Applications are now open for The Hare’s Corner, an innovative biodiversity project developed by the nonprofit Burrenbeo Trust, which is returning to Sligo for its second year in partnership with Sligo County Council.
Highly successful Hare’s Corner biodiversity project open for applications as it returns to Sligo for second year
The programme delivered 226 new biodiversity habitats across the county last year and is once again inviting local landowners and communities to take part.
The Hare’s Corner helps landowners create wildlife-friendly spaces such as ponds, mini‑woodlands, hedgerows, mini‑orchards and tailored “Plans for Nature.” The initiative takes its name from the traditional farming expression for a small, awkward corner of a field that was unfarmed and left to nature.
Sligo is one of ten counties offering The Hare’s Corner in 2026, alongside Limerick, Offaly, Carlow, Donegal, Monaghan, Louth, Wexford, Kilkenny and Kerry. Applications will open until Sunday, January 18th and interested individuals can apply via www.theharescorner.com. The website also offers practical tips, infographics and short videos to help people create their own Hare’s Corners.
The Hare’s Corner in 2026 is being funded through a combination of public and private sector funding, including Sligo County Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service's Local Biodiversity Action Fund. Private funders include SSE Generation Green Community Fund, NTR PLC, Greencoat Renewables PLC, ESB and Intact Insurance. The initiative partners with the Heritage Council’s Biodiversity Officer Programme, which enables biodiversity officers in each participating county to provide on‑the‑ground support.
Last year marked the fifth anniversary of The Hare’s Corner, which celebrated by creating 1,600 habitats for biodiversity across six counties.
The supports available from The Hare’s Corner include – a mini-woodland or wildlife hedge (a mix of 50 native trees), a heritage orchard (5 heritage apple trees), a wildlife pond (hydrologist advice and expenses towards machinery costs), and a ‘Plan for Nature’ (provided by Hare’s Corner advisor on how to enhance nature on your site). For more info on the supports and eligibility criteria please visit https://theharescorner.ie/supports/.
The initiative is coordinated by Burrenbeo Trust, a national non-profit organisation that supports people to take positive action for their local landscapes. Its flagship programmes – ‘Farming for Nature’, ‘Heritage Keepers’ and ‘The Hare’s Corner’ – initiated in and inspired by the Burren.
Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr. Dónal Gilroy outlined:
“Sligo County Council welcomes the roll out of The Hare’s Corner across Sligo for 2026 and encourages landowners to get involved in what is an innovative scheme which seeks to strengthen nature’s resilience through simple actions at local level”.
Lee Worrell, The Hare's Corner Coordinator, says:
“We are delighted to be back in Sligo in 2026 after having such a highly successful first year in the county. It has been heartening for us to see the amount of interest The Hare’s Corner generates up and down the country. We genuinely believe that these small, tangible actions for nature can have the collective impact that we need to turn the tide on biodiversity loss while also contributing to climate resilience and the wellbeing of participants.”
Ruth Hanniffy, Biodiversity Officer, Sligo County Council, added:
“We are delighted to partner with The Hare’s Corner project for another year. Many people want to do something for nature but are unsure as to what they can or should do, and how to do it, and The Hare’s Corner meets this need by providing the encouragement, advice, and micro-funding to do it.”
