REVEALED: Large-scale forest restoration begins at Tipperary forest to combat Ash dieback

A large-scale woodland restoration project is under way in west Tipperary, as forestry company NádúrNua begins the transformation of a disease-stricken plantation at Knockphelagh into a diverse native forest.

NádúrNua was founded in 2021 by Aideen O’Byrne and Fred Combe, and the company is focused on restoring native woodlands and enhancing biodiversity across Ireland.

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The Knockphelagh site, spanning 78 acres, has emerged as a flagship example of that ambition in practice.
At the heart of the project lies the removal of 63 acres of ash trees devastated by Ash dieback, a fungal disease caused by Hymenoscyphus fraxineus.

First identified in Ireland in 2012, the disease has spread widely, with up to 90 per cent of ash trees predicted to succumb.
“The reality at Knockphelagh was stark,” Ms O’Byrne said.

“There was no viable block of woodland untouched by disease. It had become, in effect, a dying monoculture.”
The decision to remove the affected trees entirely was not taken lightly.

Forestry guidelines discourage retaining diseased stands, both for safety and ecological reasons, although individual trees showing signs of resistance may be preserved.

Clearance has been approved under the State’s reconstitution scheme, which supports landowners dealing with the outbreak.
In the short term, the work involves road construction and timber harvesting, activities that can bring some disruption. However, Ms O’Byrne argues that the existing plantation offers limited ecological value in its current condition.

“Ash dieback leaves behind a hazardous environment, with falling timber and a forest floor choked with briars,” she said. “It has lost much of its capacity to sequester carbon.”

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Mitigation measures are central to the harvesting process including buffer zones along watercourses, the use of brash mats to protect soil, and strict controls on machinery.

Deadwood will also be retained to support fungi, insects and birdlife during the transition.

The harvested timber will be repurposed as biomass and firewood, an approach Ms O’Byrne frames within the broader circular bioeconomy.

While debate continues around biomass as an energy source, she emphasises the distinction between releasing recently absorbed carbon and burning fossil fuels.

Replanting will begin later this year, with approximately 60,000 native trees including oak, birch, hazel, alder and rowan to replace the lost ash trees.

The remaining 15 acres of Norwegian spruce will be managed under continuous cover forestry, allowing for gradual regeneration without clear felling.

The expectation is that biodiversity will recover relatively quickly.
Evidence from similar sites managed by the company points to a resurgence of wildlife to the area within about two years, including certain birds of prey and native mammals.

Success, however, will be measured over decades rather than seasons.
By 2040, the company predicts a multi-species, multi-aged woodland, combining ecological resilience with a sustainable timber resource.

“It’s about working with nature rather than against it,” Ms O’Byrne said. “If you give it the opportunity, it can recover faster than you might expect.”

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