About

I think I must have sap running through my veins. I come alive in the company of trees.  Forestry is my one big passion.

I’m interested in how trees group together in a natural forest to help the whole forest survive and flourish.  I’m interested in the natural succession of species and how the ones that appear early in the list create just the right conditions for those that follow.

What fascinates me is how a highly evolved forest will work hand in hand with nature to keep itself healthy, vibrant and beautiful. And that a forest such as this is capable of supplying man’s greedy need for timber without being damaged itself.

What motivates me is the fact that Ireland imports hardwood timber, especially from tropical countries.  We don’t grow our own hardwood timber here.  Do the sums.  How many times do we have to read things like “an area of tropical forest the size of Croagh Park gets cleared every second” before it sinks in that maybe, just maybe, you and I have something to do with this.

You know all these softwood plantations growing in Ireland?  Fine in themselves, but 99%  of them are heading towards eventual clear fell.  Ugly looking; sudden change for wildlife; not inspiring to walk through; only supply softwood.  I want to see those forests become something wonderful, – and profitable.  I want to be a part of that change. And I want to bring you along with me.

Significant dates:

1953 –             Born

1969 –            Left School

1978 –           Left Australia

1979 –          Moved to Ireland

1986 –         Founded Crann

1989 –       Appointed to Board of Coillte Teo

2000 –      Went to launch of Pro Silva Ireland and

heard Prof. Hans-Jurgen Otto speak

about Close-to-Nature forestry

Ever since –   Travel twice a year to other European countries with Pro SiIva Ireland and attend every event Pro Silva Ireland offers in order to learn more about how to manage forests using ‘close-to-nature’ forest management principles.

Jan Alexander at one of her forest tending workshops on her farm in Cavan in July 2008

I offer close-to-nature forest management to forest owners

in ‘the greater South Leitrim area’.  I also run workshops at my

own forest near Bawnboy, Co. Cavan and elsewhere on request.