Forestry

Investigating agroforestry uptake on Irish farms

Investigating agroforestry uptake on Irish farms Forestry cover is substantially lower than the European average in Ireland with current afforestation rates remaining low. Rachel Irwin, Teagasc Walsh Scholar investigates Increasing tree cover on Irish dairy and drystock farms: the main barriers and perceptions that impede agroforestry uptake. Agroforestry benefits fail to entice […]
21 January 2022

Can we assume all fires are bad? Not necessarily so..

Can we assume all fires are bad? Not necessarily so.. Fire has been used for centuries to effect desired changes in vegetation conditions; enabling rapid removal of unwanted, dead or less productive vegetation from land, and creating favourable conditions for new growth. John Casey & Catríona Foley, Teagasc discuss prescribed or controlled […]
14 January 2022

Firewood production

0 Firewood production Jonathan Sykes runs tourist accommodation with his wife Betty in Springfield, Co Limerick. They planted twenty hectares of broadleaf woodlands twenty years ago. Steven Meyen, Teagasc Forestry Development Officer looks at firewood income potential and the business of firewood at Liston Fuel Logs The Sykes wanted to create different income […]
7 January 2022

A Historical View of Woodlands in Ireland

A Historical View of Woodlands in Ireland Twenty thousand years ago, Ireland was almost completely covered by a thick ice sheet, stretching south west from Scotland. Woodland history effectively began about 10,000 BC. Kevin O’Connell, Teagasc Forestry Development Officer gives an account of our woodlands from the first trees to the present […]
31 December 2021

Forestry winter management tasks

Forestry winter management tasks Winter tends to be a bit more quiet on the farm. It is a great time to get jobs done in your forest. So, dependent on the age of your forest, here are some suggestions to work off all those Christmas puddings! Steven Meyen, Teagasc Forestry Development Department […]
24 December 2021

Are you competent to operate a chainsaw safely?

Are you competent to operate a chainsaw safely? Inevitably, some on-farm trees will have blown down following Storm Barra. Why not check out advice on operating a chainsaw safely on the Teagasc Forestry website page, before considering any clean-up activities? John Casey, Teagasc Forestry Development Officer provides chainsaw guidance here The Teagasc […]
10 December 2021

Leaving a legacy – the many rewards of good forest management

Leaving a legacy – the many rewards of good forest management Peter Reid is a forest owner near Clane, Co. Kildare, who has developed a beautiful oak forest for himself and future generations to enjoy. Liam Kelly, Teagasc Forestry Development Officer says there has been increased interest in the planting of more […]
19 November 2021

Forests helping to re-connect with nature

Forests helping to re-connect with nature Now more than ever, individuals and society are questioning “the meaning of life” and seeking answers. A new native woodland in Roscommon offers a re-connection with nature. Noel Kennedy, Teagasc Forestry Advisor takes us to Seán Butler’s recent plantation at Hillside Holistic Farm In the quiet, […]
12 November 2021

Breeding to develop Ash genotypes tolerant to dieback disease

Breeding to develop Ash genotypes tolerant to dieback disease The European common ash is one of our most important native broadleaf tree species. In Teagasc, an ash-breeding programme to develop dieback tolerant genotypes started in 2015. Dr. Dheeraj Rathore, Teagasc Forestry Researcher has more information. The European common ash (Fraxinus excelsior; Irish: […]
29 October 2021

Forests and farming – working together to protect water quality

Forests and farming – working together to protect water quality Trees and forests offer an array of positive environmental functions. Protecting water quality is one of the most important and one that can hugely benefit farming. Noel Kennedy, Forestry Development Officer discusses how farming and forestry can benefit and improve water quality. […]
22 October 2021