20 August 2025, County Offaly - The Social, Economic, Environmental Forestry Association of Ireland (SEEFA), with the support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, will be hosting a forestry hub for the very first time at this year’s National Ploughing Championships from the 16th to the 18th of September in County Offaly.

Visitors will find the SEEFA forestry Hub at Row 5, Block 5, Stand 133.

The centre will provide a space for visitors to learn about forestry, meet top industry professionals, and engage in informed discussions and Q&As on topics relevant to forestry in Ireland today. From students to foresters and landowners, there will be something for everyone.

The SEEFA forestry Hub will be a practical drop-in point for information and one-to-one conversations, with sector experts on hand to help people at every stage, from first planting to active management. It is designed for anyone curious about the role of trees in climate, rural incomes and nature.

Additionally, there will be several panel discussions and question-and-answer sessions throughout the three days, covering topics such as agroforestry, biodiversity, afforestation, timber first policy, and opportunities after Storm Éowyn. Panel sessions will include:

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• Improving Forestry: Ireland’s Path Forward

• Forests & the Climate Crisis

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• Planting for Biodiversity: Protecting Ireland’s Heritage

• Eye of the Storm: Irish Forestry After Éowyn

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• Bridging Fields and Fields through Agroforestry

• Timber First Policy & Certification

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Conversations will be led by Ivan Yates and Michael Duignan. Yates is an entrepreneur, broadcaster, and a former Minister for Agriculture. Duignan is Chair of Offaly GAA, a respected Gaelic games administrator and commentator. Both have a keen interest in forestry and are vocal supporters of the sector.

They will steer a line up drawn from DAFM and SEEFA alongside working foresters, landowners, NGOs such as Hometree and the 100 Million Trees Project, leading academics, and industry voices. The programme also includes opening remarks and a panel contribution from Minister Michael Healy Rae. He will also join the first panel.

“This event is a great way to connect with people on forestry, whether they already manage a forest, are exploring their first planting, or are still not engaged with the sector. We look forward to a great event and thank organisations like the ITGA, DAFM, IFA, Climate Change Advisory Council and others for taking part in the important conversations covered by our panels.” – SEEFA Assistant P.R.O. Paddy Bruton.

“This event shows that this administration is prioritising foresters and making sure the private forestry sector has a real voice. We make progress when we work together. The Ploughing is a fantastic occasion, and we are delighted to play our part,” said SEEFA Chairman Padraig Egan.

There will also be a raffle during the event, with a headline prize of a chainsaw and 1,000 trees for a community planting project. Entry will be open throughout all three days at the hub, with further information available on site.

Audience space for panels is limited, so early arrival is a good idea. Final times and the full lineup will be shared on SEEFA channels before the event. Seating will be first-come, first-served.

SEEFA look forward to welcoming farmers, industry groups, the media and the wider forestry community to the forestry hub from 16 to 18 September. Promotion of the industry is more critical now than ever, and this event is an excellent opportunity to show Ireland the many benefits of forestry.

SEEFA also thanks the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Minister Michael Healy-Rae for their proactive approach to forestry promotion and their support of this event.

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