Our Forests

An exploration into forestry locally here in Strandhill and the broader Sligo area. What is the current situation? How did we get here? Where is it going? And what could the forests of Sligo look like in an ideal world, and what do we need to do to get there.

We hear from two leading experts Marina Conway and Guy Marsden to delve into this incredibly interesting and important topic.

Marina Conway
Hometree- Head of Woodlands

Marina is a well-known voice for forests in Ireland. She has worked in Government, private sector and as a company director, most recently as the former CEO of Western Forestry Co-op and worked internationally in Government in New Zealand on Forestry in the Emissions Trading Scheme. She was a Member of the Independent Advisory Committee on Irelands Nature Restoration Plan.

Marina has spent the majority of her career in farm forestry, her passion is for farmers, farm families and communities being at the centre of our national forestry policy and that our forests are best served in local and rural ownership. She is especially proud of leading on Ireland’s first Woodland Festival, largest Native Woodland Park and first pioneer birch woodland. She has participated in national committees on forestry including appointed by the Minister to Project Woodland. Marina has a Degree and Masters in Agricultural Science (Forestry), qualifications in Environmental Auditing, Training and Water Pollution Control and is a 2025 Nuffield Scholar.

Guy Marsden
Environmental & Forestry Expert

Following an early career in world wide sea fairing Guy transitioned into Forestry having completed a primary degree at the University of North Wales, Bangor. Working in Snowdonia National Park and with the Landes Forest Direction in Salzberg, enhanced a well-established global perspective. Guy returned with his family to the West of Ireland in 1994. This coincided with the launch of an EU wide afforestation program that continues to influence forestry in Ireland today.

Membership of The Forest Stewardship Council Mexico, Landscape Alliance Ireland, and the Association of Professional Services Overseas (Dept of Foreign Affairs, Ireland) contributed in providing valuable experience in social inclusion whilst working on Development programmes in Central, East & South Africa.

Guy began lecturing at RTC Sligo in 1997 and continued until 2024 retiring from ATU Sligo. Also accredited with running Sligo Farmers Market. “Forestry is not about Trees its’s about people.”