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.
Habitats
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).
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.
The Destructive Presence of the Australian Crayfish in Ireland: The Yabby
By Babette Bookelaar
Irish native white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) are under threat due to the appearance of a non-native crayfish species, the Australian yabby (Cherax destructor).
Bryophytes in Irish Habitats
Walking through the woods, forests and even cities in Ireland you will have, at some point, observed Bryophytes scattered throughout the landscape. So, what exactly are they and what habitats to find them in?
Calcareous Grasslands Habitats – What are they?
Calcareous grasslands are highly diverse habitats forming where soil fertility and acidity is low, and where moderate grazing and browsing by livestock helps to balance the competition between plant species.
Ash Dieback – A Disease Affecting Ash Trees
Ash is one of Ireland’s most widespread native trees.
