John Joe Dunne, from Mountmellick and Kenneth Worrell and Eoin Worrell, from Worrell Harvesting Ltd in Mountrath, have been shortlisted in the RDS Forestry Awards.
These awards recognise and reward farmers and woodland owners that have adopted Climate-Smart Agricultural practices on their properties.
These practices include sound commercial management, environmental protection, and biodiversity.
The twin goals of promoting the economic and environmental benefits of good forestry and farming, are fundamental to what the RDS hopes to achieve through its agriculture and rural affairs programme.
The awards will take place on Thursday 10th April as part of the ‘Finding Common Ground’ festival in the RDS in Dublin.
Two Laois woodlands have been shortlisted in these prestigious awards for the Silvicultural Excellence Category, which aims to recognise excellence in the management of a forest (broadleaf, conifer, mixed or coppice) where timber production is the main management objective.
John Joe Dunne has been diligently developing the woodland to enhance the sustainability of his farm.
He believes the maturing forest will provide financial, social and environmental benefits for future generations of his family.
While Worrell Harvesting Ltd is a family-run business with 20 years experience in the forestry industry.
Eoin and Kenneth’s forest at Cloncourse, Mountrath, Co. Laois comprises of a large block of timber planted at different intervals over a number of years.
This site is an excellent example of the benefits of using Specified Biomass Harvesting as a method of harvesting.
The ‘Finding Common Ground’ festival, which takes place over two days in the RDS in Ballsbridge, is being delivered as one of the RDS Foundation social impact programmes.
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