GreenFriends™ Ireland
“Only through love and compassion is the protection and preservation of Nature possible” — Amma
ABOUT US
Greenfriends is the international environmental branch of Embracing the World, working in the fields of environmental conservation and sustainability to help protect the precious balance of life on our planet. Through a whole spectrum of community-based initiatives across the world, Greenfriends aims to awaken the understanding that nature and humanity are inextricably linked, to cultivate our love of nature, and to offer real, practical opportunities for us to live in greater harmony with nature.
In line with our international umbrella group, we in Amma Ireland Greenfriends wish to give back to nature, a wish we share with so many people across the globe. We believe this beautiful chance to contribute to a global movement is precious in itself and in the possibilities inherent to connect with the earth and each other. Acting for Earth, to mitigate in some way the Climate and Biodiversity crisis facing our humanity, we focus on what we can do right now, in our own lives and our own communities, to help restore the precious harmony between humanity and nature.
Our main activities in Ireland are:
• Organising tree-planting days when we work to create woodlands and nature reserves
• Running courses to support people to grow their own organic vegetables.
• Greenfriends is 100% volunteer-based, with over 500 members.
About Us
Woodlands
Greenfriends is the international environmental branch of Embracing the World, working in the fields of environmental conservation and sustainability to help protect the precious balance of life on our planet. Through a whole spectrum of community-based initiatives across the world, Greenfriends aims to awaken the understanding that nature and humanity are inextricably linked, to cultivate our love of nature, and to offer real, practical opportunities for us to live in greater harmony with nature.
Introduction: Who we are
GreenFriends Ireland Woodlands and Nature reserves is part of Amma Ireland Greenfriends, Greenfriends being the green wing of the global charity Embracing the World®. We are a member organisation of the United Nations Trillion Tree Campaign. Embracing the World has organized the planting of more than a million trees globally since 2001. http://www.embracingtheworld.org/news/trillion-tree-campaign/
Our Mission
Here in Ireland, our aim is to create continuous cover woodlands and nature reserves. Every tree counts. We collaborate with public and private landowners who wish to give over some of their land to nature reserve creation. We have a growing network of volunteers who join us regularly on our tree planting and tree care day events.
It is the intention of Greenfriends in Ireland that the trees we have planted become part of a managed Woodland + Nature Reserve, which can grow to become ancient and a natural place for diverse ecology to flourish. Therefore the creation of the Woodland + Nature Reserve is not for commercial purposes and will remain for generations to come. We have a memorandum of understanding to this effect with landowners.
How we began
It all started back in 2010 when John Fisher made the decision to plant an Amma woodland and work with Greenfriends volunteers to do so.
What we have achieved together so far
Since 2016 we have planted 5386 trees creating 6 different nature reserves.
Sites are spread all over Ireland.
Some are small, some are quite extensive.
Regardless of size our planting days are vibrant, fun and create a connection to nature for all, young and old.
Follow the story of how each site grows and develops in our TreeBook (Click to Open)
Tree Vouchers
Reversing climate change, one tree at a time!
You can help fund Greenfriends tree planting projects in Ireland by purchasing one of our Tree Vouchers. Planting one organic native tree, together with the tree guard and stake essential to support and protect young saplings, costs us on average €5 – the purchase price for one tree voucher, though your voucher can be made out for more than one tree if you wish. The funds from each voucher go directly towards the cost of planting the trees and all additional planning and planting is done entirely by Greenfriends volunteers. The trees represented by your voucher will be planted by Greenfriends at one of the Woodland sites we are developing around the country.
Land For Trees
Reversing climate change, one tree at a time!
To date, Greenfriends has collaborated with farmers and landowners who have land that they wish to give over to nature reserve creation. We would like to expand this to include Local authorities, Council landowners and Corporate Landowners.
Local Authority + Council Landowners, Corporate Landowners:
If you want to help mitigate biodiversity loss, and create projects for positive climate action, while at the same time create a beautiful space for nature and people we can help. Placemaking is important to us, so working together to create a vision of best use of space for nature and people we can create Urban Woodlands, Urban Orchards, Pocket Parks, Beautiful places for nature where people can enjoy too.
How we can help:
1. Expert advice from our team, collaborating with you and your team to create a vision + plan for your nature reserve. Once our plan is in place, we can develop a planting schedule with our volunteers and your team.
2. Team of volunteers who will come help plant trees and provide the trees and protection for trees as necessary.
3. Create great imagery to disseminate the collaboration across both our platforms.
Private Landowners:
If you have land you want to change use of to create some space for nature, Greenfriends can help you in the following ways:
1. Expert advice from our team, creating a vision + plan for your nature reserve. Once our plan is in place, we can develop a planting schedule with our volunteers.
2. Team of volunteers who will come plant trees and provide the trees and protection for trees as necessary.
3. Memorandum of Understanding and Certificate
The template contract between AmmaIreland GreenFriends and our collaborating Landowners clearly outlines the mutual expectations, agreements and shared vision for the nature reserves created. The contract is an agreement that the trees planted in collaboration with us to create the nature reserves be managed organically, without the use of chemicals, as a continuous cover woodland/nature reserve/urban woodland/pocket park/urban orchard which is allowed to grow ancient. The woodlands should not be grown for commercial purposes but with the intention to contribute to the ecosystem for generations to come.
Collaborations
JOIN US
Reversing climate change, one tree at a time!
Greenfriends in Ireland is organised and run 100% by volunteers. Action to help restore the lost balance of nature is ever more important, while also being really satisfying, worthwhile, fulfilling and fun! There’s something very special, very hopeful, about meeting fellow volunteers who give of themselves working together for nature.
We invite you to join our growing, vibrant, committed team. No prior knowledge of planting/growing is required. We give training where necessary and we all learn from each other in so many ways as we go along.
Contact: greenfriends@ammaireland.org
Join Our Monthly Mailing List
We will keep you updated of all upcoming events. We send one or two emails a month.