The Hare's Corner

About

The term ‘Hare’s Corner’ is an old farming expression for the corner of a field or an area of rough or wet ground which wasn’t intensively farmed, and so instead was ‘left to nature’, becoming a refuge for wildlife. Inspired by this term, this initiative, run by Burrenbeo Trust aims to provide practical support to landowners to create new habitats for wildlife.

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The Hare’s Corner Actions

We provide practical and hassle-free support to participating landowners to take actions for nature – such as creation of mini-woodlands, heritage orchards, wildlife ponds, wildlife hedges and preparation of bespoke ‘plans for nature’. Support is offered in the form of materials (trees), micro-funding (towards machinery costs for pond digging) and free bespoke professional advice (for ponds and plans for nature) along with guidance and training events. Hundreds of new hare’s corners are being created through this initiative every year. Take a look at our impact to date through this Actions Map.

Actions Map

Meet the team

The Hare’s Corner is a biodiversity initiative run by Burrenbeo Trust, a national non-profit organisation based in the Burren. Our mission is to support landowners to create more space for nature through local, tangible and achievable actions. Please see below the Burrenbeo staff that help deliver The Hare’s Corner initiative.

Lee Worrell

The Hare’s Corner Coordinator

Lee looks after project coordination and actions delivery, liaising with participants as well as The Hare’s Corner advisors. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Biology where she focused on Ecology. She has over 10 years of experience working in NGOs as a Naturalist Educator. Moving to Ireland in March 2020, she has previously worked as a Raptor handler and Tour guide in Clare – leading and educating the general public at the Cliffs of Moher and around the Burren. Lee has been a part of the Hare’s Corner team since October 2022 where she has helped hundreds of landowners in numerous counties around Ireland create wildlife ponds, heritage orchards, native woodlands, receive their plans for nature, and absolutely loves being a part of this project where she feels a bit like a Santa Claus of conservation (thanks due to those who fund the project and allow us to deliver these wonderful actions).

Fionn Doyle-Chowen

The Hare's Corner Officer

Born and raised in the Burren, Fionn has seen firsthand the positive impact of Burrenbeo’s work on both the landscape and its communities. After completing an undergraduate degree in Social Sciences in Dublin, she spent some years in Germany studying Agricultural and Natural Resource Management and working on a regenerative market garden. Upon returning to Ireland, she completed an MSc in Biodiversity and Conservation and moved back to the Burren to join the Hare’s Corner team. Her role now includes developing educational resources for participants, managing data, and hosting the monthly Hare’s Corner Clinic. Fionn has a strong interest in the relationship between people and nature, and how they can mutually support one another.

Pranjali Bhave

The Hare's Corner Communications and Funding

Pranjali helped kickstart The Hare’s Corner initiative in 2021 as part of Burrenbeo’s conservation work. She currently manages communications, fundraising and reporting for the project. She is also involved in facilitation of other programmes for Burrenbeo Trust such as its monthly and annual events and its other conservation initiative – The Burren Pine Project. With a background in life sciences and postgraduate qualifications in social and natural history communications, Pranjali has previously worked as a media professional producing stories on biodiversity, agriculture and social impact. She also has experience developing educational media and has worked as a mentor in community-based training projects in Galway.

Sharon Parr

The Hare's Corner Scientific Advisor

After a previous life as a veterinary parasitologist, Sharon has spent 22 years working the the Burren, first mapping habitats and then on the development of results-based agri-environmental programmes. As part of Burrenbeo’s Hare’s Corner initiative, she has spent the past three years combining her love of nature with the lessons learned working in the Burren to develop and direct The Hare’s Corner ‘Plan for Nature’ actions.

Brendan Dunford

Advisor for The Hare's Corner (Voluntary)

Brendan has guided and advised on The Hare’s Corner initiative on a voluntary basis since its inception. From a farming background in Co. Waterford, Brendan has spent the past 25 years living and working in the Burren where he led the award-winning BurrenLIFE Project and its successor, the pioneering ‘Burren Programme’ between 2010-2022. Brendan is founding member the Burrenbeo Trust which delivers an extensive range of place-based learning and community stewardship initiatives nationally, including Farming For Nature and Heritage Keepers. Brendan is a former board member of the Heritage Council, the EPA Advisory Committee and the European Forum on Nature Conservation and Pastoralism. He is an Ashoka Fellow for Ireland and was awarded an honorary doctorate by NUI Galway in 2018 for his work in championing farmland biodiversity. He is a regular contributor to the Irish Farmers Journal covering ‘sustainability’ themes.