Minister Michael Creed recently announced the opening of the GLAS traditional farm buildings scheme for 2019.

“This scheme funds the restoration and preservation of traditional farm buildings and structures of significant heritage value that are conserved for agricultural use,” he said.

Administered by the Heritage Council on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the scheme aims to support the restoration of traditional farm buildings and related structures, such as historic yard surfaces, walls, gate pillars and gates on farms, while at the same time allowing these buildings a renewed practical use.

These buildings and features illustrate Ireland’s strong masonry culture, which contrasts with some European countries with well established forest and wood cultures.

These include Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany and Austria, that use wood – sawn and log – in a wide range of farm buildings.

While the GLAS mainly applies to buildings in agricultural use, there may be opportunities in the future to broaden it to include restoration of abandoned farmhouses and traditional farm buildings that could be converted for residential use.

Growing industry

There are examples of creative restoration of farmhouses and lodges incorporating timber and masonry in Ireland.

Donaghy and Dimond Architects restored a gate lodge in Tibradden, Co Dublin, using Himalayan cedar sourced from nearby trees that although dying, were rescued in time for use.

This project was a collaboration between owner, architect, local builders and woodworkers.

Such use of wood in a building prolongs its life as a carbon sink, while the owner also availed of the afforestation scheme to establish a woodland nearby to continue the theme of sustainability and carbon sequestration.

There are also possibilities of designing new, green buildings on the farm totally in wood, such as a barn by Mark Donnelly Wood Design built on the grounds of Blarney Castle in 2013.

Using wood sourced around the estate, the barn utilised larch planks for cladding and oak for the support structure, which is roofed with corrugated iron.

The roof has an underlay of timber planks to facilitate the roosting of bats at one end of the barn, while a purpose-built loft opposite has a nesting box for barn owls.

The inclusion of schemes such as these would begin the process of creating a wood culture in Ireland, especially on farms that have well established woodlands and forests and where wood is available for use either in standalone design projects or utilised with masonry.

Eligible applicants for the scheme are chosen on a competitive basis and around 50 to 70 projects will be supported each year

In the meantime there will be opportunities to use wood creatively in the restoration of farm buildings that qualify for the new GLAS.

It has a total funding budget of €6m, with grants between €4,000 and €25,000 for individual projects to cover up to 75% of the restoration work.

Eligible applicants for the scheme are chosen on a competitive basis and around 50 to 70 projects will be supported each year. The closing date is 19 February.

Further information is available on the Heritage Council website (www.heritagecouncil.ie/projects/traditional-farm-buildings-grant-scheme).

Study on forestry in Co Leitrim announced

Minister of State Andrew Doyle has commissioned an independent study on the forestry sector in Co Leitrim “in response to calls for a review of the effects of afforestation in the county”. The study will be led by Dr Áine Ní Dhubháin, senior lecturer in agriculture and forestry at the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science.

The terms of reference for the study will be finalised shortly and the report will be concluded by late summer this year.

“I have discussed this matter with the IFA and have agreed with its request for a study to be undertaken,” Minister Doyle told members of IFA at their AGM.

“There are widely differing, and often contradictory, claims reported about the economic, social and environmental impacts of land use change to forestry.

“It’s important that these claims are evidence based and the goal of this study is to review some of the common claims and perceptions made about forestry in Co Leitrim.”

“We are hoping the terms of reference will be wide enough to take account of all aspects of forestry and afforestation in the county,” said a spokesperson from Save Leitrim, and that it will “look at the impacts on communities, business, health, environment, biodiversity, water quality and all the other impacts on our county because we are the most heavily afforested county in Ireland with conifers”.

Minister Doyle said it is important to emphasise that there are no regional or county targets for forestry.

“This study will also engage with local communities and assess the impacts of forestry, both positive and negative. I am sure all stakeholders will take this opportunity to engage and I would encourage full participation.”