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the film
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THE FILM

Lord Randal Plunkett (41), the 21st Baron of Dunsany Castle Ireland, is re-wilding 1000 acres of his estate to fight climate change. But the Department of Transportation have plans to build a train line through his property which will destroy this rare ancient forest and the wildlife that call it home.

Steered by a passionate new advocacy for veganism, Randal — who tradition dictates should be addressed as Lord Dunsany — came upon the concept of ‘rewilding’ seven years ago, a progressive approach to conservation allowing the environment to take care of itself and return to a native natural state. “I wanted to take what was once agricultural farm land and return it to the wild. We’re guardians keeping a distant, watchful eye on the plant and animal life. And the results speak for themselves.”

 

In a country where fox hunting is still legal, Randal regularly petrols his land to keep hunters out and has been on the receiving end of multiple threats to his life and livelihood.  But when mature native woodlands in Ireland are down to less than 1% (as compared to other EU countries that are 30 - 40%), and when the United Nations says we must re-wild an area the size of China to save our human race, no matter the risk, Randal refuses to back down because he knows the stakes of the war he is waging.  The war is against climate change not hunters or trains.

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For 8 months, we follow Randal, his family, and cast while he grows into his role from a renegade to an environmental virtuoso, interview experts and those that are opposed, learn about this family's heritage, follow the rehabilitation and release of wild animals such as foxes, badgers, otters, and red-listed animals such as the Kestrel and Pine Marten on the verge of extinction, confront hunters, discovering a revolutionary new biodiversity currency, prepare for the TEDx stage where he will share his remarkable findings with the world, and finally get the recognition he and his family deserves when featured in James Cameron's "Game Changers 2" in 2025.  

 

But, will this be enough to stop the country from destroying the land?

The facts
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THE FACTS

"We must save our planet to save ourselves.  With or without us, the wild will return"

- David Attenborough

  • 80% of the world's agriculture is to feed the cattle that feed us. 

  • Less than 1% of Ireland is mature native woodlands.  

  • Woodlands are the lungs of the Earth, they reduce carbon and supply us with oxygen.  

  • Without native trees and mixed plant life, we will not survive.

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Science makes it clear that to avert the worst impacts of climate change, the food and agriculture sectors must transition toward regenerative systems that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build soil health, protect public and environmental health, grow more nutritious food, and increase equity and resilience.

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After attempting a normal agricultural approach, Randal stepped back and saw a landscape bleak and exhausted from live-stock overgrazing and over-farming.  As a vegan, he decided to do something about it and...

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Rewild.

The mission
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THE MISSION

As a caretaker of this estate, Dunsany is an educational space that demonstrates - rewilding works.

"We need real nature restoration.

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We need to study how nature adapts.

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We need to see how nature works without an agenda to sell a product.

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We need to establish habitats.

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And we need to preserve the lungs of this great Earth.

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This is about heritage.  It is my duty to protect this place not only for my family but for the world."  

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-Lord Dunsany the XXI

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