The Peoples Millennium Forests Project

The Peoples Millennium Forests Project

Submissions were invited from the public in 1998 for Millennium projects to commemorate the year 2000, which resulted in over 30 proposals from numerous sources, including individuals,

State-bodies, research institutions, ENGOs and private enterprises. Amongst other proposals, Woodlands of Ireland made a submission in 1999 to the National Millennium Committee and AIB Bank who were a project partner for the restoration of existing native woodlands, the creation of new native woodlands and the establishment of native tree nurseries. The submission was looked on favourably, with some adjustments and with the recommendation that a suitable partner should be sought to implement the project. Coillte agreed to be a partner and the project was approved. We will link the original submission here for archival purposes. Approval was sanctioned and funding provided, which amounted to €5.1 million, which is the largest native woodland project ever, to date. Coillte Teo., was given responsibility to manage the project in partnership with Woodlands of Ireland. A Project Management Board guided the project throughout its duration and consisted of the sponsors (the National Millennium Committee, AIB Bank and the Forest Service), the project manager (Coillte Teo.) and partner organisations (Woodlands of Ireland, National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Heritage Council and ENGOs.)

Primary Objectives of Project

The primary objectives of the project was  the creation of awareness amongst the general public and the restoration and creation of sixteen native woodlands nationwide, including two in Northern Ireland. In addition, a range of ancillary programmes, including education, involvement, public relations and local promotions were implemented in an effort to engage the general public in a variety of different ways. One of the publications that was produced is “Our Trees: A Guide to Growing Ireland’s Trees and Shrubs in celebration of a new Millennium“. It contains invaluable information on our native trees and shrubs and in particular, guidance on growing them from seed and cuttings, please download and learn more about Ireland’s native trees.

Coillte launched a new Charter of Commitment to the Peoples’ Millennium Forests on May 1st 2018. The launch event took place at Ballygannon Millennium Forest, Rathdrum, County Wicklow, as part of the second Native Woodland Conference organised by the Woodlands of Ireland. Speaking ahead of the launch, Gerard Murphy, Managing Director of Coillte Forest, said, “This Charter of Commitment underpins Coillte’s ongoing recognition of the Peoples’ Millennium Forests. We will continue, in partnership, with the Woodlands of Ireland to ensure that these Forests are protected and enhanced for the benefit of the public over many generations to come.” (see link).

 

Millennium Forest Sites

Sixteen sites were selected in all, ranging in size from 11 to 96 ha, spread over every province in the country with two sites in Northern Ireland. Overall 1.2 million trees were planted, a tree for every household in the country at the time. A certificate was issued to every household informing them that a tree had been planted in their name at one of the Millennium woodland sites. The success of the project will only be fully realised in years to come because of its long-term nature, though already, the response from the general public has been overwhelmingly positive. In addition, the restored, planted woodland areas are now thriving and at the thicket stage of development. The plan for the future of the Millennium Forests is that the family tree grid signs will be removed. This is because the trees planted in each grid are growing very fast and merging together into juvenile thickets in their ongoing development towards a native woodland ecosystem. Each household will still be able to find which forest their tree was planted in but because of the natural processes towards the evolution of a mature native woodland community, it is not possible to locate individual trees. You can visit the Millennium Forest Ireland website to determine the forest location that your tree would be planted in.

The 16 woodlands created were:

The Millennium Forests Celebrating 10 Years 22nd May 2011: Guided walks took place today in a number of People's Millennium Forests country-wide to celebrate a decade of progress in the People's Millennium Forests Project. To coincide with the celebration of the Millennium in 2000, sixteen woodlands around Ireland, comprising fifteen hundred acres, were chosen as the People's Millennium Forests. 1.3 million young trees of native species were planted on the forest sites that were dedicated in perpetuity to the people of Ireland. The saplings that were planted in 2000 have now begun to enter the next stage of their development creating young, vibrant, native woodlands rich in both plant and animal life. The celebration of these forests today is timely given that is International Day for Biological Diversity. Photo Chris Bellew / Fennells

  1. Ballygannon, Co. Wicklow
  2. Camolin, Co. Wexford
  3. Castle Archdale, Co. Fermanagh
  4. Coill an Fhaltaigh, Co. Kilkenny
  5. Cullentra, Co. Sligo
  6. Derrygill, Co. Galway
  7. Derrygorry, Co. Monaghan
  8. Favour Royal, Co. Tyrone
  9. Glengara, Co. Tipperary
  10. Lacca, Co. Laois
  11. Muckross National Park, Co. Kerry
  12. Portlick, Co. Westmeath
  13. Rossacroonaloo, Co. Kerry
  14. Rosturra, Co. Galway
  15. Shelton, Co. Wicklow
  16. Tourmakeady, Co. Mayo

Reports on Millennium Forest Sites

In 2003, an exciting research project began at four of the People’s Millennium Forest (PMF) sites. This project involved setting up a monitoring programme in areas of conifer clearfell that were left unplanted and allowed to develop naturally. The four study sites were Rosturra Wood in Co. Galway, Coill an Fhaltaigh in Co. Kilkenny, Cullentra Wood in Co. Sligo and Ballygannon Wood in Co. Wicklow. The long-term ecological monitoring transects at the People’s Millennium Forests were revisited in 2009 and 2019, the summary document is available to download here. 

In 2004, at the first Native Woodland Conference in GMIT, Galway; Forestry consultant Michael Doyle presented a paper on “Restoring Native Woodlands: The Experience from the People’s Millenium Forests Project” giving an overview of the project. Any further reports or surveys will be featured here.

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