Monaghan County Council and Coillte have marked an important milestone with the establishment of a new three-hectare native woodland at Letterbane, Scotch Corner, near Castleblayney.
The new woodland has been delivered through a partnership between Monaghan County Council and Coillte, with the project progressed through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Planting on Public Lands initiative. The initiative supports local authorities, State agencies and other public bodies to identify suitable publicly owned lands and bring forward new woodland creation under the Forestry Programme 2023–2027. The project has been established under the Afforestation Scheme, Forest Type 3 (FT3) – Forest Creation on Public Lands.
The Scotch Corner project represents an important early example of Monaghan County Council and Coillte working together to deliver new woodland creation on publicly owned land. The approximately three-hectare site, adjoining the Scotch Corner Recycling Centre, has been given a new long-term purpose through the creation of native woodland, demonstrating how suitable public lands can contribute to climate, biodiversity and community objectives.
The newly established woodland has been planted with a diverse mix of native Irish tree species including birch, rowan, oak, hazel and alder, while willow is also regenerating naturally across the site. Over time, the woodland will develop into an important habitat for wildlife, enhance local biodiversity and contribute to climate action through carbon sequestration while providing a lasting natural asset for the local area.
The project also demonstrates the potential for similar partnerships between Coillte and local authorities across Ireland. Through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Afforestation Scheme, Forest Type 3, Forest Creation on Public Lands, local authorities have an opportunity to transform suitable publicly owned lands into thriving native woodlands that can deliver long lasting benefits for biodiversity, climate action and new green spaces for local communities to enjoy. The experience at Scotch Corner provides a practical example of how partnership working can help bring suitable publicly owned land into forest creation.
Minister Niall Collins, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture said:
“ This project is a strong example of what the Planting on Public Lands initiative is designed to achieve. By creating new native woodland on public lands, Monaghan County Council and Coillte are delivering long-term benefits for nature, climate resilience and for the local community. We hope the progress made here will also demonstrate what can be achieved by other public bodies with suitable land”
Speaking about the project Stephen Lynch, Midlands Regional Manager for Coillte said:
“New native woodlands play a vital role in supporting biodiversity and helping Ireland meet its climate objectives. We are delighted to work in partnership with Monaghan County Council on this important project which demonstrates that by working together, we can transform under-utilised public lands into valuable natural assets that will deliver benefits for climate, nature and local communities for generations to come.”
Chief Executive at Monaghan County Council Robert Burns said:
” This project is a tangible example of how Monaghan County Council is using public lands to support biodiversity recovery and climate action. We are delighted to work in partnership with Coillte and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to create a native woodland that will deliver lasting benefits for wildlife, carbon sequestration and the local community for generations to come.”
The project is underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding between Coillte and Monaghan County Council which aims to support the creation of new native woodlands on public lands, delivering benefits for climate, nature and people while exploring future opportunities for recreation and community engagement.
Coillte manages approximately 440,000 hectares of primarily forested lands across Ireland and is committed to delivering the multiple benefits of forestry, including forests for climate, nature, wood and people. Through partnerships such as this, Coillte is helping to expand Ireland’s native woodlands and create lasting environmental value for communities across the country.