Dunsany Nature Reserve is Ireland’s only recognised large-scale rewilding project, led by Randal Plunkett. Spanning 1,600 acres in County Meath, it focuses on restoring natural habitats and supporting diverse wildlife, including red deer, otters, badgers, and birds of prey. This ongoing effort is transforming the estate into a thriving ecological haven, with 750 acres actively rewilded and additional forested and marshy areas.
As Ireland’s pioneering rewilding initiative, Dunsany Nature Reserve offers visitors a unique opportunity to witness the power of nature’s regeneration.
The Dunsany Estate, which dates back to the 11th century and is located around 35 kilometres northwest of Dublin, covers 1600 acres (650 hectares) – of this about 750 acres (300 hectares) is now being rewilded as the reserve. There is also around 550 acres (220 hectares) of forest, and there are several springs and streams flowing through marshy areas. The land not forested or being rewilded is used to grow crops.
At Dunsany Estate, our vision is to create a regenerative and reconnected world where people and planet thrive together.
As the largest rewilding project in Ireland, we aim to establish Dunsany Estate as a beacon of change for biodiversity in Ireland — a living example of what large-scale restoration can achieve.
We see Dunsany as a catalyst for future rewilding efforts across the country, a place where communities, businesses, and individuals from all walks of life come to learn, grow, and experience the power of wild nature first-hand.
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Dunsany Nature Reserve is Ireland’s only recognised large-scale rewilding project, led by Randal Plunkett. Spanning 1,600 acres in County Meath, it focuses on restoring natural habitats and supporting diverse wildlife, including red deer, otters, badgers, and birds of prey. This ongoing effort is transforming the estate into a thriving ecological haven, with 750 acres actively rewilded and additional forested and marshy areas.
As Ireland’s pioneering rewilding initiative, Dunsany Nature Reserve offers visitors a unique opportunity to witness the power of nature’s regeneration.
The Dunsany Estate, which dates back to the 11th century and is located around 35 kilometres northwest of Dublin, covers 1600 acres (650 hectares) – of this about 750 acres (300 hectares) is now being rewilded as the reserve. There is also around 550 acres (220 hectares) of forest, and there are several springs and streams flowing through marshy areas. The land not forested or being rewilded is used to grow crops.
At Dunsany Estate, our vision is to create a regenerative and reconnected world where people and planet thrive together.
As the largest rewilding project in Ireland, we aim to establish Dunsany Estate as a beacon of change for biodiversity in Ireland — a living example of what large-scale restoration can achieve.
We see Dunsany as a catalyst for future rewilding efforts across the country, a place where communities, businesses, and individuals from all walks of life come to learn, grow, and experience the power of wild nature first-hand.