Restoring Ireland's Natural Heritage
Caridad is an Irish charity that raises money from corporates, to improve biodiversity across Ireland.
Our Vision
Our vision, is to safeguard and restore Ireland's natural ecosystems so that future generations can enjoy a land rich in clean air, pure water, healthy soils, thriving forests, clean oceans and vibrant biodiversity, everywhere.
In decades and centuries past, in order to grow out of poverty, it was important to maximise the extraction of value from our natural resources. Now as one of the richest countries in the world, we no longer need to exploit our natural systems. It's time to give back, to allow some land to be reclaimed by nature, so we can improve biodiversity, capture carbon and clean our water and air.
Our vision is for 20% of Ireland to be managed for nature, or simply not managed at all. Iconic species like curlews, red squirrels, and freshwater pearl mussels that are now facing alarming declines, should thrive in a new Ireland, where nature is respected and prioritized.
We are committed to protecting, expanding, and managing native Irish forests — nature's engine for renewal. Trees are more than carbon sinks. They filter the air we breathe, protect our rivers and streams by stabilizing soil and absorbing excess nutrients, and create habitats for birds, insects, mammals, and fungi. By restoring native woodland, we help bring back the complex, interdependent ecosystems that evolved here over thousands of years.
Our Program
Our initial program focuses on transforming Ireland's landscape by purchasing monoculture Sitka spruce plantations and restoring them into rich, biodiverse native woodlands. While these commercial sitka plantations were established for timber production, they often come at the expense of soil health, water quality, and biodiversity.
Sitka plantations are biodiversity deserts, where nothing but sitka grows. We see an urgent opportunity to reimagine these lands as thriving ecosystems, not just financial assets.
Once acquired, we begin a careful process of reforestation using native Irish species such as oak, birch, rowan, alder, and holly. This approach helps to rebuild the complex ecological web that once flourished here — supporting birds, insects, fungi, and mammals that cannot thrive in dense, dark conifer plantations.
Nothing will be extracted from these forests. No logs, no firewood, no thinnings, no biofuel. Trees that die will remain on the forest floor as valuable deadwood and become home to billions of thriving organisms.
This isn't just about planting trees. It's about healing landscapes. We restore damaged soils, reconnect fragmented habitats, and remove artificial drainage systems where appropriate to allow wetlands and forest edges to return. By turning silent, uniform plantations into living forests, our program helps Ireland move toward a future where native trees are not the exception but the foundation of our rural environments. We believe this work is both a climate solution and a moral obligation.
Native Species Restoration
Reintroducing indigenous Irish trees and plants to restore natural biodiversity.
Soil & Water Health
Improving soil quality and protecting water sources through natural restoration.
Wildlife Corridors
Creating connected habitats for native wildlife to thrive and migrate safely.
How Can You Help
We are currently in the market to buy sitka spruce plantations to transform them into vibrant native woodlands.
If you own a recently clearfelled sitka plantation or a mature plantation ready to harvest, and would like to see it transformed into native woodland then please contact us at paddy@caridad.ie.
If you work in a corporate that has funding available for nature restoration, then please contact us too.
Our Forests
Discover the forests we've acquired and are actively restoring across Ireland
| # | Name | County | Hectares | Acres | Date Purchased |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ballynabarney | Wexford | 35 | 86 | May 1, 2025 |
| 2 | Knockhall | Roscommon | 27 | 67 | May 12, 2025 |
| 3 | Monavugga | Waterford | 22 | 54 | June 4, 2025 |
| 4 | Caher | Laois | 20 | 49 | June 27, 2025 |
| 5 | Kilconny | Cavan | 13 | 32 | June 23, 2025 |
| 6 | Derrainy | Clare | 13 | 32 | November 1, 2025 |
| 7 | Coraghmuck | Cavan | 13 | 32 | November 3, 2025 |
| 8 | Kilmoon | Clare | 12 | 30 | April 24, 2026 |
| Total | 155 | 383 |
Forest Details
Learn more about each forest's unique characteristics and restoration journey
Ballynabarney
This 35 hectare forest is about 10Km north of Gorey, Co. Wexford.
66% of it was sitka spruce which was felled before Caridad bought it.
The remaining 34%, situated in the centre of the larger plot, is a mixture of native Irish trees, with some sitka spruce interspersed throughout.
Management Plan
In September 2025, we will deer-fence the forest. Then we will fell the remaining sitka spruce trees and leave them as deadwood on the forest floor.
In November 2025, we will replant the felled area with native Irish trees.
Knockhall
This forest is situated 3 Km west of Roosky, Co. Roscommon.
It comprises 4 adjacent parcels of land.
The largest parcel includes 2 hectares of standing pedunculate oak. The other parcels were previously sitka spruce plantations which were felled before being purchased by Caridad.
Management Plan
The 3 larger plots will be deer-fenced during the Summer of 2025.They will be replanted in November 2025.
Monavugga
This forest comprises 2 parcels on opposite sides of the road.
The larger parcel was previously sitka spruce and was felled before purchase by Caridad.
The smaller parcel is a mature ash forest which is suffering from ash dieback disease.
Management Plan
The larger area which has been felled will be replanted with native Irish trees.
The smaller ash area will be left to naturally regenerate, with the existing ash left as deadwood in the forest.
Caher
This forest comprises 2 parcels of land.
Both were sitka spruce plantations which were completely felled before being purchased by Caridad.
Management Plan
Caridad will replant both parcels in November 2025 with native Irish trees.
Kilconny
This is a 13 hectare forest situated on the banks of the River Erne, near Belturbet, Co. Cavan.
Before being purchased by Caridad, it comprised 8 hectares of diseased ash and 5 hectares of conifers, all of which had been clearfelled.
Management Plan
This will be deer-fenced during the Summer of 2025 and planted with native Irish trees in November.
Derrainy
This 13 hectare forest is close to the Clare / Galway county border, within 2Km of Lough Derg, with Lough Alewnaghta 1Km to its southeast.
It was originally afforested in 1992 as a sitka spruce plantation.
It also includes a small area of broadleaves, along with about 1 hectare of scrub.
Management Plan
This will be deer-fenced during the Summer of 2027.
It will be replanted with native Irish trees the following winter.
Coraghmuck
This 13 hectare forest was previously a sitka spruce plantation, which has been clearfelled.
A gap in the middle of the site, presumably caused by earlier windblow damage, has regenerated naturally with birch and willow.
Management Plan
This will be deer-fenced during the Summer of 2027.
It will be replanted with native Irish trees in the winter of 2027.
Kilmoon
This 12 hectare forest is a sitka spruce plantation which has not yet been felled.
It was planted in 1989 and has never been thinned.
Management Plan
Caridad will apply for a felling licence, then fell the sitka spruce and sell the timber.
The forest will then be deer-fenced and replanted with native Irish trees.