Make-A-Wish Ireland to open 8,000 Tree Woodland in Co. Louth

Make-A-Wish Ireland, the children’s charity that grants the wishes of children living with life-threatening illnesses to bring them hope, strength and happiness, has taken its commitment to a whole new level with the opening of the Make-A-Wish Woodland Forest in Richardstown, Co. Louth this Friday at 10:00am.

Partnering with VEON Ltd, Make-A-Wish has transformed a vision into reality by creating the Make-A-Wish Woodland, a living example of their Charter in action. Comprising 8,000 majestic Oak trees, this magical forest serves as an enduring symbol of hope and strength for brave children, while also leading the charge in the fight against climate change.

Unveiling the plaque  to commemorate this Woodland this Friday will be, Ms. Éanna Ní Lanmha, a Louth native, an environmentalist and former president of the Tree Council of Ireland, as well as a tv and radio personality.

Also in attendance will be Susan O'Dwyer, CEO of Make-A-Wish Ireland, and Joe Codd, CEO of VEON, Ireland's largest forest management consultancy and ecology company, who will be looking after the planting and ongoing management of the woodland.

The Make-A-Wish Woodland Forest will stand as a testament to the unbreakable spirit of the children and families they serve. Once imagined it was made possible through engagement with VEON Ltd, a company dedicated to forestry, ecology and the environment. VEON were engaged to source, plant and manage 8,000 native Oak trees by Make-A-Wish at a designated site in Richardstown, Co. Louth. VEON’s ecology team will also undertake an Ecological baseline survey to ensure that improvements to biodiversity can be efficiently monitored over the coming years. 

8,000 native Oak trees constitute the Make-A-Wish Woodland and represent past, present, and future wish-children and their families. Beyond their symbolic significance, these mighty Oaks are key players in the fight against climate change. Mitigating biodiversity loss and enhancing the environment for generations to come, the Make-A-Wish Woodland acts as a powerful buffer, purifying the air, preventing erosion, and nurturing the soil.

For over three decades, Make-A-Wish Ireland has brought sunshine into the lives of over 3,000 courageous children across the country, fulfilling 183 wishes in 2022 alone. These wishes offer respite from hospital routines, doctors' visits, and treatments, instilling magic and joy into young lives. The charity, a registered non-profit in Ireland, stands as aa example of transparency and accountability, having earned the esteemed "triple lock" certification from Charities Institute Ireland.

For Make-A-Wish, longevity and resilience were crucial in selecting Oak trees, as these majestic species endure for hundreds of years, a tribute to the bravery of the children they champion daily. This extraordinary endeavour has earned Make-A-Wish a spot as a distinguished partner in VEON's Climate Leadership Programme, forging an unbreakable bond in safeguarding our planet.

After celebrating their 30th Anniversary last year, Make-A-Wish Ireland felt strongly that it should be making an impact on climate change for future wish children and all children. The charity worked on, and recently launched, a Sustainability Charter, setting specific goals to protect and enhance the environment for all children over the next five years. 

Susan McQuaid O'Dwyer, CEO of Make-A-Wish Ireland, said:

"We strive for excellence in the fantastic work we do for seriously ill children and their families, and it is vital for us, as a socially responsible organization, to demonstrate leadership and commitment to the environment. Becoming a VEON Leadership Climate Partner helps us achieve our corporate socially responsible objectives in the context of protecting and enhancing our wider environmental responsibilities, especially with the dual crisis of biodiversity loss and climate change".

Joe Codd, Business Development Director of VEON, stated that:

“Make-A-Wish Ireland exemplifies the very best CSR characteristics with real and positive action to combat climate change and mitigate biodiversity loss and we are honoured to welcome them as a VEON Climate Leadership Partner”.