Wildacres Nature Reserve

Brian O’Toole and Gilly Taylor bought 17.5 acres of heavily grazed farmland in Wicklow in 2017 and set about handing it to nature. They have since planted over 15,000 native Irish trees, established eight acres of new woodland and two and a half kilometres of hedgerow, dug 52 wildlife ponds, let fourteen acres go to wildflower meadow, reinstated a kilometre of riparian zone along the Redcross river and planted an orchard of Irish heritage apple varieties. Another 16.5 acres came in 2025. Pine marten, red kite, kingfisher and great spotted woodpecker have all turned up.

Wildacres is an environmental social enterprise, and every euro from tours, workshops and produce goes back into the land. It sits near Brittas Bay, about an hour south of Dublin. Visits are on a booked guided tour, workshop or open day rather than by walking in. What’s on carries the current dates.