Come to Wildacres Nature Reserve for an enjoyable workshop experience and learn all about planting your own Native Hedgerow.

In an enjoyable relaxed atmosphere, explore what you can do in your outdoor space, whether you have a back garden or a few acres of land.

Hedgerows when planted with native flowering and fruiting shrubs and small trees, and managed properly, are an incredibly biodiverse rich habitat. They support a vast array of wildlife from birds to insects and small mammals such as hedgehogs and shrews.

There is an immense sense of satisfaction and contentment to be had as you watch your native hedgerow growing, year on year, knowing you are doing your bit to help climate change and biodiversity loss.

The workshop will include an indoor seated visual presentation in The Big Green Barn followed by an engaging guided tour of specific areas within the nature reserve including the 2km of recently planted native hedgerow, the many mature field hedgerow borders and the Tree/shrub nursery. There will be plenty of opportunity for Q&A.

Come to Wildacres Nature Reserve for an enjoyable workshop experience and learn all about planting your own Native Hedgerow.

In an enjoyable relaxed atmosphere, explore what you can do in your outdoor space, whether you have a back garden or a few acres of land.

Hedgerows when planted with native flowering and fruiting shrubs and small trees, and managed properly, are an incredibly biodiverse rich habitat. They support a vast array of wildlife from birds to insects and small mammals such as hedgehogs and shrews.

There is an immense sense of satisfaction and contentment to be had as you watch your native hedgerow growing, year on year, knowing you are doing your bit to help climate change and biodiversity loss.

The workshop will include an indoor seated visual presentation in The Big Green Barn followed by an engaging guided tour of specific areas within the nature reserve including the 2km of recently planted native hedgerow, the many mature field hedgerow borders and the Tree/shrub nursery. There will be plenty of opportunity for Q&A.

Topics covered will include:

• The different species of native shrubs and small trees you can plant in your hedgerow and the soil types and conditions they are suited to.
• The importance of hedgerows in the Irish landscape for our Wildlife.
• How to get started, prepare the area for planting, source your small trees and shrubs and proceed to plant the hedgerow.
• The varying habitats within a mature hedgerow and the plant species found in those habitats from the herbaceous base layer to the hedgerow itself.
• How to manage your hedgerow in the first and successive years.
• How you can harvest your own native shrub and tree seed.

Workshop includes a refreshment break for a Cuppa and Wildacres Honey Oat Cookies seated overlooking the ¾ acre wildlife pond.

Duration: 2.5 hours

Group Size: 10-14

Price: €65*

Age: 16+ years (must be accompanied by an adult)

Weather: Please dress for the great outdoors and Irish weather.

Suitability: Wellies recommended, some rough ground.

* Note: Wildacres is a Social Enterprise and all proceeds from tours, walks, workshops, courses and products go directly towards biodiversity protection, restoration and education through the Wildacres Nature Reserve Project.