Living and Learning Native Woodland
Celebrating the value of our woodlands
Community Native Woodland Virtual Tour
The Community Native Woodland offers an engaging virtual tour that allows you to explore the diverse range of native trees and ecosystems within the Connemara National Park. Through this interactive experience, you can learn about the efforts to preserve biodiversity, enhance carbon sequestration, and support sustainable forestry practices right from your own home.
Woodland Workshop Days
The “Living and Learning Native Woodland” initiative offers a hands-on educational experience in native woodlands. Participants engage in activities such as tree planting, wildlife observation, and learning about local ecosystems. The program aims to foster a deeper connection with nature and promote environmental stewardship. It’s suitable for individuals of all ages interested in understanding and preserving native woodlands.
Tree Planting Day – March 2024
During Tree Week in March 2024, ATU Connemara organised a tree planting and biodiversity workshop at the Community Native Woodland in Connemara National Park. The woodland, established 10 years ago, features native species like alder, pedunculate oak, holly, whitebeam, and Scots pine.
Key Activities
- Community Involvement: Over 100 participants, including ATU staff and students, Youth reach and GRETB students, visiting transition year students, and local community members, joined the event.
- Educational Sessions: Dr Dermot O’Donovan discussed the woodland’s development, challenges of tree growth, and the importance of matching species to locations. Additionally, the lecturer Seán Garvey demonstrated tree planting techniques, with participants planting approximately 200 additional trees, adding to the existing 5,000 trees on-site.
Biodiversity and Carbon Action Plan
The Power to Change project’s biodiversity and carbon survey prioritised four actions for the day:
- Shelter Belt Planting: Adding trees between established alder to create a protective barrier.
- Alder Thinning: Promoting flora biodiversity on the woodland floor.
- Felled Stems for Invertebrates: Leaving cut stems on woodland edges to support invertebrate populations.
- Nesting Boxes: Installing nesting boxes to enhance wildlife habitats.
Community Impact
Connemara Community Radio covered the event, recording interviews and capturing the collective efforts to promote environmental stewardship.
Community Native Woodland Day – October 2023
In October 2023, ATU Connemara hosted the first Power to Change workshop on the Community Native Woodland. This event, part of the Conamara Sea Week festival celebrating sustainability, heritage, and education, aimed to provide an overview of the woodland’s role in biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
Highlights
- Timber Demonstration: ATU’s Native Timber Processing Centre showcased timber conversion and seasoning, explaining how native trees are transformed into furniture-grade timber.
- Forestry in Ireland: Dr Dermot O’Donovan and lecturer Seán Garvey provided insights into the dominance of coniferous softwood (e.g., Sitka spruce) in the Irish timber market. They highlighted the challenges of sourcing quality Irish hardwoods, as over 90% are imported, despite growing demand for furniture and joinery.
Native Timber Processing Centre
ATU’s centre plays a key role in:
- Processing storm-fallen, development-felled, or sustainably grown trees from ash, oak, sycamore, elm, yew, and alder species.
- Producing hardwood timber with a low 12% moisture content suitable for furniture and architectural uses.
- Supporting local jobs, boosting economies, and reducing the carbon footprint of wood products.
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.