Earlier this month, partners and collaborators involved in the Women in Nature project gathered at Bog Bothy in Milltownpass, Co. Westmeath, to discuss the ideas, histories and landscapes informing the commission.
Hosted by Tóchar Midlands Wetland Restoration, the gathering brought together representatives from Photo Museum Ireland, the Irish Architecture Foundation, architects 12th Field and members of the wider project team. Set within the unique landscape of the bog, the day offered an opportunity to reflect on the environmental, cultural and social questions at the heart of Women in Nature.
Pictured from left – Back row: Emily Nolan, Hazel Daly & Monica Byrne, Tóchar Midlands Wetland Restoration; David Jameson, Architect, 12th Field; Vanessa Menegaldo, and Dean Black, Irish Architecture Foundation.
Front row: Trish Lambe, CEO and Artistic Director, Photo Museum Ireland; Evanna Devine, Women in Nature Photography Commission Award Winner; Shirley Clerkin, Tóchar Midlands Wetland Restoration.
Bog Bothy is itself a powerful setting for these conversations. Developed by architects Evelyn D’Arcy and David Jameson of design practice 12th Field, and the Irish Architecture Foundation, the project reimagines how people engage with Ireland’s peatlands, creating a space for gathering, discussion and reflection within landscapes undergoing significant ecological and cultural change. Designed with communities and shaped by the histories of the bog, the Bothy explores how architecture, culture and climate action can come together to imagine new futures for these places.
Throughout the day, discussions moved between the history of Ireland’s boglands and their future. We reflected on the role peatlands have played in shaping communities, livelihoods and identities, and on the growing importance of restoration efforts as Ireland works towards a more sustainable relationship with these landscapes.
We also explored the often-overlooked role women have played in caring for land, sustaining communities and driving environmental action. While many women have long been central to community life and stewardship in rural Ireland, their contributions are not always reflected in how environmental histories are documented or represented. Women in Nature seeks to address this through photography, creating a public record of women whose work is helping to shape the future of Ireland’s landscapes.
Photography a central theme to the development of Women In Nature, having the innate ability to connect diverse audiences with environmental issues through lived experience. In a project centred on portraiture, landscape and place, photography offers a way to make visible both the individuals driving change and the environments they are working to protect.
This field visit also provided an opportunity to reflect on the women who will be featured in the project. Together, they represent a remarkable range of work taking place across Ireland today – from restoring peatlands and protecting habitats to farming, education, advocacy, research and community action. Their stories highlight that nature restoration is about more than landscapes alone; it is also about people, relationships and the communities working together to create change.
As the commission gets underway, the conversations held at Bog Bothy will help shape the next stage of Women in Nature. Bringing together photography, landscape and lived experience, the project will tell the stories of women helping to restore and reimagine Ireland’s natural environment.
Learn more about
Women In Nature
Women in Nature is a national photography campaign celebrating women leading nature restoration, biodiversity action and community-led environmental change across Ireland.
Tóchar is co-financed by the EU and Government of Ireland through the EU Just Transition Fund and coordinated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Photo Museum Ireland is funded by the Arts Council, Dublin City Council, and the Heritage Council.