sale of trees is directly invested into the charity's work to establish and conserve permanent native woodland in Ireland. Ireland's native tree cover has experienced a period of rapid decline. In 1650 cover was recorded at 10%, by the 1900s this had reduced to 1%. At present native tree cover stands at just over 1%, Hometree is helping to change this.
The nursery became organically certified in March, 2023. In February 2025, Hometree’s Organic Native Tree Nursery finished its 2 year organic conversion period and received Irish Organic Association certification. Since the nursery began it has operated to organic standards at minimum. Hometree is growing trees to help care for the planet and we see organic practices in our nursery as a critical step in this approach.
We closely follow organic standards, with no synthetic fertilisers or pesticides used. Alternatively, we use natural materials: such as wood chips to mulch, and organic compost as a soil additive. This prevents weeds and promotes fungal growth which is a favourable environment for saplings and encourages the production of beneficial bacteria and fungi to promote soil health.
At the moment the nursery covers 1 acre and comprises of 2 polytunnels, with our tree production this year recorded at 120,000. By the end of 2025 we are planning to expand to 2 ½ acres, 6 polytunnels and increase the production to 2 million organically grown native trees.
We are driven by the future of Ireland's woodlands having a diverse genetic pool, for old native tree genetics to be promoted through sourcing of seeds and saplings of native provenance.
We collect our own seeds from old native woodlands across Ireland. There are a multitude of benefits to sourcing trees grown from provenience seeds, including; trees are more acclimated to Irish weather conditions and Irish soil, conservation and promotion of old native genetics and reduced risk of introducing an alien disease into the tree population.
The nursery is run by co-founder and nursery manager Mitch Corbett with the help of the Hometree team and volunteers.
Tree Saplings Grown at Hometree’s Nursery - now for sale for delivery in 2026!
Please note that all tree sapling orders are for collection or delivery in January and February, 2026, only.
Our trees are supplied as bare root whips and are generally 80-150 cm in height. Trees are lifted when dormant between November and February. This means that when purchased, they will have dropped their leaves and appear twiggy. There may or may not be signs of new growth (buds) but be assured that once in the ground whips will ‘take’ and modestly flower or leaf in the spring time.
Each bundle contains 25 organically certified saplings aged between 1-2 years. The price per item is the price of 25 saplings including tax. 1 item = 25 tree saplings.
Tree bundles are selected tree mixes suited to different planting contexts. Trees are between 80cm-150cm and are bare root. Trees are available as single species bundles and mixed species bundles.
Single Species bundles of 25 saplings:
Alder – Alnus glutinosa
Downy Birch – Betula pubescens
Goat Willow – Salix caprea
Grey Willow – Salix cinerea
Hawthorn – Crataegus monogyna
Hazel – Corylus avellana
Pedunculate Oak – Quercus robur
Rowan – Sorbus aucuparia
Scots Pine – Pinus sylvestris
Sessile Oak – Quercus petraea
Pioneer Bundle
Alder, Downey Birch, Goat Willow, Rowan, Scots Pine
Hedgerow Bundle (mix of 5 species)
Grey Willow, Goat Willow, Crab Apple, Wild Cherry, Elder, Hawthorn, Hazel, Sessile Oak, Downy Birch, Pedunculate Oak
Coastal Bundle
Rowan, Downy Birch, Hazel, Goat Willow, Sessile Oak
Coill Beag
Alder, Downey Birch, Scots Pine, Sessile Oak, Rowan
Wet Woodland Bundle
Alder, Downey Birch, Goat Willow, Hazel, Pedunculate Oak
Mix Species bundles of 25 saplings:
Contact
Contact nursery@hometree.ie for any queries.
