Local farm foresters win again at RDS awards

Members of the Westmeath Farm Forestry Group have again been among the winners at this year’s RDS Irish Forest and Woodland Awards.

Of the six awards, two went to members of the local farm forestry group, which has a core membership of around 30. Colm Foy won the RDS Production Forestry Award for the second time, while James Ham of Moyvore received a Special Commendation Award in the Teagasc Farm Forestry Category.

In a press release published after last Monday’s award ceremony in Dublin, the RDS said that the judges who visited Colm’s forest at Ballymacleavy, near Ballynacargy, were impressed by “the extent to which Colm is adopting a business-like approach to forestry and the manner in which he has enabled other woodland owners to benefit from his experience”.

Colm’s forest at his family’s home farm where he grew up covers a total area of 36 hectares made up of 29.65 hectares planted in 1995 and 6.55 hectares planted in 2012, the same year that Colm previously won this award. He was also the runner-up in the category in 2018.

Commenting on his latest triumph, the RDS said that the farm at Ballymacleavy “is very dear to his heart”.

“He has managed to grow his forestry business through continuous investment while working with nature to ensure the long-term environmental sustainability of the area.

“Colm’s ambition for the future of Ballymacleavy is to create a species diverse, multi-age woodland that is managed on a continuous cover system that will be capable of providing a financial return from the sale of products ranging from biomass to sawlogs with the least possible impact on the surrounding local and global environment.”

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner a few days after the awards ceremony, Colm said the forestry sector has changed a lot since he planted his first trees in 1985. He says there is “huge potential” for farmers looking to diversify to more carbon friendly practices.

While timber produced in Ireland is not as strong as timber produced in Scandinavia. Manufacturing processes introduced in recent years means timber can be a viable and environmentally friendly alternative to steel and concrete.

This presents new opportunities for farm foresters in Westmeath and elsewhere, and is one of many potential revenue streams, he says.

“There is so many other uses for timber. So many green uses, such as wood chips for power stations to generate electricity. We have huge opportunities for different types of wood, making use of all of the materials brings added value.”

The farm forestry group’s other winner was James Ham from Moyvore. James received the Special Commendation Award in the RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Category.

James has a 52-hectare farm of which about half is committed to forestry. The farm is managed on a low input basis for a 20-cow, autumn calving suckler herd, with some spring barley grown to provide feed grain and straw.

James has always had an interest in trees and hedges and has practised hedgelaying on the farm as a form of agroforestry, biodiversity and providing fuel for his house. He first planted around two acres of mainly oak in 1995 before further mixed species plantations in 1995 and 2014.

By planting land that was difficult for grazing, James was able to manage the remaining land for his livestock enterprise more efficiently, noting less time and expense spent on drainage and land maintenance. The farm is now managed in a much more sustainable manner.

From the outset James has managed the farm forest on continuous cover forestry principles with a strong emphasis on wildlife and biodiversity as well as commercial product. James has noticed a visible increase in the levels of wildlife on his farm and has recorded buzzards, black-cap, grasshopper warbler, pine martin and a much greater number of butterfly species.

James says the conversion of land to forestry in 2014 benefitted his farm enterprise as he was able to reduce livestock numbers, which he and his wife had identified as an increasingly unsustainable main source of income as they got older. Their ability to manage forestry plus reduced livestock numbers has led to a better quality of life and no reduction in the overall viability of their farm.

James and Colm are the latest in what is a growing list of RDS award winners from the Westmeath Farm Forestry Group. Other previous winners include Pat Lynch, Ger Deegan and the late Billy Connell.

James says that the support local farm foresters receive from their fellow group members and from the local Teagasc forestry advisory, Liam Kelly, is a major factor in their success at the awards.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner recently, James outlined the importance of the group to its members.

“The group was set up to help farmer forestry owners in learn more about the management of their own woodlands and to help them work together for things like hiring contractors for the various activities required such as thinning, harvesting and road building.

“Most of the farmers who have decided to give over some of their land under the Afforestation Scheme to forestry are first generation foresters. This country is unlike many other European countries, where it is an integral part of agriculture. No knowledge was passed on from father to son. Most people were starting from scratch. This is where the group works really well and is a credit to all the members,” he says.

Awards

The awards are organised by the RDS with support from the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine. Minister Pippa Hackett and RDS president Professor J Owen Lewis presented the awards.

Speaking at the RDS, Minister Hackett said: “The RDS Forestry Awards are a showcase for everything that is good about Irish forests and woodlands. Each year they shine a light on best practice in forestry and highlight the excellent work that is being carried out by farmers, forest owners and community groups around the country to enhance the multi-functional benefits of forests and woodlands.

“Now more than ever, with the renewed calls from COP26 on the importance of taking action on climate change, we need more trees in the ground and through the RDS Awards, we can highlight the positive role that sustainable forests can play in meeting our climate obligations.”

RDS president Professor Lewis said that Ireland’s trees and forests “provide many economic, environmental and social benefits, and bring colour and biodiversity to both our urban and rural areas”.

“It is more important than ever to recognise the work of our farmers and foresters who are contributing to the sustainable development of Irish agriculture, which remains the most important industry in rural Ireland.

“This year’s Irish Forest and Woodland Award winners have achieved a balance between the economic and environmental needs of the sector and are highlighting what is possible when experience is combined with innovation and dedication,” the professor said.