Louth County Council has helped distribute more than 5,000 native trees across the county during a special Tree Handout Day held at the Louth GAA Centre of Excellence in Darver.
The event, organised in partnership with the Hare’s Corner Project, Tree Council of Ireland and Coillte, took place on Friday March 6th and saw trees distributed to over 170 community groups, landowners, schools, residents’ associations, sports clubs and individuals.
The initiative took place ahead of National Tree Week 2026, which runs from March 8th to March 15th.
Speaking at the event, Cllr Dolores Minogue, Cathaoirleach at Ardee Municipal District said:
Louth has some of the lowest tree cover in Ireland, which makes community led planting more important than ever. These new trees will strengthen our environment, support wildlife, and create greener, healthier places for people to enjoy. By planting together, we’re shaping a more vibrant, resilient, and healthy county for future generations.
The Hare’s Corner initiative is coordinated locally by the Burrenbeo Trust in partnership with the Louth County Council Biodiversity Office and funded through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund with financial support from the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
The programme supports landowners in creating mini woodlands, wildlife ponds, orchards, hedges and Plans for Nature. This year’s participation highlights growing interest locally in taking practical action for climate and biodiversity.
Commenting on the initiative, Helen Hanratty, Biodiversity Officer with Louth County Council, said:
This is the first year Hare’s Corner has run in Louth, and the response has been fantastic. The 5,000 trees shared today will help create around 40 mini woodlands, 90 heritage orchards, and 60 wildlife hedges. It’s wonderful to see communities, schools, and landowners leading the way in restoring nature locally.
John Loughran, Conservation Ranger with the National Parks and Wildlife Service added:
Trees and hedgerows are vital for the environment, serving as nature’s infrastructure by combating climate change, supporting biodiversity, protecting water quality, and regulating the soil. They function as crucial wildlife corridors, connecting fragmented habitats in agricultural landscapes and providing food, shelter, and nesting sites for birds, bats, insects, and small mammals.
During the event Louth County Council also presented heritage apple trees to Louth GAA in recognition of the organisation’s continued support and partnership through the GAA Green Clubs Initiative, which promotes environmental action across local clubs.
Anyone taking part in National Tree Week and the Hare’s Corner initiative is invited to share photos of their planting activities using the hashtag #BiodiversityLouth.
