Galway landowners, farmers, community groups, and schools are invited to apply for free support to create wildlife ponds, mini-woodlands, wildlife hedges, mini-orchards and ‘plans for nature’ on their land, as part of Burrenbeo Trust’s ‘Hare’s Corner’ programme, in conjunction with Galway City and County Council’s Biodiversity Officers. Applications open from 6 –20 March 2025. Landowners are welcome to apply online on www.BurrenBeo.com/THC
The Hare’s Corner project offers landowners practical support to carry out simple but impactful actions for nature such as creation of a wildlife pond, a native mini-woodland, a wildlife hedge, a heritage mini-orchard, with apple trees from Irish Seedsavers Association and/or a bespoke ‘plan for nature’ for their site. This support is offered in the form of materials (mixed species of native trees and heritage apple trees), micro-funding (towards machinery costs for pond digging), professional services (such as a hydrologist’s visit to help plan a pond, or an ecologist’s visit to ‘plan for nature’) and guidance.
Fionn-Doyle Chowen of Burrenbeo Trust commented, “Inspired by the term ‘The Hare’s Corner’ - an old farming expression for an awkward section of a field which wasn’t intensively farmed and so was ‘left to nature’ - the aim of this project is to help create habitats that have proven benefits for biodiversity, for climate-action as well as for the wellbeing of participants. To date, this innovative biodiversity initiative by non-profit organisation Burrenbeo Trust has helped to create 1,600 habitats for biodiversity across four counties since 2021.”
Paula Kearney, Biodiversity Officer for Galway City and Rosina Joyce, Biodiversity Officer for County Galway commented, “We are delighted to partner with The Hare’s Corner project again in 2025 in Galway. It is a great support for people in the City and County, who want to do something for nature, but are unsure as to what do it. The Hare’s Corner meets this need by providing the encouragement, advice, and micro-funding to do it. The ‘plans for nature’ are a great start and the creation of new habitats such as ponds, orchards, and woodlands represent definitive action for biodiversity. We are excited to work with the community to see the continued positive impact on our local environment and community wellbeing.”
The 2025 Hare’s Corner initiative in Galway is funded through a combination of public funding, including the National Parks and Wildlife Service's Local Biodiversity Action Fund, and is an action of the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2023 – 2030; and private funding from NTR PLC, Greencoat Renewables PLC and Aldi Stores Ltd.
Further information: www.Burrenbeo.com/THC