Sligo County Council was delighted to welcome over 200 people to Mitchell Curley Park on Friday for the Hare’s Corner tree handout day.
Hare’s Corner applicants from across Sligo collect thousands of free trees to plant new hedgerows, orchards and woodlands!
Leas Cathaoirleach Cllr. Fergal Nealon with Philip Harrison and Micheál Condren from SCC Parks Department, Lee Worrell from BurrenBeo Trust, and Ruth Hanniffy, SCC Biodiversity Officer
In bright spring sunshine, applicants from every part of the county arrived to collect over 10,000 free native trees, which will create hedgerows, woodlands and heritage orchards – helping nature and providing valuable new habitats for wildlife.
Householders, farmers, community groups and schools involved in the Woodland and Hedgerow actions received 50 native trees, including hawthorn, oak, Scots pine, black poplar, spindle and hazel. Those approved for a Heritage Orchard collected five heritage apple trees, supporting the revival of traditional Irish varieties. These trees were selected for their ecological value offering food, shelter and long‑term resilience as Sligo’s landscapes adapt to climate and environmental change.
The Hare’s Corner initiative — developed by the nonprofit Burrenbeo Trust — has returned to Sligo for a second year in partnership with Sligo County Council. Last year the programme approved 239 new biodiversity actions throughout the county and created 12 new ponds for wildlife. In 2026 there have been applications for 232 actions, including 46 ‘Plans for Nature’ and the creation of 37 new wildlife ponds, providing essential wetland habitat for amphibians, insects and birds. Over the two years, the programme will support the creation of approximately 111 wildlife hedgerows, 109 heritage orchards and 107 native woodlands. The Hare’s Corner has been enthusiastically embraced by landowners, community groups, farmers and schools, all determined to create space for nature in their local areas.
Leas Cathaoirleach Cllr. Fergal Nealon with staff from Sligo County Council and BurrenBeo Trust, and volunteers from ATU at the Hare’s Corner tree handout day in Mitchell-Curley Park
Speaking at the event, Cllr. Nealon, Leas‑Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, said:
“The Hare’s Corner programme shows the enthusiasm for community‑led action in restoring nature across our county. It is inspiring to see so many people taking part, and we are delighted to support them as they create new woodlands, hedgerows, orchards and ponds across Sligo.”
Ruth Hanniffy, Biodiversity Officer with Sligo County Council, noted:
“The Hare’s Corner has been a fantastic success in Sligo. It is hugely encouraging to see so many people take direct action to create habitats and make space for nature. I look forward to seeing each pond and woodland and the wildlife it will support.”
The Hare’s Corner programme in 2026 is funded through a combination of public and private support, including Sligo County Council, the National Parks and Wildlife Service’s Local Biodiversity Action Fund, and private funders such as SSE Generation Green Community Fund, NTR PLC, Greencoat Renewables PLC, ESB and Intact Insurance. The initiative also works closely with the Heritage Council’s Biodiversity Officer Programme, ensuring strong on‑the‑ground support for participants across the county.
