All money donated to this campaign goes directly towards purchasing the land and creating a community woodland

Please support us to:

• Raise money to buy this degraded plantation in Co. Clare and transform it into a community woodland
• Plant thousands of native Irish trees
• Protect and increase local biodiversity
• Combat climate change by restoring a local ecosystem
• Build community-led change

Why?

Ireland has less than 1% of its native forests left.

Instead we have endless coniferous plantations like this, which are not going to go away.

Why is this a problem?

Firstly, according to the government’s National Forestry Accounting Plan, they may well be releasing more carbon into the atmosphere than they store. Secondly, Ireland is experiencing a biodiversity emergency and the current forestry system is making this worse, according to a recent National Parks and Wildlife Service report. Finally, we have so little access to natural woodlands in Ireland we have almost forgotten how important they are for the health and wellbeing of our communities.

Is there a solution?

Yes, we believe there is. It's possible to transform existing forestry plantations over time into natural and complex woodlands. While this is a new approach in Ireland, it has been successfully practiced in Europe for decades.

How will we do this?

We never clear-fell the trees. This ensures the carbon stored in the soil under the forest doesn’t get released. Instead we carefully thin the densely planted rows of trees to create open spaces. This allows more light onto the forest floor where natural regeneration of native species can take place. This process is assisted by the planting of native trees. This increases biodiversity in the forests with more native trees, plants and animals flourishing. In a complex, natural woodland there is birdsong, the hum of bees and insects, diverse plant life and thousands of different species.

Who will benefit?

Our vision is to see forestry plantations all over Ireland being transformed into community woodlands. We believe people are part of the natural ecosystem and need to be involved in its restoration and protection. We want local and wider communities to have access to a woodland. Furthermore, there will be a space within the forest where people can come together and create their own projects - community gardens, nature based learning, forest playgrounds...to name but a few possibilities.

How can we make this happen?

The first step is demonstrating how this works by transforming a degraded 20 acre forestry plantation in Co.Clare into a vibrant community woodland, which can then be replicated around the country.

How can you help?

We are now asking people to help buy this 20 acre plantation.

Firstly we have a plan to transform this degraded plantation into a more complex and biodiverse woodland. This will involve thinning a section of coniferous plantation, planting 3,000 native trees and restoring the overall health of the ecosystem. We want the local and wider community to get involved in turning this dark and inaccessible site into a flourishing community woodland. 

Secondly, we can create a template for transforming plantations into community forests all across Ireland.

Let's re-imagine how our countryside and forests could be. Rather than focus on what is, let's ask.... what if?

We know this is an ambitious plan but now more than ever we need to think big.

Why are we doing this?

We believe real change has to happen from the ground up and needs to be community led. We have already developed a project in partnership with Tait House Community Enterprise to plant a Tiny Forest in the heart of Southill in Limerick. This urban greening initiative will bring the benefits of a native forest into this inner city community. Providing access to nature is a key part of the Living Woodlands ethos as we believe it is essential that people and communities can avail of the physical, mental and social benefits of these pockets of wild nature.

The problems facing our natural environment can seem overwhelming at times. What can one person do to make a difference? What if people have an opportunity to come together, reconnect with nature and work on projects that protect biodiversity in their locality? This is why we started Living Woodlands, to inspire ourselves and others that we can effect real change.

If you feel like we do, please support our campaign because we need your support to make this possible. You can help by making a pledge and by also sharing this page with anyone who might be interested. If you would like to get in touch you can email us on:

colm@livingwoodlands.com or john@livingwoodlands.com or check out the website.

Thank you!

More about Living Woodlands here.

**Our video was created by James Herlihy of Daycent Media. Music track by Kevin Walsh (LF|83)