Christopher McGonigle

Christopher McGonigle

Hello brave and intrepid traveller, welcome to our island home. There are many exciting highlights to observe, in terms of landscape and natural history that would be of interest to a curious plant like yourself. See our magnificent kelp forests underwater, sacred groves, blanket bogs and heath on the high ground. The strong winds and low light in the winter make it difficult for plants to grow easily in exposed locations, but if you head inland you will find some magical places in the nooks and crannies where nature has found a way to flourish.

Remember, that by observing this landscape you have the capacity to affect it – so tread lightly. Unfortunately, much of the natural environment you find today has been significantly impacted by human activities, warming, pollution and the introduction of invasive species. If you had been here 10, 000 years ago, you would have found yourself in a very different place. With the retreat of the ice and following the later arrival of humans, this landscape began to change dramatically. Historically, much of the island was covered in temperate rainforest, with plants and trees as rich as the tropics, home to a diverse fauna including bears and wolves and Irish elk. Early human inhabitants depended upon the natural environment for food, shelter and resources. In pre-Christian Ireland, trees had a particular place in the culture and traditions. In more recent times, much of this forest was felled to make way for agriculture, or timbers for ships as human industry developed. Most of what you can see today are fast growing conifers, rather than native trees. Some native woodland still persists in pockets that are inaccessible, relatively free from the impact of human activity – these places are few and far between.

My advice to you is to get off the beaten track, and to move slowly – pay attention to the small things, respect the customs and you will be richly rewarded. Good Luck.