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.

Posts in Education

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

European Innovation Partnership Scheme with Mitch

European Innovation Partnership Scheme with Mitch

Spruce is an incredible tree, but when planted so dense they can be detrimental to local wildlife. Having seen Illuan switch from a dark, blank canvas to now a luminescent and light filled coniferous haven, it is possible to see the potential. It already feels like the forests doors are open to all the surrounding wildlife.

EducationBaiba Šustere22 December 2022Illaun, EIP

Ireland’s Temperate Rainforests: What Makes a Woodland a Rainforest? by Dr Rory Hodd

Ireland’s Temperate Rainforests: What Makes a Woodland a Rainforest? by Dr Rory Hodd

When the word ‘rainforest’ is mentioned, it immediately conjures up an image of humid tropical jungles far from home, burgeoning with a dizzying abundance of life in all its forms and with an air of danger and otherness. In a temperate north-western European context, our peatlands have sometimes been referred to as the miniature, northern, version of the rainforest, but in fact Ireland is home to a habitat that ticks most of the boxes to be called a genuine rainforest.

EducationBaiba Šustere1 December 2022Wild Atlantic Rainforest

Autumn Experience Week, 2022

Autumn Experience Week, 2022

The purpose of the Autumn Experience Week, same as it was for the Spring Experience Week, was to find a way to bring people into the fold of Hometree in a physical way, to get hands on experience but also have time with the staff and each other. It has been said we know exactly what we need to do to protect the environment, but for some reasons it is not happening.

EducationBaiba Šustere18 October 2022HometreeEnnistymon

Illaun Farm-Forest EIP Report by Meadhbh Costigan

Illaun Farm-Forest EIP Report by Meadhbh Costigan

This report will provide the first follow-up assessment to the initial baseline survey carried out in 2021, which documented the ecological condition of the spruce plantation known as the Illaun Farm-Forest (Costigan 2021). The Biodiversity Metric 3.1 was used to score the site as it allowed for the rapid assessment of biodiversity indicators.

EducationBaiba Šustere23 August 2022Illaun, EIP

Illaun Farm-Forest EIP Community and Farm Talks

Illaun Farm-Forest EIP Community and Farm Talks

Our Farm-Forest EIP has a large community engagement, so we are thrilled to announce that throughout the months of June and July we will be hosting Illaun Farm-Forest EIP Community and Farm Talk Series.

EducationBaiba Šustere7 June 2022Illaun, EIP