Living and Learning Native Woodland

Celebrating the value of our woodlands

Woodland Workshop Days

Community Native Woodland Day October 2023

In October 2023, ATU Connemara hosted the first Power to Change workshop on the Community Native Woodland. The purpose was to provide participants with an overview of the woodland and its role in biodiversity and carbon sequestration. The workshop also included a demonstration of timber conversion and seasoning in ATU’s Native Timber Processing Centre, to show how trees are converted to timber for furniture making. The workshop was held during Conamara Sea Week, a local festival celebrating sustainability, heritage and education.

Dr Dermot O’Donovan and lecturer Seán Garvey first gave an overview of forestry profile in Ireland. They outlined the established market for softwood timber from coniferous trees (dominated by Sitka spruce) and related products like MDF, SmartPly, as well as timber for construction. In contrast, they explained that a low supply of quality hardwood timber from deciduous trees has resulted in difficulties in sourcing Irish-grown material for furniture making and interior joinery. It is estimated that more than 90% of the hardwoods used in Ireland are imported.

ATU Technician Martin Kearney was on hand to demonstrate how the conversion and careful stacking of hardwood timber during the seasoning stage adds significantly to its value. Careful conversion and drying of hardwoods to 12% moisture content makes them suitable for use in furniture and architectural woodworking.

Since the establishment of the Native Timber Processing Centre, ATU has been able to increase the use of Irish-grown material, sourcing trees fallen in storms, felled for development, and those grown sustainably on private and public lands. Species used at the University include ash, oak, sycamore, elm, yew and alder. Sourcing sustainably-grown Irish timber helps to support indigenous jobs, local economies, as well as reducing the carbon footprint of wood-based products.

Tree Planting Day March 2024

In March 2024, during Tree Week, ATU Connemara held a tree planting and biodiversity workshop at the Community Native Woodland in Connemara National Park. The woodland, planted 10 years ago, includes a range of native tree species such as alder, pedunculate oak, holly, whitebeam and Scots pine.

There were more than 100 participants including ATU students and staff, students from Youthreach and GRETB, visiting transition year students and people from the local community.

During the event, Dr Dermot O’Donovan outlined the development of the woodland, the challenges experienced in growing trees and the importance of selecting the right tree for the right place. The woodland’s role in carbon sequestration was also outlined.

Lecturer Seán Garvey demonstrated the correct technique to planting a tree and each participant was given trees to plant. Approximately 200 additional trees were planted, to add to the already 5,000 trees on the site.

A biodiversity and carbon survey produced as part of the Power to Change project was used to prioritise 4 actions on the day:

Planting trees in between the established alder which will act as a shelter belt
Thinning of some of the alder to promote biodiversity of the flora on the woodland floor
Leaving felled stems on the woodland verges to promote invertebrate biodiversity
Installation of nesting boxes

Connemara Community Radio were on hand to record the event, including interviews with some of those in attendance.

Community Native Woodland Virtual Tour

This project is part of the Community Climate Action Programme Strand 2 and is funded by the Government of Ireland through the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.