What are the most common trees in Ireland?
Top 10 native Irish trees, RANKED
- Oak – the mighty oak of the forest. The traditional Irish oak is sessile oak, and it is quite rare due to too much harvesting over the years.
- Hazel – a tree with an ancient history. This tree has many uses, and we all know it for producing the delicious hazelnuts, which are associated with the earliest ...
- Ash – a traditional woodland species. ...
What trees are native to Ireland?
NEWLY released satellite photographs posted online show the impact of a large scale clearance of trees on a County Cork wood for which campaigners are seeking State protection for a number of years. The impact of the tree felling by the landowner of ...
What is the tree of life in Ireland?
The tree of life symbolises the forces of nature are coming together in perfect harmony to maintain balance in the universe. It is known that when a new settlement was formed in Ireland, a tree was planted in the middle of the plantation known as Crann Bethadh (basically meaning Tree of Life) Trees were an important part of Celtic culture.
What trees grow in Ireland?
The forest will be the first of its kind in Ireland, and the 367th Guru Nanak Sacred Forest planted globally to date, while Reforest Nation has funded 100,000 trees to date, with a goal to plant one million native trees by 2024. Fears grow for ...
What trees grow in Ireland?
Best Trees to Grow in IrelandThe list of garden trees in Ireland includes Alder, Ash, Birch, Cherry, Blackthorn, Whitethorn, Crabapple, Hazel, Holly, Oak, Mountain Ash, Scots pine, Whitehorn, Willow and Yew. ... Alder is a fast growing native tree that works very well for planting in wet conditions.More items...
How many types of trees are there in Ireland?
7,500 different speciesDid you know that there are about 7,500 different species of trees in Ireland? Not all of these are native. A native tree is one that has not been introduced by man, but that grows naturally in an area.
Why doesn't Ireland have trees?
Trees were cut down in the thousands as wood requirements hit unprecedented levels and, despite numerous initiatives throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, forest levels have never recovered.
What is the national tree of Ireland?
Sessile oakSessile oak is the national tree of Ireland.
What is Irelands most common tree?
ASH. Ash is the commonest tree in Irish hedgerows, and is also a traditional woodland species. It will grow in a range of soils, not acid, and prefers well-drained sites.
How do I identify an Irish tree?
“The easiest way to identify trees is by their leaves,” explains Éanna Ní Lamhna, nature writer and vice president of the Tree Council of Ireland. Leaves are either simple (one leaf) or compound, with several small leaves/leaflets splayed out from a stalk either opposite each other or alternatively arranged.
Why does Ireland have no snakes?
At the end of the last ice age, when all the ice disappeared and rising sea levels cut Ireland off from the rest of Europe, the island was left without one thing: snakes. Since then, cold weather and a climate that's not conducive to snake life have kept the island free of slithering snakes.
Are there still no snakes in Ireland?
Ireland is one of many countries where there are no snakes Ireland is not the only place in the world without snakes – there are no native species of snakes to be found in Iceland, Greenland, Hawaii, New Zealand, parts of Canada, northern Russia, or, not surprisingly, Antarctica . . .
When did Ireland lose its forests?
Around 6,000 years agoAlder and Ash were still uncommon in Ireland 8,500 years ago, but they expanded to become common around 500 years and 2000 years later respectively. Around 6,000 years ago the forests slowly started to disappear from parts of the country, particularly in the west and the midlands.
What is the oldest tree in Ireland?
ancient yew treeThis ancient yew tree on the grounds of St Patrick's College, Maynooth, known as the Silken Thomas tree, is thought by some to be the oldest tree in Ireland.
What is the Irish flower?
Although arguably not exactly a flower, the shamrock is a small clover which is now the national flower of Ireland. It came to be so as it was once an important symbol to the ancient Irish Druids, as a plant naturally displaying the triad with its three heart-shaped leaves.
What animal is Ireland known for?
The red deer (Cervus elaphus) is Ireland's largest wild mammal and could be considered its national animal.
When did the trees of Ireland grow?
TREE COUNCIL OF IRELAND. Around 12,000 years ago , Ireland was covered in snow and ice. This was known as the Ice Age. As the weather became warmer, the snow and ice melted and trees began to grow. The seeds of trees such as hazel and oak were brought here by birds and animals, across the landbridges from Britain and the rest of Europe.
What is the most common type of birch in Ireland?
Betula pubescens. There are two types of birch in Ireland, downy and silver. The most usual is the downy birch, which like silver birch is a delicate tree with fine branches and small leaves. The springtime flowers are catkins which stay on the tree and contain the mature seed by autumn.
What is the name of the tree that grows in the countryside?
