A SOCIAL enterprise founded by two Limerick brothers, is creating tiny forests in urban areas.
Colm and John Galvin set up Living Woodlands to create community woodlands as a means of tackling climate change and protecting native Irish biodiversity.
“Although we have some beautiful pockets of woodland in the Limerick area such as Curraghchase and the Clare Glens, we realised it is not enough and wouldn’t it be amazing if people had access to more natural, biodiverse woodlands? So we decided to do something about it,” Colm explained.
“We do this by transforming existing forestry plantations into natural woodlands, creating tiny forests in urban areas and facilitating community-led nature projects.”
Living Woodlands is currently working with Tait House Community Enterprise to plant a tiny forest in the heart of Southill in Limerick. This urban greening initiative will bring the benefits of a native forest into this inner city community.
“Although small in size, it will increase local biodiversity and help combat climate change. Providing access to nature is a key part of the Living Woodlands ethos as we believe it is essential that people and communities can avail of the physical, mental and social benefits of these pockets of wild nature.
“We are also currently running a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to purchase a degraded forestry plantation in County Clare and transform it into a community woodland. This will involve planting thousands of native trees and restoring the natural ecosystem.
“Our longer term vision is to see this then being replicated all over Munster and Ireland. We want people to have an opportunity to come together, reconnect with nature and work on projects that protect biodiversity in their locality,” he said.
Living Woodland also believe people are part of the natural ecosystem and need to be involved in its restoration and protection.
“The problems facing our environment can seem overwhelming and demoralising at times. What can one person do to make a difference? However, what if people had an opportunity to come together, reconnect with nature and work on a small, or large, project that would protect biodiversity in their locality? This is why we founded Living Woodlands. We believe real change happens from the ground up.”
Visit www.livingwoodlands.com for more.
