Coillte’s Hazelwood Forest Wins Native Woodland Conservation Award at the 2025 RDS Forest and Woodlands Awards
23 April 2025: Coillte’s Hazelwood Forest in Co. Sligo has been voted this year’s winner of the Native Woodland Conservation Award in the 2025 RDS Forest and Woodland Awards.
The RDS Forest and Woodland Awards are Ireland’s national forestry awards. The Native Woodland Conservation Award recognises excellence in the conservation and management of Ireland’s native forests and semi-natural woodlands which are regarded as ancient or long established and managed in a sustainable way that is both beneficial to biodiversity and the local economy.
Hazelwood, a 123-hectare alluvial woodland, which contains an EU-protected site, is rich in water-loving native tree species like willow, alder and ash, and is periodically flooded by the Garavoge river. However, it had been badly affected by invasive species such as rhododendron, which casts dense shade on the understory and prevents young native trees, shrubs and ground flora from growing like they would in a healthy habitat.
Earlier this year, Coillte marked the successful completion of this five-year project at the popular woodland. The project has seen a range of measures implemented to preserve and enhance the biodiversity of this unique habitat, where works have been ongoing since 2020.
The ‘Restoring Hazelwood’ project focused on removing dense thickets of invasive species, allowing for the natural regeneration of native trees in the forest creating a more diverse and more resilient forest. Other restoration work involved thinning areas of the woodland, encouraging structural diversity, improving the conditions for native species to regenerate and the removal of conifers and replanting with native pioneer wet woodland species.
Karen Woods, Operations Manager, Coillte said “We are delighted to see Coillte’s Hazelwood Forest win the RDS Native Conservation Award this year. The work here is a fantastic example of strong collaboration between Coillte, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the local community to deliver important restoration of our native woodlands”.
Hazelwood lies at the heart of Yeats Country on the shores of Lough Gill in Co. Sligo, just outside Sligo Town, overlooking the Lake Isle of Innisfree and is a popular destination for locals and visitors to the area.
Coillte is committed to supporting the restoration, regeneration and rehabilitation of nature across Ireland. Coillte’s strategic vision is underpinned by 11 ambitions, which by 2050 will see Coillte create new forests, half of which will be native woodlands; manage its existing forests for greater carbon capture; redesign 30,000 ha of peatland forests for climate and ecological benefits; enhance and restore biodiversity by increasing the area of the estate managed primarily for nature from 20 to 30% by the end of 2025, and to 50% in the long-term. Coillte is also targeting to support the creation of new homes by delivering sustainable Irish wood products and is increasing the number of recreational spaces across Ireland for people to enjoy.
ENDS
