Woodlands of Ireland are pleased to announce an event to celebrate 25 years of the Native Woodland Scheme – a gathering for talks, walks, discussions and networking, at Drumhierny Woodland Hideaway, Leitrim Village, Co. Leitrim on Thursday 8th & Friday 9th October 2026.

Registration: https://www.woodlandsofireland.com/25-anniversary-nws

The Native Woodland Scheme (NWS) began as a Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine forestry support scheme designed to protect, restore and create native woodlands using Ireland’s native tree species. The scheme has provided financial support to landowners and other eligible applicants for establishing or managing existing native woodland, in various forms since its introduction in November 2001. It represented an important change in Irish forestry policy by providing specific support for native semi-natural woodland rather than focusing primarily on commercial plantation forestry. Woodlands of Ireland’s Technical Advisory Group drew up the initial guidelines for a native woodland scheme, working with foresters, ecologists, academics, environmental NGOs and other stakeholders. At the request of its Steering Committee, the proposal was submitted to the Forest Service in 1999 and received favourably. The existence of the Native Woodland Schemes since 2001 has to some degree acted as a catalyst in encouraging a greater landscape restoration and expansion of semi-natural woodland habitats in addition to measures funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The late Freda Rountree, as Chair of the Heritage Council, convened the initial meeting of stakeholders in July 1997,which opened the path that led to the development of the native woodland scheme, which we now celebrate 25 years after their launch.

The existence of the Native Woodland Schemes since 2001 has to some degree acted as a catalyst in encouraging a greater landscape restoration and expansion of semi-natural woodland habitats in addition to measures funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The gathering for talks, walks, discussions and networking will commence on Thursday 8th October 2026 at the Oak Barn, Drumhierney Woodland Hideaway in Co. Leitrim, focussing on:

(a)    A retrospective of how and why the Native Woodland Schemes came into being

(b)    An insight into the experience of foresters and ecologists employing the scheme measures.

(c)    Future prospects for semi-natural woodland conservation and management 

– followed by a field trip on Friday 9th October, visiting a site where Native Woodland Scheme measures have been applied.

This event is part-funded by the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Forestry Promotions Projects Open Call 2026. Other Woodlands of Ireland funders include the National Parks and Wildlife Service, The Heritage Council and the Irish Environmental Network.

Registration: https://www.woodlandsofireland.com/25-anniversary-nws