A new partnership has been established with Lions Club throughout the Just Transition Territory. Lions Clubs are voluntary organisations; their members are ordinary people from all walks of life who give their time freely to serve their community and beyond through support and aid. Tóchar’s partnership with the Lions Clubs will support wetlands restoration projects at a community level, harnessing local knowledge and expertise.

Under the partnership, €250,000 per year will be allocated for 2025 and 2026, to support restoration projects identified by Lions Clubs. They will manage the restoration of the wetlands and will be guided by Tóchar’s expertise. There is huge knowledge and expertise within the Lions Club memberships to deliver on these projects. One club which has already demonstrated this leadership is the Tullamore Lions Club, who undertook nature restoration works at Clonbeale More Bog in 2024.

The funding available from Tóchar will help the Clubs expand their commitment to serving local communities. By working together this can have a real impact by restoring nature which benefits local areas by enhancing biodiversity in the region. The members of the Tullamore Lions Club are actively encouraging other clubs across the Just Transition Territory to get involved in this important initiative. Their work on Clonbeale show cases how such groups can have a real impact on nature conservation and restoration.

Partnering with established networks and organisations like the Lion’s Club is a priority of Tóchar. Tóchar’s approach to wetlands restoration is based on inclusivity, aiming to strengthen and support communities while restoring natural habitats. The clubs provide a trusted network throughout the midlands of Ireland who can play a crucial role in the country’s ecology restoring biodiverse areas which are unique to Ireland and cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Lions Clubs throughout the region are actively seeking to work with private landowners or communities on wetlands to replicate the fantastic restoration work achieved by the Tullamore Lions. If you would like to discuss a possible restoration project in your area please contact one of the Tóchar tocharwetlands@npws.gov.ie or your local Lion’s Club.

Tóchar has joined with a project from the National Women’s Council of Ireland, the Feminist Communities for Climate Justice to form a working group and network to advocate for Women in Nature Restoration. This exciting new initiative, brings together the critical intersecting principles of justice and women in this time of a green transition. The group is open to all.

When “we restore the land, the land restores us” writes Robin Wall Kimmerer in her beautiful treatise about nature and connectivity, titled Braiding Sweetgrass. The Tóchar Midlands Wetland Restoration Projects hopes to inspire an increase in participation in nature restoration through the Feminist Communities for Climate network.

Wetlands have been essential parts of the lives of women for centuries. Made famous by our very own female icon St. Brigid, rushes had widespread domestic purposes, being widely used as floor covering, comfort for sitting, and light as the pith for candles. Similarly moss, the essential building block for bogs and fens, was used for baby’s nappies and as sanitary napkins for menstruation. The properties of sphagnum mosses, which can hold at least twenty times its’ weight in water makes it a fine nappy for babies, as does the air spaces in dried moss which can wick the moisture away from the baby’s skin. It is also mildly antiseptic. Both types of plant – rushes and mosses were essential everyday tools, mainly in the hands of women.

The establishment of the Women in Nature Restoration network is in its infancy but the aims of the group are to

1. Foster and nurture a vibrant community of women leading in nature restoration and the Just Transition.
2. Build connections among women and feminist leaders to amplify the strength and impact of the movement.
3. Provide resources and support for women to innovate, lead, and implement practical solutions in restoration work.

We aim to create a supportive, solution-driven network where women can thrive as leaders, entrepreneurs, and change-makers in restoring nature. Together, we can share knowledge, highlight best practices, and shape a restoration movement that is inclusive, equitable, and impactful.

If you wish to join the group or require any further information please contact Shirley Clerkin, Program Manager at shirley.clerkin@npws.gov.ie or visit the project website at www.tocharwetlands.ie and link to the network through the Nation Women’s Council Website.