The last survey of native Irish woodlands was carried out over a decade ago. It found about 1,300 native woodland areas, half of which were smaller than six hectares, and only about 40 were larger than 50 hectares, demonstrating the massive level of habitat fragmentation in Ireland today. Still, for a country where only about 2% of our woodland is native we have lots of native tree species; 36 trees and shrubs in total. The top ten native Irish trees in order of abundance in our native woodlands are presented in this article.
corknaturenetwork
The Beauty of Lough Hyne
Lough Hyne, a truly spectacular saltwater lake, spans a distance of one kilometre in West Cork, not far from Skibbereen. Home to a vast array of both flora and fauna, including 72 different species of fish (1)—some of which are very rare—it is no surprise that the lough became Ireland’s first marine nature reserve in 1981 (2).
The Passage of the Hedgehog
Heritage Week
Heritage week is a great way to get together and learn more about the natural heritage on our doorsteps. We were lucky to have Zoologist of NUI Galway, Elaine O’Riordan, come to Fota Education Centre to discuss her research on hedgehogs.
The Iberian Lynx
The Iberian Lynx is one of the most elusive wild cats in the world. Unfortunately, it is also the most endangered. However, ongoing conservation work has resulted in the species being downgraded from a ‘Critically endangered’ status to ‘Endangered’ in 2015 (2).
Cork Nature Network’s July 9th Fundraising Concert
We at Cork Nature Network are delighted and excited to announce our upcoming concert to be held in conjunction with the Marina Market. Our special guest, and musician extraordinaire, Áine Duffy, will be on hand to play some tunes for a packed-out Marina Market on a summer’s Saturday afternoon in Cork City.
Communicating Climate Change through Art and Culture
By Eve Moore
Effective communication is critical for raising awareness of climate change and inspiring action. This communication can range from a simple conversation to a seminar, however, regardless of scale, any conversation that occurs around climate change is important. One method of climate change communication that is particularly effective, and also serves as a creative outlet, is the communication that occurs through art and culture.
Pillars Of Sustainability – Sustainable Development
“Sustainable development can be defined as progress that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” – Brundtland Report, 1987.
Rocky Shore Ecology
The rocky shore ecosystem is a wonderful example of how many layers of sub-habitats can intertwine with each other but differ fundamentally, whilst still sharing close proximity to one another. Various environmental pressures such as salinity, water, wind and oxygen play the master roles here in determining where organisms dwell and build communities.
Facts about the Eurasian Otter
The Eurasian otter is a semiaquatic mammal that belongs to the Mustelidae family of carnivorous mammals; along with ferrets, badgers and wolverines. Also known as the European otter, Eurasian river otter, Old World otter, and the elusive common otter. It is native to Eurasia and is the most widely distributed of all thirteen otter species.
How To Accommodate More Invertebrate Life In Your Garden – Build a Bug Hotel
When you look in bushes, under rocks, or anywhere there is grass, there is a good chance you will find small invertebrate animals like; ants, bumblebees, ladybugs, beetles, and worms – commonly known as bugs by many. However, there is a slight taxonomic difference between true bugs and insects.
