Across the Celtic nations, a wide range of organizations are working to restore connections between people, the land, heritage, and community. From rewilding projects in the Scottish Highlands to organic farming in Ireland and woodland conservation on the Isle of Man, these groups have helped create awareness toward land-based legacy and environmental responsibility. While some focus on protecting ecosystems and wildlife, others promote the preservation of language, culture, and traditional ways of life. Together, they represent a broader movement that recognizes the importance of both sustainability and cultural heritage in an increasingly disconnected modern world.

Ireland

Hedgerows Ireland
Hedgerows Ireland was founded in response to the widespread removal of hedgerows in rural Ireland. The organization works to protect one of the country’s most overlooked ecological and cultural resources by promoting traditional hedge-laying skills and educating people about the important role hedgerows play in biodiversity, carbon storage, water protection, and farming. Through workshops and education, they encourage a renewed respect for landscape boundaries that have been a fixture of the Irish countryside for generations. hedgerows.ie

The Organic Centre
Located in County Leitrim, The Organic Centre is a charity and social enterprise committed to increasing knowledge about organic growing, biodiversity, sustainable energy, and food sovereignty. Located a short drive from the Wild Atlantic Way, the organization offers classes and workshops in gardening, food production, renewable energy, and heritage skills, while also maintaining lovely orchards and gardens for tours and visits. Its mandate encourages a reconnection with the land through hands-on environmental responsibility and “empowering people to grow with nature.”
theorganiccentre.ie

Scotland

Trees for Life 
Founded in 1993, Trees for Life is one of Scotland’s foremost rewilding organizations, working to restore the ancient Caledonian Forest and revitalize ecosystems across the Highlands. In addition to planting trees and bringing back missing species, the charity promotes community involvement through volunteer programs, education, and creative conservation initiatives. Its long-term vision is more than ecological recovery, however; it’s about rekindling the relationship between people and the Scottish landscape. treesforlife.org.uk

Community Land Scotland
Community Land Scotland supports local groups who seek greater control over the land and buildings where they live and work. Representing area landowners across Scotland, the organization seeks to support existing and emerging community landowners, act as the voice for these groups, and influence policy and legislation. Supporting community ownership that transforms local economies, addresses depopulation, and restores nature, the representative body is a significant driver of sustainable development across Scotland. communitylandscotland.org.uk

Wales

Tir Coed
Tir Coed helps reconnect people with woodlands through educational programmes on well-being and all things outdoors within the regions of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and Powys. Offering hands-on training in a natural environment, the organization works with individuals of all ages and backgrounds in traditional woodcrafts, conservation techniques, and sustainable land practices. They also support rural communities seeking to integrate with the natural environment and create job opportunities for the disadvantaged. tircoed.org.uk

The Landworkers’ Alliance
The Landworkers’ Alliance is a farmer and grower-led organization that advocates for small-scale farming, agroecology, and local food webs. Representing farmers, foresters, and food producers, the alliance supports sustainable agriculture and environmental responsibility within local communities. It also aids members’ interests through education, campaigns, and policy work that seeks to limit industrial systems of exploitation and replace them with reciprocity and connection to the land as the foundation of food, culture, and community life. landworkersalliance.org.uk

Cornwall

The Eden Project
Located in Cornwall, the Eden Project is one of the UK’s best-known environmental initiatives.  Built on a former clay mine with no soil or plants, it is now home to large biome gardens representing ecosystems from around the world. The site has gone far beyond horticulture to include education, conservation, community outreach, and sustainability projects since opening in 2001. Through exhibitions, events, and research, the Eden Project inspires visitors to recognize the relationship between people, food, climate, and the natural world. edenproject.com

Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Founded in 1962, Cornwall Wildlife Trust seeks to conserve the region’s natural habitats, including woodlands, wetlands, rivers, and coastal ecosystems. The organization manages nature reserves throughout Cornwall while also supporting marine conservation, environmental education, and volunteer projects. Through its work and community outreach, the trust seeks to build stronger connections between people and the landscapes that are key components of Cornwall’s natural and cultural identity. cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk

Isle of Man

Manx Wildlife Trust
Founded in 1973, the Manx Wildlife Trust works to preserve the Isle of Man’s many natural landscapes, wildlife, and marine environments through conservation, education, and community involvement. The organization manages nature reserves across the island, including wetlands, coastal habitats, and woodlands open to visitors for exploration. Through volunteer programs, citizen science projects, and public outreach, the trust seeks to inspire others to act for nature and create more spaces for wildlife. mwt.im

Isle of Man Woodland Trust
The Isle of Man Woodland Trust is dedicated to protecting and expanding the island’s woodlands while encouraging public access to new and existing green spaces. Working with volunteers, schools, and local communities, the trust plants a variety of trees and also focuses on restoration and environmental education projects across the island. Its efforts reflect and encourage awareness of the importance of woodlands not only for biodiversity and climate resilience but also for community wellbeing. woodlandtrust.im

Bretagne

Bretagne Vivante
Founded in 1959, Bretagne Vivante is one of Brittany’s leading environmental organizations, dedicated to protecting the region’s coastlines, wetlands, and natural habitats. With projects across Bretagne, the group manages nature reserves, conducts scientific research, and promotes environmental education through community programs and volunteer recruitment. Its history reveals a long-standing effort to preserve the landscapes and ecosystems that comprise both the natural environment and the cultural identity of the Breton region. bretagne-vivante.org

Galicia

Adega
Founded in 1974, Adega is one of Galicia’s oldest environmental organizations with a long-standing mission to protect the region’s rivers, forests, coastlines, and rural areas. The group focuses on public education, urban planning, waste management, and sustainable living, while challenging industrial projects seen as harmful to regional ecosystems and communities. Through campaigns, research, and activism, Adega is committed to strengthening the connections between environmental protection, cultural identity, and Galician landscapes. adega.gal

Canada

Highland Village Museum
Located in Iona, Cape Breton, Highland Village Museum is a living history site dedicated to preserving the language, traditions, and everyday life of Nova Scotia’s Gaels. Visitors can enjoy the restored homes, gardens, livestock, music, and storytelling, and experience how land, community, and culture were closely linked in rural Gaelic life. The museum also promotes the preservation of the Gaelic language and offers programs to keep heritage alive for future generations. highlandvillage.novascotia.ca

USA

The Celtic Heritage Foundation 
Based in Mount Vernon, Washington, the Celtic Heritage Foundation is committed to all things Celtic.  Traditions, languages, arts, genealogy, and history are shared through educational programs, community events, and cultural outreach, with information and resources provided for each Celtic nation. Best known for organizing the annual Skagit Valley Highland Games, the foundation also supports workshops, performances, and heritage projects that highlight Celtic cultural identity to carry forward a living and evolving legacy. celtichf.org