Paul Maguire

Paul Maguire shares how forestry transformed not only his 72-acre farm, but his sense of purpose and contentment. Farming land traditionally used for rough grazing and bog in the west of Ireland, Paul initially expanded cattle production after inheriting the farm in 1992. But after years of hard work with little financial return, he began rethinking his approach. With a background in furniture design and a deep appreciation for timber, he saw new potential in trees, particularly hardwoods. Rather than following the common route of planting Sitka spruce, Paul chose to focus on native hardwood species better suited to the land and more aligned with his long-term vision. He highlights how deeper-rooted hardwoods proved more resilient during storm events, compared to shallow-rooted spruce plantations on wet ground. Over time, he expanded his forestry under grant-aided schemes, including the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme, planting native Irish oak and birch while protecting and enhancing areas of ancient Atlantic rainforest already on his land. He adopted a continuous cover forestry approach, ensuring the forest will never be clear-felled all at once, but managed sustainably over generations. Beyond timber production, Paul sees forestry as a multi-purpose asset. He hosts peer-to-peer farm walks to share knowledge with other landowners and is exploring opportunities in forest education, community access initiatives, and forest therapy. Land that once supported only a handful of cattle for a few weeks each year is now economically viable, ecologically rich, and full of new possibilities. For Paul, forestry has brought more than income; it has brought peace of mind. He believes the land is returning to what it once was: a thriving natural ecosystem. With today’s support schemes, he sees forestry as a way to restore environmental richness while building a sustainable future, proving that handing land back to nature can be both financially and personally rewarding.