Sometimes known as the Bour tree, this is a common shrub around the countryside and often found beside old farmhouses or byres, especially associated with old refuse tips or middens where it appreciates the extra nutrients in the soil. In the wild, it may be associated with badger setts.#N#The idea of deliberately planting elder trees - which grow again if they are chopped down, and spread rapidly on waste ground - may seem incredible to older country people. However elder is a very good wildlife species, with its wide heads of creamy flowers followed by hanging clusters of dark red/black berries.#N#As with all other species, the truly native variety has the most wildlife value (ornamental varieties are used in landscape planting). Elder seeds germinate willingly and the tree will grow in most soils.#N#Both elder flowers and berries may be used in cooking and for making wine. The branches have a soft pithy centre that can be removed and a section used for a homemade flute or whistle. In nature, such hollow branches provide nest chambers for bumble bee larvae, and shelter for hibernating insects.
What is the name of the tree that grows in the hills?
Rowan adds colour to woodland throughout Ireland, especially in the hills where it will grow at a high altitude even on rocky ground: its other common name is mountain ash .#N#The creamy flowers ripen into scarlet berries which colour early in the season and provide food for thrushes through the winter. A mistle thrush will defend a rowan tree or holly as its territory, not for nesting, but through the winter as its feeding territory. Rowan is an attractive garden tree: it likes well drained sites but will thrive in most soils.
What is a hawthorn tree?
They are among the berries most favoured by birds. Only untrimmed hawthorn can flower and fruit freely, but hedges have to be cut to keep them stock proof. Hawthorn hedges may be trimmed regularly, or left for several years and then laid by cutting part way through the main stems and laying these horizontally through the hedge. Even old hawthorn hedges will regenerate if trunks are cut back to base and left to sprout again, but these must be fenced off so that farm livestock cannot reach the tasty young shoots and eat them. Like many other shrubs, hawthorn also grows in woodland where there is enough light – in open glades, along ‘rides’ through the woodland, or along the edge. A single tree may be left in a field as a ‘fairy thorn’, especially where there may be an archaeological site.
Where are whitebeam trees found?
These are small trees, quite unusual in the wild, and many imported specimens have been planted in towns and parks, along roads etc. If you want the truly native tree you may have to search – it is most common in the south of the country. Whitebeam leaves have a pale under surface, which explains its name, while the cream flowers ripen to red berries. The hard pale wood was traditionally used for small furniture such as the legs of stools.#N#There are several whitebeam species native to Ireland that may be found in wild woods or cliffs where they have escaped grazing. It can also be found in hedges. The most widespread is Sorbus aria, the common European whitebeam, which is most frequent in Co. Galway. Also found is S. rupicola, especially on cliffs, and S. devoniensis, and its distribution is restricted to Waterford, Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford.#N#The distribution of a further three species is limited to certain parts of the country – S. latifolia, with broadleaves; S. anglica, which is found only in Co. Kerry and the only one unique to Ireland, S. hibernica, found on limestone across the midlands and in Glenveagh, Co. Donegal.
Where did the pine trees come from?
Most of the pines around the countryside now were imported from Scotland and planted over the last 150 years. Efforts have been made to reintroduce this once native species as in some situations it is fitting that Scots pine be encouraged. It can be grown on marginal land where other species of tree would not survive.
What trees grow in Ireland?
The list of garden trees in Ireland includes Alder, Ash, Birch, Cherry, Blackthorn, Whitethorn, Crabapple, Hazel, Holly, Oak, Mountain Ash, Scots pine, Whitehorn, Willow and Yew.
What is the name of the tree that grows in the Irish countryside?
The Mountain Ash tree or more commonly known in Ireland as the rowan tree is widely seen around the Irish countryside. Like the birch it too grows in an upright manner and doesn’t encroach on neighbouring developments etc.
What is the growth rate of alder trees?
Alder roots do not cause problems as they are not intrusive like some of the other native trees. Alder timber can be used in furniture making or for firewood. Growth rate is between 2-4 feet annually.
What is a birch tree?
Birch is a slight erect framed tree with light stems and relatively small leaves. There are two types of native birch mainly found in Ireland. Silver Birch and the Downy Birch.
What is oak used for?
Oak timber can be used in a wide variety of applications including furniture and kitchen making. The Oak fruit is called the acorn but does not come every year. Growth rate is 1ft per year. These trees can be also very beneficial to wild life. Birds, Mammals and insects can benefit greatly from trees in plantations, hedgerows.
What animals benefit from trees?
Birds, Mammals and insects can benefit greatly from trees in plantations, hedgerows. Parklands, commercial developments and gardens etc…. They can provide food and shelter all year round while also providing shelter to the local environment. Tags:
Is Scots Pine a shelter tree?
