Gearóid Ó Foighil and Jenny Fahy posing in front of their newly-constructed pond at Ballintemple, South Offaly, which was put in place with support from biodiversity project The Hare's Corner. Applications for the project in Offaly will be open from January 1 until January 18.

'Hare's Corner' biodiversity project returns to Offaly

Published: Tue 16 Dec 2025, 1:16 PM

Offaly County Council is encouraging landowners in the county to apply for a biodiversity project which can help support the creation of wildlife ponds, mini-woodlands, hedgerows or mini-orchards on their land.

'The Hare's Corner' is the name of the biodiversity initiative developed by the nonprofit organisation Burrenbeo Trust.

Last year, a successful collaboration between Offaly County Council and the Burrenbeo Trust saw a total of 212 'Hare's Corner' biodiversity habitats being created across the county.

The initiative takes its name from the old farming expression for an awkward section of a field which wasn’t intensively farmed and was therefore left to nature.

Gearóid Ó Foighil and Jenny Fahy from Ballintemple, South Offaly, were among those who took part last year, applying to The Hare’s Corner for help in developing a wildlife pond to widen the biodiversity on their land and attract wildlife.

Jenny said: "Open water sources are rare in the area; the surrounding landscape is being drained and 'improved' for agricultural purposes. So, a pond will create new habitat value and allow for valuable and unique ecology to establish and thrive for future generations.

"It will also help off-set adverse impacts of the surrounding land changes. A pond will meet the needs of a range of species from birds to dragon flies, amphibian and mammal," she added.

Offaly is one of ten counties involved in The Hare’s Corner project this year. Applications open on January 1, and close on Sunday, January 18. Anyone interested can apply via theharescorner.ie. The website also offers practical tips, infographics and short videos aimed at helping people to create their own Hare’s Corners.

The ‘menu’ of supports available from The Hare’s Corner includes – a mini-woodland (a mix of 50 native trees and advice) , a wildlife hedge (a mix of 50 native trees and advice), a heritage orchard (5 heritage apple trees and advice), a wildlife pond (hydrologist advice and some expenses towards machinery costs), and a ‘Plan for Nature’ (a visit and advice from a Hare’s Corner advisor on how to enhance nature on your site).

Lee Worrell, The Hare's Corner Coordinator, says: "We are delighted to be back in Offaly in 2026 after having such a highly successful first year in the county.

"It has been heartening for us to see the amount of interest The Hare’s Corner generates up and down the country.

"From day one, it has been consistently oversubscribed, which clearly demonstrates the appetite people in Ireland have for becoming involved in biodiversity initiatives."

Ricky Whelan, Biodiversity Officer, Offaly County Council, said: "The Hare's Corner has seen farmers, schools, community groups and homeowners all get involved to create vital habitats such as wildlife ponds and native hedgerows in spaces they own and manage.

"I invite anyone who owns or manages a piece of ground to make an application to the project in 2026 so we can see more hares’ corners created in Offaly."