NádúrNua is an Irish-owned impact portfolio of woodlands across Ireland, managed on closer to nature principles. It was founded in 2021 by Aideen O’Byrne and Fred Combe as a response to Ireland having the lowest woodland cover in Europe (11%). NádúrNua’s primary focus is on enhancing biodiversity and increasing the planting of native Irish trees, effectively restoring nature through woodlands. NádúrNua™ is the Irish registered trademark of The Milford Partnership, the Irish legal entity which manages and owns the woodlands. Currently there are thirteen woodlands in the portfolio, almost 840 acres across seven counties in Ireland. Our communication strategy is aimed at documenting NádúrNua’s journey as it transforms woodland habitats across Ireland. It serves hopefully as a soft inspiration to others. This is served mostly through our NádúrNua website, our LinkedIn Page and our Instagram Page.
We are active owners, visiting and monitoring the woodlands on a regular basis. All of the forest management is contracted to NewGen Forestry, whose CEO is John O’Reilly, a highly regarded and experienced forestry professional in Ireland. Aideen, Fred and John cooperate very closely on strategy, acquisitions and day to day management. We are in regular contact with John’s team of foresters and ecologists. Our working style is team-focused, collaborative and innovative. We all share a passion for nature.
The management plan for each woodland identifies what we can do to protect existing biodiversity as well as looking at opportunities to improve biodiversity. We are conserving peatlands and long-established woodlands. To enhance biodiversity, we are installing bird boxes, bat roosting boxes, pine marten boxes and log hives where appropriate. We are planting fruit and seed producing native tree species as well as linseed/oats to provide greater food diversity. Watercourses are protected and ponds are being created. Dead wood is left in the woodlands to support insects and fungi.
To date we have planted around 151,700 trees of which 86% are native Irish trees (mainly Oak, Birch, Alder, Hazel, Rowan and Scot’s Pine). During the Spring 2026 season we will be planting another 100,000 trees, of which 100% are native Irish trees. We are particularly supportive of minor native Irish tree species (Guelder Rose, Aspen, Whitebeam, Spindle, Holly, Crab Apple, Cherry, Hawthorn and Blackthorn) to improve the diversity of our woodland habitats.
We avoid the traditional clear-fell harvesting model in Ireland and promote Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) instead. NádúrNua is following the principles of CCF on its woodlands. This will allow for natural or assisted regeneration, ultimately leading to a more species-diverse and species-aged woodland. This significantly helps enhance biodiversity and increase carbon sequestration. CCF builds woodlands in time that withstand disease, drought and storms by having diverse, uneven-aged trees.
Our intention is to develop the impact portfolio with integrity over the next 15-20 years. We hope to be able to demonstrate additionality in biodiversity and carbon capture across the impact portfolio.
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