Last week, Lana Moore, Head of Charity Delivery at Action Renewables was delighted to join Landscapes NI on a four-day study visit to County Mayo, bringing together environmental professionals, land managers, community leaders and sustainability advocates to explore some of Ireland’s most innovative landscape restoration and nature recovery projects.

As proud sponsors of Landscapes NI and supporters of the Youth Rangers programme, we recognise the importance of sharing knowledge, building partnerships and learning from successful projects that are helping to address the climate and biodiversity crises.

Exploring Nature Recovery in Action

The study visit began with a stop at Acres Lake in County Leitrim, where participants visited the impressive floating boardwalk and learned about the site’s approach to balancing visitor access with environmental protection. This provided an excellent introduction to the themes that would run throughout the trip: sustainable recreation, habitat restoration and community engagement.

Restoring Ireland’s Holy Mountain

Day two focused on Croagh Patrick, one of Ireland’s most iconic landscapes and a site that welcomes thousands of visitors every year.

The group heard from the Croagh Patrick Ambassadors and stakeholders involved in the ongoing restoration programme. Discussions highlighted the extensive path restoration works that are helping to protect fragile mountain vegetation while maintaining access for walkers and pilgrims. A key takeaway was the importance of engaging directly with those who use the landscape, ensuring that conservation efforts are supported and understood by visitors.

Volunteers also play a vital role in the success of the project, demonstrating how local stewardship can make a significant contribution to long-term environmental protection.

Coastal and Freshwater Restoration

The visit continued to Bertra Beach, where participants explored coastal dune restoration projects and learned about efforts to promote sustainable and responsible outdoor recreation.

The group also heard about freshwater nature recovery initiatives, including work taking place at Lough Carra. These projects demonstrate how targeted interventions can improve ecosystem health, enhance biodiversity and increase resilience to climate change.

From protecting sensitive dune systems to restoring freshwater habitats, the projects showcased the benefits of taking a landscape-scale approach to conservation.

Active Travel and Dark Skies

One of the highlights of the visit was cycling along sections of the Great Western Greenway, one of Ireland’s most successful active travel routes.

The greenway provided an opportunity to see how recreation, tourism and environmental protection can work together to create benefits for local communities. Along the route, the group visited Newport to learn about the town’s ambitious Dark Sky initiative.

Reducing light pollution not only improves opportunities for stargazing but also benefits wildlife, supports biodiversity and enhances community awareness of the natural environment. It was an inspiring example of how relatively simple changes can deliver significant environmental gains.

Large-Scale Peatland Restoration at Wild Nephin

The third day was spent at Wild Nephin National Park, where participants witnessed some of Ireland’s most ambitious habitat restoration projects.

The visit included the Claggan Mountain boardwalk restoration project, discussions around the challenges posed by intentional fires, and a look at developing native tree nurseries and invasive species management programmes.

Particular attention was given to the large-scale blanket bog restoration work at Merlin Park, recognised as one of the largest restoration projects of its kind in Ireland. The group learned about innovative partnerships between public bodies and private landowners, including projects that are transforming former forestry sites back into functioning peatland ecosystems.

These restored bogs play a critical role in carbon storage, biodiversity protection, flood management and climate resilience, making them one of the most valuable natural assets in our fight against climate change.

Nature-Friendly Farming in Practice

On the final day, the group stopped in West Fermanagh to visit Ulster Wildlife’s nature-friendly farming demonstration site.

The visit showcased how productive agriculture and thriving wildlife can coexist. Participants saw practical examples of habitat creation, biodiversity enhancement and sustainable land management, demonstrating that environmental protection and farming can work hand in hand.

Collaboration for a More Sustainable Future

Throughout the visit, one message came through consistently: successful landscape restoration depends on collaboration.

Whether restoring mountain paths, revitalising peatlands, protecting coastal habitats or supporting nature-friendly farming, each project demonstrated the value of bringing together communities, landowners, environmental organisations, public agencies and volunteers.

At Action Renewables, we know that achieving a more sustainable future requires exactly this kind of partnership working. The lessons shared during the Landscapes NI study visit reinforce the importance of practical action, community engagement and long-term commitment in addressing both climate change and biodiversity loss.

We would like to thank Mike McClure from Landscapes NI for organising an exceptional study visit, and extend our gratitude to Leave No Trace Ireland, Mountaineering Ireland, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Ulster Wildlife and all those who shared their expertise and experiences throughout the week.

The projects we visited provide a powerful reminder that meaningful environmental change is already happening across our island, and that by learning from one another, we can accelerate progress towards a greener, more resilient future.

 

by Lana Moore