The Hare’s Corner is now open for applications!   

The Hare’s Corner returns to County Galway!

Galway landowners can apply for support to create wildlife ponds, mini-woodlands, wildlife hedges, mini-orchards and ‘plans for nature’ on their land through The Hare’s Corner partnership initiative with Galway County Council and Burrenbeo Trust.

The deadline for applications is 20th March 2025.

Visit burrenbeo.com/thc for details and to apply.

Inspired by the term ‘The Hare’s Corner’ – an old farming expression for an awkward section of a field which wasn’t intensively farmed and so was ‘left to nature’ – the aim of this project is to help create habitats that have proven benefits for biodiversity, for climate-action as well as for the well-being of participants.

The Hare’s Corner project offers landowners practical support to carry out simple but impactful actions for nature such as creation of a wildlife pond, a native mini-woodland, a wildlife hedge, a heritage mini-orchard, with apple trees from Irish Seed Savers Association and/or a bespoke ‘plan for nature’ for their site. This support is offered in the form of materials (mixed species of native trees and heritage apple trees), micro-funding (towards machinery costs for pond digging), professional services (such as a hydrologist’s visit to help plan a pond, or an ecologist’s visit to ‘plan for nature’) and guidance.

The Hare’s Corner initiative in 2025 will be funded through a combination of public and private sector funding, including the National Parks and Wildlife Service’s Local Biodiversity Action Fund and is an action of the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2023 – 2030.

Landowners, farmers, community groups, and schools with land, or with permission to undertake work on a site. are welcome to apply. However, those participating in the ACRES or NPWS Farm Plan Scheme, as well as landowners with sites in designated areas (SACs, SPAs etc), are not currently eligible.

It is a wonderful opportunity for people to make a real difference for biodiversity right across County Galway and you are encouraged to apply.