Scots pine is a native evergreen tree that is normally grown for its timber but can work quite well as a shelter tree. They are normally mixed in a shelter block with other deciduous shelter belt trees rather than used as a shelter belt . They grow at a fairly fast growth rate therefore providing excellent evergreen shelter.
What is the best tree to grow in Ireland?
6. Willow – a tree with several native varieties. The most common of these species are the goat willow, rusty willow, and grey willow, all of which are home to various insects, which provides an excellent food source for birds during the summer. They can be found all around Ireland and are one of the top tree species in Ireland.
What trees were native to Ireland?
Some trees mentioned, such as hazel and oak, became native to Ireland when their seeds were carried here by birds and animals, during a time when we were still connected to mainland Europe. Other trees, such as willow and birch, arrived here when the wind carried their seeds through the air.
What are the two types of birch trees in Ireland?
There are two types that we have in Ireland, downy birch and silver birch. It was once used to make walkways among the boglands but now is mainly used to make plywood.
What is the last tree to lose its leaves?
It is one of the last trees to come into leaf and onset of the first to lose its leaves in Autumn. 2. Hazel – a tree with an ancient history. This tree has many uses, and we all know it for producing the delicious hazelnuts, which are associated with the earliest humans in Ireland.
Why are trees important in ancient Ireland?
Trees were of enormous importance in ancient Ireland, for practical reasons and for spiritual reasons. Each tree was used to make different things, such as for shields to protect yourself and in construction. There are many native Irish trees.
What is the Irish tree?
There are many native Irish trees. The oak tree was considered to be the king of the forest, and at one point, Ireland’s landscape flourished with all types of trees, including many oaks. The trees meant so much to natives in pre-Christian times that they even had laws specifically for trees, meaning if you cut down certain trees, ...
What is the best berry for birds?
Hawthorn – it has a sweet-smelling May blossom. Hawthorn, like many other trees, can grow in woodlands, so long as it has enough light. It produces a berry that is among one of the best tasting berries for birds. Traditionally, it was planted in hedges throughout the country.
The specific trees playing a part
Each time new trees are planted throughout the country, certain ones are selected. These are the hearty, native trees that help make Ireland, Ireland. Which ones do you see in your county?
Plant a tree of your own
With so many native trees to pick from, maybe it’s time to plant one of your own. Consider joining in with an organisation in your area that’s planning a tree-planting event and spend a day in the dirt for a good cause.
How much of Ireland is forested?
According to various sources, Ireland is currently about 11 percent forested, and although that’s a low number, it’s a huge increase from the centuries before. In the late 1920s, just 1.2 percent of the island enjoyed forest cover, leaving 98.8 percent of Ireland more or less treeless. But the country hasn’t always been bare.
What prompted the deforestation of Ireland?
No matter what really prompted the deforestation — colonialism, capitalism, desperation, or a combination of all three — the trees disappeared, cut down for near-sighted decisions that would change the face of the island for centuries. The people living in Ireland had colonies to create and fortunes to build.
Why did the broadleaf forests grow thick?
Its broadleaf forests grew thick and plentiful for thousands of years, thinning a little when ecological conditions changed, when diseases spread between trees, or when early farmers needed to clear land. But for the most part, the trees remained rooted in the Irish soil, and healthy forests sprawled across huge areas.
Where is Killarney National Park?
For me, Killarney National Park was one of the places where I felt most at home during my summer in Ireland. Located at the gateway to the world-famous Ring of Kerry, the national park is a gorgeous expanse of mountains, lakes, and forests. A gorgeous expanse of forests.
Is Ireland a green country?
It’s a bit of a paradox — the fact that there are barely any trees in a country that everyone associates with the color green. It’s the land of leprechauns and fairytales, but you’ll find few forests within its borders.
What trees are native to Ireland?
Beech succeeded in crossing to the south of England but did not arrive naturally in Ireland. Most of our native trees are broadleaves such as oak, ash, birch etc while conifers are represented by only three species– Scots pine, yew and juniper – the latter being only a shrub.
What are the native species of Ireland?
NATIVE SPECIES. Native species are those that have arrived naturally on the island of Ireland and have been here since post glacial times. Veteran oak ( photo A. Pfeifer) Ireland lost most of its flora and fauna during the Ice Age as plants and animals retreated south in the path of the advancing glaciers. When this cold period was eventually ...
Why are native trees planted?
Native species are being planted not only for timber production but also to encourage and enhance biodiversity in our forests. Native trees have a long association with many indigenous animals and plant species and provide rich and diverse habitats that are not seen in stands of introduced species, particularly conifers.
Why are native broadleaves so hard to grow?
Native broadleaves are more difficult to grow requiring sheltered fertile sites and a high degree of silvicultural skill if productive stands of quality timber are to be achieved.
