Cork town’s mission to create a biodiversity haven united community

From the moment I attended a meeting about creating tiny forests hosted by Living Woodlands, I knew that we would have to embark on our own biodiversity haven journey.

Living Woodlands works with local community organisations and schools to identify underused and neglected green spaces and transform them into biodiversity havens.

A number of us went along to the meeting and we were immediately inspired by the two brothers behind Living Woodlands, Colm and John Galvin.

They explained the thinking behind Living Woodlands, and spoke about transforming underused spaces into thriving woodland havens for both communities and wildlife, places that could help restore biodiversity while bringing people together.

The ethos of this work is rooted in community. It’s about identifying spaces, getting involved in planting, attending workshops, and reconnecting with nature in a meaningful way.

The goal is to create an interconnected network of biodiversity havens using native trees - supporting pollinators, birds and wildlife, while also strengthening community spirit.

The meeting made us reflect on how disconnected many of us have become from nature, and how easily we overlook the potential of the spaces around us.

Even the smallest unused area can be transformed into something that benefits everyone.

We knew there and then that this was something we wanted to take on in our own village.

From then on, it was a matter of finding the perfect spot for our new biodiversity haven to call home.

What really struck me was how many people in our community of Newtownshandrum were not only open to the idea, but they were excited about it too.

Our local GAA grounds kindly offered us space to use, but we quickly realised that nature havens and sliotars might not be the best combination.

We also considered a roadside location within the area, but safety concerns and accessibility ruled it out.

At its heart, this project was about creating a space for the people of Newtownshandrum to enjoy, so it had to be somewhere safe and welcoming.

Finally, with the support of Cork County Council, we found a spot of underused land, owned by the council, that was deemed to be perfect. It had suitable parking for anyone who wanted to drive there and was accessible to both the local school and the village itself.

Once the site was secured, we moved on to the planting process.

The method used by Living Woodlands is the Miyawaki method, a high-density planting approach that allows forests to grow up to ten times faster than usual.

We planned the planting for winter, and on December 12, 2025, with the help of local schoolchildren, Tidy Towns members and volunteers, we brought the project to life.

Now, for the first time, we’re seeing everything in the haven come to life and come together, something I also see reflected in our own community which was truly united by this whole journey.

Newtownshandrum is a small but vibrant community. A challenge that is shared by communities across Ireland is access to funding for local projects. Works generally need to be completed and paid for before grants are made available.

However, with the help of Living Woodlands and Rethink Ireland, we were able to overcome that barrier and make our biodiversity haven a reality.

The goal of Newstownshandrum’s Tidy Towns committee has always been to preserve and improve our village for the future generations. Working with Living Woodlands has helped us do exactly that and has been an inspired and joyful decision.

The biodiversity haven has brought people together, created a shared sense of purpose, and left us with something lasting.

Our 5th class pupils, who were eager to get stuck in from the get-go, have pledged to care for the haven and monitor its progression as it comes to maturity in 20 years’ time.

In many ways, it is their forest now - and they are rightly proud of it.

Hopefully, it’s something that will continue to grow and flourish alongside them, and something they’ll always be inspired by.

I think that this experience is only the start of many wonderful projects to come for our village and its community.

With support from Rethink Ireland’s Impact Fund for Munster, Living Woodlands created seven Biodiversity Havens across Munster, including in Newtownshandrum.

• Rethink Ireland provides cash grants and business support to charities and social enterprises working in Irish communities across the country, including Living Woodlands.
• Rethink Ireland has recently launched its Sustainability Step-Up Fund, a €1.5 million, two-year fund supported by Zurich in Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
• The new fund will support five innovative, community-led initiatives that will have a social and environmental impact on both urban and rural communities.