MANCH PROJECT
The Manch Estate is a private woodland estate of 320 acres in County Cork, Ireland. The INFF leased Manch in 2006 and it has become the base for all operations for the INFF and more recently for the Green Economy Foundation.
Manch is home to:
- The Green Economy Foundation office and headquarters.
- The education centre and classrooms.
- The Victorian walled garden, restored as a biodiversity garden with living willow sculptures, aged fruit trees and many species of flora and fauna.
- A rare area of ancient woodland and other mature woodland.
- Extensive hedgerow establishment, restoration and management programme.
- Forestry trials including our woodland establishment trials and oak provenance and progency trials.
- 25 kilometers of pathways comprising woodland and riparian walks. Regular guided walks vary in theme from biodiversity to local heritage and history.
The Manch Project involves many different aspects of land management. We have carried out research on the estate, opened up access to our growing membership and hosted many open days, events and workshops. We bring together often disparate groups such as farmers, landowners, NGO’s, environmental groups, private businesses and the Forest Service to inform broad and fair debate on sustainable development in forestry and other related industries.
Woodland establishment, maintenance & research.
Current projects at Manch are based around monitoring and maintenance of the woodland and tree-cover on the estate.
- Areas of existing ancient and mature woodland are being restored and re-structured using systems and timescales that allow for minimal disturbance and give flora and fauna the best possible chance of adapting to any changes.
- With many old hedgerows already on the estate, we have worked at restoring and managing overgrown hedges, establishing new hedgerows and adding demonstrations of different hedgelaying techniques at appropriate places.
- Areas that were previously under tillage or grassland have been planted using techniques that INFF wished to investigate and promote. Two such regimes are the ‘Shelter Well System’ and ‘Matrix Planting’.
- Trials of different planting techniques and species mix for riparian zone management.
- Coppice establishment for short and longer rotations for sustainable sources firewood, small diameter timber and other materials.
- Oak provenance and progeny trials: Manch is the location of one of three national oak trials put in place in 2006. For more details on the oak trials please click here.
Maps of demonstration plots at Manch.
Go to a map of Manch Estate by clicking here
Go to map of the “Back Graphs Field” by clicking here
Go to a map of the “Injunction Field” by clicking here
PLANTED 2 MILLION TREES
Trees on the Land is a cross-border initiative from the Green Economy Foundation. The project works to establish young native trees at sites across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
We run an annual tree planting event where landowners across the 32 counties turn out to plant their trees on a selected Saturday in February. We are currently co-ordinating our next planting day – Saturday 15th February 2020.
Trees on the Land provides simple schemes for landowners to access quality native tree mixes each season. We work with farmers, smallholders, community groups, councils, schools, colleges and many other landowners to coordinate sites to accommodate trees.
We plant small woodlands, coppices, orchards, hedgerows, shelter belts, agroforestry projects, reforestation sites and larger woodlands. The project has planted over a million trees since 2013.
For more information please see www.treesontheland.com
EDUCATION
In its stunning setting at the Manch Estate on the banks of the River Bandon, the Education Centre at The Green Economy Foundation offers a wide range of courses or Primary Schools, Secondary Schools and Third Level as well as for Activity Groups.
We have a strong commitment to environmental education which promotes understanding from hands–on experience and activity.
Choose an option for information on our Course Programmes.
