FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the land trust?
The Green Sod Land Trust: An Foidin Glas, is a charitable organisation, established to conserve and protect land in Ireland for its own sake and for the sake of present and future generations.

How old is the Trust?
The Trust is yet in its infancy, the last number of years has been spend in setting it up, working on the Trusts educational projects, preparing the ground work for the future and acquiring charitable status.

Is it a Government body?
No. It is not a government body. It is an independent charity.

What is its Purpose?
The purpose of the land Trust is to conserve and protect land with its indigenous animals, plants, waters and soils for their own sakes and for the sake of present and future generations.

Is it a new Charity?
The group behind the Green Sod Land Trust have been working together for the past few years and charity status has been granted in early 2007.

Why is this Land Trust needed?
People are very concerned about the unmitigated loss of land in Ireland. Land has become a mere commodity to be bought and sold for human benefit only. This attitude has allowed people to plunder land that we will never be able to recreate. People, out of this concern, turn to the Land Trust to protect Irish land.

What does An Foidín Glas mean?
It means 'the green sod'.

When I Save A Sod, how much of my money goes on Admin costs?
All the money collected in the 'Save a Sod' campaign (baring compulsory bank charges) goes to buying land in Ireland. The Green Sod Land Trust are a voluntary organisation with no paid staff.

Is this the only Land Trust in Ireland?
It is the only one of its kind in Ireland, however, there are other preservation and conservation organisations such as the Irish Peatland Conservation Council working in Ireland.

Will I know where my sod is saved?
Yes! You will receive a sod number and a record of that will be kept with the Trust.
When land is bought we will state what sod numbers with other donations helped buy it.

How do I organise a talk about The green Sod Land Trust for my Organisation/School?
Within Ireland we are well equipped to offer talks about our work. Please contact: info@greensodlandtrust.com
If you are from outside Ireland, we can help you by e-mail where possible.

How can I become a volunteer?
We welcome both conservation and administrative volunteers. Please contact us, letting us know your area of interest and what part of Ireland your based.

Are there other ways to help besides volunteering?
You can get to know and understand the work of the Trust and spread the word. Keep up to date with Trust news by logging on to our news page and our diary. Keep in touch.

Can the saved land be farmed?
Yes and No. Land purchased by the Trust will be saved and protected for its indigenous animals, plants, waters, soils etc., for their own sakes.
However, it is possible that The Green Sod Land Trust will receive land by gift that the giver may wish to be farmed and the Trust actively promotes biodynamic agriculture.

What is biodynamic agriculture?
It means working with the life energy of the land in a wholistic way, as our ancestors did, in tune with the cycles of nature.

Who'll look after the land?
In the future, The Green Sod Land Trust: An Foidin Glas, will have qualified land managers to care and protect any land in the Trust.

Where has the Trust got land?
We are a very new Trust and are working towards acquiring land. The Trust is set up in response to the urgent need to protect Irish land that is rapidly being lost forever. So with your help we are preparing to accept and to buy land in every bioregion in Ireland, north, south, east and west. Keep up with the progress of the Trust by logging onto our news page.

How does The Trust save Land?
The Trust can purchase land for permanent protection and/or accept donations of land and/or the funds to purchase land and/or accept a bequest.