Advertisement We need your help now Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open. You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough. If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it. One-off amount I already contribute Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you. An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more. Investigates Investigates Money Diaries Daft.ie Property Magazine Allianz Home Magazine The 42 Sports Magazine TG4 Entertainment Magazine The Journal TV Climate Crisis Cost of Living Road Safety Newsletters Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates The Explainer A deep dive into one big news story Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories The farm has worked with the Trees on Land initiative to plant native species.Fuschia Farm tipperary woodlands Sustainable living How we turned our farm into a regenerative tourism spot Niall Heenan and his wife Inez run Fuschia Lane Farm in Tipperary, which they’ve turned into a haven for nature and visitors. 9.23pm, 25 Jun 2025 Share options LAST UPDATE 25 mins ago THE STORY OF ‘why’ we embarked on this journey is probably rooted in an appreciation of nature and wild spaces, one that I can trace back to my childhood. So, when my wife Inez and I met in college, we both knew that nature and sustainability would be important to anything we did together in terms of our futures. I recall, as a very young child, my father showing me things in nature that were in decline, talking about the Corncrake, pointing out a grey partridge in a meadow, which even then, was approaching critically low numbers. This helped shape my interest in the place we called home, a beautiful part of rural Tipperary, and created a strong bond with the land. I knew that with farming changing as I started out on my own career that I did not just want to farm, but also wanted to develop other aspects; however, holding on to ‘the place’ was never in doubt. Thankfully, Inez also felt this strong connection to ‘place’, and when we married, we both decided that we wanted to establish a tourism experience here. Doing things differently From the outset, we knew that we needed to be authentic and share the experiences that are unique to our area and ourselves. A focus on local food and food producers was important, treating guests as friends and taking a long-term view was the obvious thing to do, we believed. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fuchsia Lane Farm Holidays (@fuchsialanefarm) I was fortunate to be able to study for a Master’s Degree Rural Development and Rural Tourism at UCD where the wonderful Dr John Feehan planted so many seeds about the need to protect our forests, peatlands as well as the folk history in our field names, settlement patterns and understanding the ‘treasures beneath our feet’. Advertisement The 1990s saw EU support programmes for farm diversification, and the development of online communications gave us opportunities to invest in our product and reach a global audience. Shortly after we married, we planted about eight acres of native broadleaf woodland, and this has become a central part of our visitor experience. In particular, the mediation space in the middle of this woodland has become a wonderful oasis of calm and reflection, enjoyed by families, writers and artists. Fuchsia Lane Farm - Holiday Rentals Terryglass Tipperary / YouTube I think seeing the value in repurposing old buildings, ways of working and understanding the land has given us an appreciation of taking a long-term view of our farm. Having a sense of ‘custodianship’ is central to our thinking, and the Native American belief, of ‘not inheriting the land from our parents, but holding it in trust for our children’ pretty much sums up a lot of our thinking. Communities for climate In more recent years, we have all become much more aware of the need for climate action and biodiversity loss. We are working on a Regenerative Tourism model where we seek opportunities for guests to really connect with here and the wider community. We are looking at energy management, reducing water and waste, we have installed solar panels and created a group space, our Haybarn Hub. Connecting with Fáilte Ireland, Tipperary Tourism, and other agencies has helped hone our business offering. We have partnered with the Trees on the Land environmental charity, and this spring the Natural Hardwood Flooring company sponsored the establishment of a new orchard, the creation of 200 metres of hedgerow and the establishment of pockets of biodiversity with Hares Corner planting in several of the tillage fields. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fuchsia Lane Farm Holidays (@fuchsialanefarm) These initiatives have created a bond between us and a wider group of volunteers, and we are already seeing the benefit in increased beauty for our guests to enjoy. Related Reads The Bee Guy: We're going global for bees - they need our help Building a nature reserve: 'Wildacres has gone from a desert for wildlife to a haven' Opinion: This government is determined to turn its back on sustainable forestry in Ireland Our approach is to see the value in the ‘treasures beneath our feet’ and to encourage guests not just to stay here, but to immerse themselves in our space, with nature and the local community. Jessie the sheepdog is the real star of farm life.Fuschia Lane Fuschia Lane It can be challenging for anyone farming these days, finding the best ways to make the land work for your income and for your family. I would encourage anyone with an interest in changing things to look at alternatives, ways in which we can nurture the land and still make a living. It has most definitely benefited our family and our land over the years. Our guests have become our friends, and this connection has encouraged us to continue on our journey. We look at all aspects of our business, and this has resulted in actions such as refillable, plant-based shampoos and soaps in the guest bathrooms, biodegradable washing up liquids and cleaning agents in the kitchen, providing EV chargers for guests, use of our bikes for local journeys, etc. All small actions, but important ones! Some of our guests have contributed to planting a native broadleaf tree in memory of their stay and this act of leaving behind something in nature that can outlive us all, pretty much illustrates what matters to us! Niall Heenan runs Fuschia Lane Farm in Tipperary, a farm where some of the land has been repurposed for sustainable tourism. More at Fuchsia Lane Farm on LinkedIn and Instagram. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Support The Journal The Journal's climate change newsletter Follow the biggest news story of our times. Sign up for our monthly climate newsletter You are now signed up Niall Heenan Send Tip or Correction Embed this post To embed this post, copy the code below on your site Email “Sustainable living: How we turned our farm into a regenerative tourism spot”. Recipient's Email Feedback on “Sustainable living: How we turned our farm into a regenerative tourism spot”. Your Feedback Your Email (optional) Report a Comment Please select the reason for reporting this comment. Please give full details of the problem with the comment... alternatives to farming Biodiversity climate catastrophe Climate Change Climate emergency farming alternatives tipperary woodlands News in 60 seconds Cork man died after he received five to six wasp stings in his garden, inquest hears 3D-printed pistol fell out of man's bulletproof vest while he was being searched in Dublin 14 mins ago Here's What Happened Today: Wednesday 15 mins ago Leap of faith Contactless on Dublin public transport? 'It's happening,' says Transport Minister... in 2029 20 mins ago Farmers back EU Commission proposal that would ban vegetarian products using terms like ‘burger’ 55 mins ago postal service An Post 'very apologetic' about alleged theft of missing mail last year Health minister vows to 'eradicate' nicotine pouches calling them 'particularly invidious' Crocodile tears Jeff Bezos reportedly changes Venice wedding plans after threat of inflatable crocodile protest Irish Rugby Senator says it is 'scandalous' the IRFU is a ‘major Dublin 4 landlord’ Two charged after woman ‘dragged’ from Kildare home into car in apparent dog dispute, court hears Northern Ireland Sinn Féin claim RTÉ repeatedly 'erase' the Six Counties as party introduces new proposed law more from us Investigates Daft.ie Property Magazine Allianz Home Magazine The 42 Sports Magazine TG4 Entertainment Magazine Money Diaries The Journal TV Journal Media Advertise With Us About FactCheck Our Network FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition more from us TV Listings GAA Fixtures The Video Review Journal Media Advertise With Us Our Network The Journal FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition © 2025 Journal Media Ltd Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition Switch to Desktop Switch to Mobile The Journal supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at https://www.presscouncil.ie, PH: (01) 6489130, Lo-Call 1800 208 080 or email: mailto:info@presscouncil.ie Report an error, omission or problem: Your Email (optional) Create Email Alert Create an email alert based on the current article Email Address One email every morning As soon as new articles come online