Forestry charity supported by Sligo shopping centre in acquiring land – Agriland.ie

Hometree, a charity that establishes and conserves permanent native woodland while promoting land regeneration and biodiversity, has been supported in acquiring nearly 90ac of land along the Easkey River in south Sligo by The Canopy shopping centre.

The site primarily consists of peatland, blanket bog, pockets of ancient hazelwood, and species-rich grassland.

Key conservation objectives include peatland restoration and the natural expansion of the old hazelwoods, with a comprehensive plan in place to restore species diversity.

The Canopy bought the land outright for Hometree for an undisclosed sum. According to Hometree, it’s the first collaboration of its kind.

Charity

Hometree and The Canopy envision the site as a social utility for the broader community, including biodiversity groups, school groups, and farm groups.

The site will serve as a hub for environmental engagement and addressing the climate crisis – embodying a commitment to collective action and stewardship.

Since the centre’s €1,000,000 rebrand in 2023, The Canopy has prioritised sustainability in its planning and operations.

Integration of plants and trees has transformed the centre into a vibrant green hub, complemented by the installation of solar panels contributing to renewable energy initiatives.

Recognising the urgency to address Ireland’s declining biodiversity and climate change challenges, The Canopy has also supported Hometree’s mission to restore Ireland’s ancient oceanic woodlands.

The collaboration, facilitated by The Canopy, enables Hometree to implement various projects focused on land regeneration and biodiversity conservation through restoration and education.

Key conservation objectives include peatland restoration and the natural expansion of the old hazelwoods, with a comprehensive plan in place to restore species diversity.

Projects like this are crucial, given the drastic decline in native woodland in Ireland from 80% to 1-1.5%, said director of The Canopy, Neil Monahan.

The site will serve as a hub for environmental engagement and addressing the climate crisis – embodying a commitment to collective action and stewardship.

Sustainable agenda

Neil said: “This is such an exciting project with Hometree. We are focused on driving a sustainable agenda, both about the centre and for Sligo as a whole.” 

Ray Ó Foghlu, Hometree’s farm programmes coordinator, said that they hope the location will become a showcase site and that local landowners will see what is possible:.

He said: “We have plans for a farmer outreach programme here, providing information and financial support for woodland creation along the Easkey River.

“We’ve had great success historically working with landowners adjacent or approximate to our land. There’s already loads of pockets of old forest along the Easkey River, and potential to make a connected ecological woodland corridor from the sea at Easkey up into the Ox mountains.

“We have a tried and tested process from a European innovation project that we ran in Clare from 2021 to 2023. That involves giving farmers the information and support they need alongside financial incentives to integrate trees into the farms themselves.”