Rooted in Restoration: Ashford Castle x Hometree

In the final chapter of our mini-documentary series, we meet members of the Hometree team: Jeremy Turkington, Forest Reproductive Material Coordinator; Marina Conway, Head of Woodlands; and Jess Beresford, Lead Ecologist, as we celebrate Ashford Castle’s partnership with Hometree on woodland restoration. Nestled within an Atlantic rainforest zone, the estate’s woodlands are home to rare native trees and fragments of ancient wildwood – vital in a country where less than 2% of land remains under native forest.

This collaboration is about more than protecting trees. From tackling invasive species to preserving local genetic diversity, it brings together careful stewardship, scientific expertise, and community engagement. In the Q&A that follows, Hometree share the inspiration, challenges, and long-term vision behind this initiative – a commitment to restoring biodiversity and connecting people with the natural world around them.

In Conversation with our partner Hometree

Hometree is an Irish nature restoration charity working to regenerate native woodlands and restore Ireland’s temperate rainforests. By partnering with landowners and communities, their work helps protect biodiversity while nurturing landscapes that can thrive for generations to come.

At Ashford Castle, we are proud to partner with Hometree as part of our ongoing commitment to caring for the estate’s remarkable natural environment.

What inspired Hometree to partner with Ashford Castle on this woodland restoration initiative?

Ireland is in a unique position when it comes to nature restoration. Historically, it hasn’t been at the forefront of the national agenda, but as we move through the 2020s, nature is rising rapidly in importance. As one of the fastest-growing not-for-profits in this space, we believe it’s vital that Ireland has a strong, independent voice helping shape the national conversation, and contributing to the design and delivery of restoration at scale.

We are an island nation with less than 2% of our land covered by native woodland, and much of that is in unfavourable condition. Combined with highly fragmented land ownership, this makes restoring biodiversity especially complex. But it also highlights the opportunity for collaboration and leadership.

Like many forward-thinking organisations, Ashford Castle reached out in late 2024 to explore what meaningful action could look like; both on their estate and in partnership with us. The estate sits within an Atlantic rainforest zone and still holds a rich mix of rare native trees and shrubs, alongside remnants of long-established wildwood. It has been a powerful partnership so far, and one we hope will continue to grow for many years to come.

 

 

Can you describe the biggest challenges currently facing the historic woodlands at Ashford Castle, and how your team plans to address them?

Invasive species remain the single biggest challenge. Managing them requires consistent, hands-on effort, ideally from a dedicated internal team rather than relying solely on external contractors. For landowners new to restoration, this can seem costly at first. But acting early is critical as delays only make the problem more complex and expensive to solve later.

Equally important is to secure support at every level, from ownership to customers and the wider public. Without that shared commitment, the funding needed for nature recovery is unlikely to materialise. Ashford is in a uniquely strong position: its woodlands are old, even ancient in places, and they hold significant ecological value. That legacy offers a powerful foundation for long-term restoration.

 

 

One exciting part of the project involves seed collection from old estate trees. Why is preserving these local genetic lines so important for the future of the woodland?

Ecologically, the focus is on preserving the local genetic character of native tree species on the estate, supporting natural regeneration where it can happen, and stepping in where it can’t. It has also become a meaningful way for staff and local residents to connect with the project and play an active role in restoration.

In Ireland, only a handful of commercial nurseries exist, and most focus on just a small number of native species. Without small organisations and not-for-profits stepping in to fill this gap, valuable genetic diversity, including rare and locally adapted material, risks being lost.

 

Community engagement is a major component of the project. How will Hometree involve Ashford Castle staff and the wider Cong area in restoring and protecting the local ecosystem?

We believe ecological restoration can only succeed with community at its heart. Engaging stakeholders early, right from the design phase, is essential. One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned is the importance of reaching out to local groups and voices from the very beginning. When projects are shaped with the support of local communities, the wider public, and key stakeholders, they not only run more smoothly, but endure for the long term.

 

 

Looking ahead, what long-term impact does Hometree hope this partnership will have on biodiversity and nature connection in the region?

This is a lifelong commitment from both Ashford and Hometree. While restoring nature is a long journey, meaningful progress can happen quickly - especially when tackling invasive species.

The challenges are wide-ranging and will take generations to fully address, so we must approach nature recovery with a long-term mindset, thinking in decades and even centuries. But that perspective should empower us, not hold us back. What matters most is that we act, building momentum, staying energised, and taking steady steps forward. As we learn and adapt, we can already begin restoring biodiversity to our ecosystems, from rural landscapes to urban spaces, while growing awareness and understanding along the way.

Experience the beauty of the Ashford Estate for yourself and discover the landscapes, woodlands and traditions that make a stay at Ashford Castle so special. Plan Your Stay.