From the field’s edge to the frontline: Limerick plays key role in biodiversity push

LIMERICK is playing a leading role in the expansion of The Hare’s Corner, a unique biodiversity initiative.

The project is currently celebrating its fifth anniversary by supporting the creation of a projected 1,600 habitats across six counties in 2025.

Several landowners across Limerick have signed up this year to establish wildlife ponds, mini-woodlands, hedgerows, orchards, and plans-for-nature, all designed to encourage biodiversity and climate resilience on their land.

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The project is being coordinated by national non-profit Burrenbeo Trust and has grown significantly since its 2021 launch in Clare, where it began by supporting the creation of 100 habitats.

Named after the old farming expression for the awkward corner of a field left wild and uncultivated, The Hare’s Corner empowers landowners with practical, cost-effective tools to bring nature back to marginal or underutilised spaces.

This includes micro-funding, access to native trees and heritage apple varieties, and guidance from ecologists or hydrologists.

From its early days in Clare, the initiative has expanded to 900 habitats in four counties last year.

This year, it’s working with biodiversity officers in Limerick, Galway, Sligo, Meath, Offaly, Carlow and Galway City, with costs now reduced from an average of €500 per habitat in 2021 to around €250 today.

A new website has also been launched to celebrate the anniversary, packed with videos and how-to guides on topics like creating wildlife ponds, planting native trees, or establishing wildflower meadows.

The project is supported by a mix of public and private funding, including the National Parks and Wildlife Service’s Local Biodiversity Action Fund and sponsors such as Life’s2Good Foundation, Aldi, and ESB.

With growing interest and a strong public response, Burrenbeo Trust aims to bring The Hare’s Corner to more counties in the coming years and welcomes new funders and biodiversity professionals to help make that happen.