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.

What a Real Native Woodland Scheme Might Look Like

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

Dinnseanchas Immersive Residency

Dinnseanchas Immersive Residency

The Dinnseanchas project is tasking a group of artists to engage with the difficult themes of biodiversity loss, agricultural policy and practice, and to support an envisioning process that includes the voices of upland communities.This is no small challenge, and we're delighted to have such a capable and talented group of artists working on the project.

DinnseanchasBaiba Šustere17 April 2024Uplands, Immersive Residency

Wildwood Seed Project 2024: Preserving the Local Provenance Trees

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

Join Hometree's Board of Directors

Join Hometree's Board of Directors

We are looking for a new board member with finance expertise. We are seeking a dynamic and experienced finance professional to join our Board of Directors. This individual will play a pivotal role in guiding Hometree's financial strategy and growth, helping us achieve our ambitious targets. The ideal candidate will bring a wealth of financial expertise, particularly in scaling organizations, and a passion for environmental sustainability.

Job OpeningBaiba Šustere13 February 2024Nature Restoration

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

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

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

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

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

Ardnaculla Summer School 2023

Ardnaculla Summer School 2023

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. Ardnaculla Summer School is a three day event filled with workshops, discussions and hands-on experiences for community, landowners and farmers to explore and learn about the benefits of native woodlands and biodiversity restoration.

EducationBaiba Šustere8 August 2023Nature Restoration

Out Collecting Seeds and Finding the Mother Tree

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

Update on Hometree's Organic Tree Nursery

Update on Hometree's Organic Tree Nursery

The growing process is sped up significantly when saplings are grown in a tunnel. In the case of alder and willow the saplings will be ready to be planted after one season of growing in a tunnel versus two years if growing in an outside bed. Hometree’s first polytunnel produced 30 000 trees from seed in its first year.

Tree NurseryBaiba Šustere25 May 2023Ennistymon

Tree Planting Season: What is it?

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

Why We Don’t Sell Carbon Credits

Why We Don’t Sell Carbon Credits

Carbon offsets are credits that represent a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Organisations and individuals can buy them to offset their impact on climate change.

EducationBaiba Šustere18 April 2023Carbon Credits, Biodiversity

Join Our Team - Administrative and Financial Officer

Join Our Team - Administrative and Financial Officer

We are looking for Administrative and Financial Officer - application closes April 9. Reporting to the CEO, the following is a brief description of the principal duties that the Administrative and Financial Officer will be required to carry out on an initial basis.

Job OpeningBaiba Šustere2 April 2023HometreeEnnistymon

The 2022 Irish National Forest Inventory

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?

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

Wild Atlantic Rainforest Project: January Update

Wild Atlantic Rainforest Project: January Update

The Rainforest Project is moving onto its next phase. We visited a new site in Sligo last week. It had beautiful pockets of old hazel woodland amongst banks of blanket peat. The potential is huge. Our site in Galway has had its preliminary ecological assessment completed. The results are intriguing.

FundingBaiba Šustere26 January 2023Wild Atlantic Rainforest

Hometree's Tree Nursery

Hometree's Tree Nursery

In 2022 we grew Hawthorn, Alder, Scots Pine and Birch from seed in the poly-tunnel using an organic, no dig approach. In the last month these trees have been pulled and are ready to be planted on Hometree projects or sold.

Tree NurseryBaiba Šustere19 January 2023Ennistymon

Fabian's Learning Experience at Hometree

Fabian's Learning Experience at Hometree

Last year we were honoured to have Fabian Bona as our volunteer for the whole season of autumn, one of the busiest times in the year for us. Fabian joined us as part of his internship for study program of International Forest Ecosystem Management at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, Germany.

EducationBaiba Šustere19 January 2023HometreeEnnistymon

Thoughts on Recent Developments in Irish Forestry

Thoughts on Recent Developments in Irish Forestry

We have been asked a lot in the last week to respond to the news regarding Coillte's re-entrance to the forestry creation space. It is a big story and there is nuance and complexity involved, but essentially it will see the semi-state forestry company Coillte facilitate the purchase of 123,000 acres of land in Ireland on behalf of international investment funds.

EducationBaiba Šustere17 January 2023Forestry