Ireland’s ancient rainforest vanished after thousands of years of human activity. Now nearly 30,000 trees are being planted to bring it back

Almost 30,000 young native trees have been planted at Lenamore Wood in Northern Ireland, marking the beginning of a restoration project that could take a century to mature. Oak, alder and rowan now cover parts of the 41-acre site near Gortin, though the future woodland is still difficult to picture. The trees remain small, sheltered inside protective tubes and surrounded by open ground. They are being planted to recreate a fragment of the Atlantic rainforest that once spread widely across Ireland. Northern Ireland now has only a tiny share of ancient woodland remaining, with the Woodland Trust estimating it covers just 0.04% of the land. The project is intended to restore habitat, support wildlife and bring back a rare ecosystem. Though the results will unfold over generations rather than years, the project reflects a growing recognition that meaningful ecological restoration requires patience, sustained commitment and a willingness to plant something future communities, rather than the planters themselves, will ultimately inherit.

Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!