Homevalue is a proud member of Guaranteed Irish, is delighted to support the planting of the first Guaranteed Irish Forest.
This project will establish a 12-hectare haven of native Irish trees near the picturesque village of Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny, embodying a shared commitment to biodiversity, climate action, and the enrichment of local communities. The inaugural tree planting event will feature saplings of iconic Irish native species such as Oak, Birch, and Holly.
This initiative is part of Guaranteed Irish wider commitment to encourage climate action engagement and increase biodiversity. Once mature, the forest will be open to local communities to enjoy as an additional green space, benefiting both mental and physical health. These efforts align with national goals to increase forest cover in Ireland, where only 11% of the land is forested compared to the European average of 33.5%. Guaranteed Irish membership shows commitment from businesses based in Ireland to provide quality jobs, while supporting the local community
Why Native Irish Trees?
Native trees like Oak, Birch, and Holly are vital to Ireland’s ecosystem. Oaks alone can support over 2,300 species, including birds, insects, and fungi. Holly provides food and shelter for birds during the winter, while Birch improves soil health and absorbs carbon dioxide, helping combat climate change and enabling other species to thrive. Planting native trees not only restores Ireland’s natural woodlands but also contributes to carbon sequestration, improves soil quality, and enhances local air and water systems.
Homevalue’s Commitment to Sustainability
Guaranteed Irish members, United Hardware Limited (UHL), the DIY and hardware group which supplies and operates the Homevalue brand in Ireland, is proactively working with stakeholders to develop a more sustainable built environment and to support the transformation of the Irish building, construction, and property sector into a global leader in quality and sustainability. The United Hardware owned brand Homevalue, is one of Irelands leading DIY, Hardware, and Homeware groups with a network of over 90 Guaranteed Irish-accredited stores nationwide. United Hardware is also a member of the Irish Green Building Council and has committed to identifying and proposing new solutions to challenges and opportunities faced in Irish building, renovating, and upgrading homes and businesses, and to accelerate the transformation of the built environment, related industry, and supply-chain to one that is sustainable. As part of this, United Hardware is driving sustainable engagement with their customers and is encouraging the public to engage with their builder, tradesperson, or even local builders’ providers, regarding the steps they can take to make their homes more sustainable now, and into the future.
Clemence Jamet, Sustainability Manager at Guaranteed Irish, expressed her excitement about the project, stating:
“Guaranteed Irish is thrilled to mark this important milestone today in our dedication to Ireland’s communities and their local environment. Along with the support of our participating Guaranteed Irish members, we are proud to establish this legacy project. The Guaranteed Irish Forest is one initiative within our sustainability strategy that encourages our members to support biodiversity and climate action, benefitting our environment and creating social impact in our local communities.”
Guaranteed Irish invites its members and the wider public to join in celebrating this milestone initiative that underscores the importance of collaboration in building a sustainable future for Ireland.
The Guaranteed Irish Forest is an initiative in partnership with The Nature Trust, a not-for-profit organisation backed by Coillte. Their mission to plant open-access woodlands and restore Ireland’s natural habitats aligns seamlessly with Guaranteed Irish’s vision. The Nature Trust will plant and nurture the forest, ensuring its growth into a thriving woodland.
