Wild Walks: Doman’s Wood
Doman’s Woods is located along a tributary of the Douglas river in Donnybrook and Grange. Also sometimes known locally as Shelly’s Woods. It is considered a broadleaved woodland. Trees found in the woods include, Sycamore, Ash, Horse chestnut, Hawthorn, Oak, Alder, and Yew.
Due to the shadiness of the woods and the tributary running through it, plenty of mushrooms, other fungi, lichens, and ferns are found growing at the forest floor. This includes male fern, soft shield fern, Haircap moss, Fly agaric mushroom, and Sulphur Tuft.
Trail entrance
The wood is surrounded by residential estates and as such has many small entrance points. You can easily access the woods from grange road, Donnybrook hill. Note that you can walk from Ballybrack Woods to Doman’s wood and vice versa through entrances near Centra on Donnybrook hill.
Trail length
Doman’s wood has no structured paths throughout. All paths are the result of humans walking through the area and at times can be steep as it lies on either side of a river valley. As there are no structured paths, you can tailor the length of walk taken.
Notable Wildlife
Yew
Scientific Name: Taxus baccata
Irish Name: Iúr
Yew is long considered a “sacred” tree and is most commonly planted in graveyards and around churches as a symbol of life. Yew is one of the oldest trees found in Europe, said to be over 2000 years old.
Ash
Scientific Name: Fraxinus
Irish Name: fuinseog
When fully grown, ash trees can reach a height of 35m. Ash often grow together, forming a domed canopy that create shade for fungi, ferns and lichen to grow.
Sulphur Tuft
Scientific Name: Hypholoma fasciculare
Sulphur tuft or clustered woodlover is a common woodland mushroom. It grows on rotting trees and often grows in clusters. They are extremely bitter and highly poisonous.
Lords and Ladies
Scientific Name: Arum maculatum
Irish Name: Cluas chaoin
This is a plant commonly found in shady hedges, woodland and laneways and is difficult to confuse with other flowers. All parts of the plant are extremely poisonous.
Irish Spurge
Scientific name: Euphorbia hyberna
Irish Name: Bainne Caoin
This species is most commonly found in the Southwest of Ireland and rare elsewhere. From April to June, they have a bright yellow flower head and warty fruit. Caution is advised as the sap can cause skin irritation and is considered poisonous.
Caretaker of the Cork Nature Network website
