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.

Dinnseanchas Summer Update

Dinnseanchas Summer Update

The Dinnseanchas project has passed all of its initial milestones and is now in full flight. We have our 6 artists out working in their communities, our artists-in-residence gathering inspiration, our our film and photography crew documenting everything, our researcher-in-residence gathering input for her work, consultants working alongside us and we have some exciting additions to the project, including storyteller Aindrias de Staic, who is creating video pieces around people’s reactions to climate change.

DinnseanchasBaiba Šustere2 July 2024Creative Climate Action

A Weekend of Connection, Curiosity and Community

A Weekend of Connection, Curiosity and Community

Looking around Ardnaculla Summer School 2024 as attendees flowed in and out of talks and workshops, collectively wove rope out of grasses cut on site, chatted easily together in the warm sun, and soaked in experiences such as some impromptu fiddle playing at a ring fort in the woods, it was clear that the weekend achieved its goal of fostering learning, connection, creativity and regeneration.

Education, DinnseanchasBaiba Šustere2 July 2024Ardnaculla Summer School

Radical Solutions for a Changing Landscape

Radical Solutions for a Changing Landscape

The Changing Landscapes conference on 30th May, 2024, brought together land workers - farmers and foresters - with policymakers, environmentalists, and commercial interests. Rather than reinforcing entrenched positions, this gathering created space for a cross-disciplinary dialogue that challenged assumptions and forged alliances between what are often perceived as opposing camps.

EducationBaiba Šustere17 June 2024Changing Landscapes

Woodlands of Ireland Seed Network Gathering

Woodlands of Ireland Seed Network Gathering

On 21st May, 2024, Hometree had the honour of hosting the latest gathering of the Woodlands of Ireland network, in conjunction with the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture, Food and The Marine (DAFM) and National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) on the topic of Native Irish Tree Seed Collection and Sustainable Plant production. This meeting brought together leaders, experts, and key stakeholders from across the native woodland sector, including seed collectors, nursery owners, NGOs and government representatives.

Education, Tree NurseryBaiba Šustere6 June 2024Native Woodlands, Seed Bank

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 2024Immersive Residency

Wildwood Seed Project 2024: Preserving Irish Tree Provenance

Wildwood Seed Project 2024: Preserving Irish Tree Provenance

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