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.

2026 APPLICATIONS CLOSED

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.

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.

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.

Louise Laing

The Hare's Corner Officer

Louise is a project manager and has worked with universities, charities and non-profits in Ireland and the UK. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Sussex and post-grad certification in Project Management. She has conducted and administered research in the life sciences and social sciences. Louise is originally from the Sussex South Downs and now lives in the Burren in County Clare. where she grows vegetables.

Fiach Byrne

The Hare's Corner Officer

With a background in Ecology, Fiach is most passionate about restoring nature at a landscape-scale by working alongside landowners, farmers and communities. Through his work, Fiach aims to connect people to the landscape and wildlife in their local area and to support them in caring for their locality. Having joined Burrenbeo in 2026, he looks forward to supporting the Hare’s Corner Project by working with participants and advisors to deliver high-quality actions for nature.

Sheenagh Franklin

The Hare's Corner Officer

With a background in Architecture, Sheenagh’s work has always focused on People, Place and Landscape. Originally from the Mourne Mountains in County Down, she has been living in the Burren for over 13 years and has a strong connection to the land, the people and the communities. Having joined the Hare’s Corner team in 2026 she looks forward to supporting them in their programme which shows the potential of how small acts for nature can make impactful and meaningful change.

Pranjali Bhave

Impact Research

Pranjali helped kickstart The Hare’s Corner initiative in 2021 as part of Burrenbeo’s conservation work. She is currently working alongside The Hare’s Corner team as part of her PhD research focusing on the impact of Burrenbeo’s stewardship-based biodiversity initiatives. Prior to this, she managed Burrenbeo’s communications work, coordination of its conservation projects – The Hare’s Corner and The Burren Pine Project and facilitation of its monthly and annual events. With a background in life sciences and postgraduate qualifications in natural history communications, Pranjali has previously worked as a media professional producing stories on biodiversity, agriculture and social impact.

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.