Enhance the forest experience for our community and visitors alike.
To build a community of Friends of Portumna forest and shift the balance to sustainability in our community
Goals
To develop a community of Friends of the Portumna Forest
Assist in Forest education for adults and children alike so that we can all learn about the natural ecosystem first hand, and develop a respect for its magic and majesty.
Help Coillte maintain its trails and cultural resources
Reduce environmental impact damage by increasing human impact
Enhance the forest experience for visitors and residents alike
Record the forest ecosystem as it changes from season to season.
To move our community toward a sustainable and equitable level of resource use by ensuring that key environmental limits are reflected in policy, law and practice at all levels.
To inspire and empower our community to take grassroots action and to actively participate in Friends of the Forest campaigns.
To build greater understanding and closer working relationships on sustainability between communities and organisations on the island of Ireland.
Who are the Friends of the Portumna Forest Park?
Tree Huggers, of course! Especially our local trees! And you are! And just as the forest we love is made up of a great variety of plants and animals interacting and growing together, so is this group a collection of many individuals with many special talents and concerns, who are brought together, simply by our love of Portumna Forest Park.
The Friends of Portumna Forest Park was formally founded in July 2019, but needless to say has been in existence for centuries!
We are just like you, and we are committed to the perpetual preservation of the Portumna Forest Park.
Values
We believe in sustainable development - meeting the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
We believe in environmental limits - there are definite limits to what we can take from the natural environment and to the pollution and waste we can dump into the environment.
We believe in evidence based solutions to environmental problems that make life better for people while protecting the planet for future generations.
We believe in promoting people's actions, individual and collective, local, national and international, to tackle the environmental challenges we face.
Education
The centre piece of the Friend’s mission is forest education. We will strive to connect our community of all ages to the forest. We believe that the long term health and preservation of our forest depends on the strength of this connection.
All of our education activities will be shared on this page to help guide participants to a deeper understanding of what is present in the woods.
From adult field trips, photography field trips, forest bathing, birdwatching, youth day camps, forest runs, forest cycles, we will amplify every event designed for you to get to know your forest. If you are holding a public event at the Forest, feel free to share it on our page.
We strive always to cooperate with An Coillte and to resolve controversies without confrontation. Our stewardship activities are conducted in cooperation with Coillte and Galway County Council. Our mutual efforts include litter pick up, user group education, habitat and “Adopt a Trail.
There are many ways that you can help take care of the woods. Individual efforts at litter pick up and problem reporting are always welcome.
Friends of Portumna Forest Park is for all who are dedicated to maintaining, protecting, and restoring the scenic beauty of our Portumna Forest Park area for the enjoyment and use of present and future generations.
By building a partnership with An Coillte, Galway County Council and Friends of the Forest volunteers will help fill the gap between needs and resources.
We will learn from each other, from Coillte personnel, and from experts in wilderness skills, trees, flora, fauna, and the natural ecosystem of the forest.
You will be directly helping to preserve one of the most beautiful natural resources in the country.
Like our page and watch this space!
