Deep Mapping is the gathering of local knowledge, values, perceptions and visions and including those as valuable layers to develop a more complete picture of a place. Hometree has begun this process in two communities recently.
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Over the past few months, we’ve been busy meeting with landowners and responding to an overwhelming number of queries following our recent Woodland Creation and Protection support campaign. The response from landowners and farmers across Ireland has been fantastic, filling us with optimism about Ireland’s green future.
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November brings closure to what has been Autumn spectacles and encounters of immense, intrigue calm and inordinate beauty. Botanically, autumn is great in many ways in terms of scouting for native tree species in our landscape. While the majority of native plants slide into their Winter dormancy phase, Autumn brings with it not only seed ripening but spectacular changes in foliage colour.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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’.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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