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Ballycroy National Park
Ballycroy National Park was established in November 1998, it is Ireland’s sixth National Park and is located on the Western seaboard in northwest Mayo. It comprises of 11,000 hectares of Atlantic blanket bog and mountainous terrain, covering a vast uninhabited and unspoilt wilderness dominated by the Nephin Beg mountain range. Between Nephin beg and Slieve Carr, at 721metres above sea level, the highest mountain in the range, lie the Scardaun Loughs.
Copyright the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Ballycroy National Park -
Barn Owl
The Barn Owl is the most threatened species of owl in Ireland and has recently been ‘Red-listed’ in the ‘Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland’. They are generally seen only at dusk or at night when they hunt a variety of small mammals such as Field Mice, House Mice,Bank Voles and Brown Rats. They are threatened in Ireland by; a loss of nesting sites, less rough grassland habitat, being hit by cars and trains, drowning in water troughs, increased use of pesticides and poisoning from pesticide contaminated prey.
Copyright Mike Brown
Image is present on following page(s): Barn Owl, Barn Owl, Barn Owl, Irish Biodiversity threatened, Barn Owl
Barn Owl -
Combine Harvester
Intensive farming has become more prevalent in Ireland but at a price. In 2006 it was reported that 29 species of birds and 120 flowering plants are in serious decline - in some instances - because of the introduction of more intensive farming methods that damage their habitat. Other wildlife, such as the marsh fritillary butterfly, is also under threat.
Copyright the Environmental Protection Agency
Image is present on following page(s): Factors for Biodiversity loss
Combine Harvester -
An Irish bog
Peatlands, together with their unique collection of plants and animals, are a seriously endangered European habitat. Ireland is among the last countries in Europe where a wide range of peatlands still exist in their natural state. Peatlands originally covered 17% of the land surface of Ireland, a higher proportion than any other European country, with the exception of Finland. Today less than one quarter of the original peatland area remains in an intact condition. Conservationists predict that if exploitation continues on deeper peat of the midland raised bogs, these will be the first bogs to disappear in this century. Blanket bogs, especially in the West of Ireland, are also under increasing threat.
Image is present on following page(s): The Bogs of Ireland, The Bogs of Ireland, The Bogs of Ireland, Bogs, The Bogs of Ireland, The Bogs of Ireland
An Irish bog -
Butterfly
Butterfly-pollinated flowers tend to be large and showy, pink or lavender in colour, frequently have a landing area, and are usually scented. Since butterflies do not digest pollen (with one exception), more nectar is offered than pollen. The flowers have simple nectar guides with the nectarines usually hidden in narrow tubes or spurs, reached by the long tongue of the butterflies.
Courtesy of Wexford County Library
Butterfly -
Grand Canal Square Lights
The Square features a striking composition of a red strip extending from the theatre into and over the dock. The red strip is made of bright red resin-glass paving covered with red glowing angled light sticks.
Grand Canal Square Lights -
Hedgehog
Hedgehogs are a common, mainly nocturnal mammal of Ireland. They are considered the "Gardener's Friend" as their diet consists mainly of slugs, snails, insects, insect larvae, beetles, earthworms and fallen fruit. They will also attack mice, rats, lizards, frogs and snakes. Hedgehogs can be found in hedgerows, fields, open woods and gardens.
Image is present on following page(s): Changes to Hedgerows
Hedgehog -
A flood in County Clare
Increased climate change means more flash floods could be seen in Ireland. During August 2008 there were numerous high profile floods all over the country.
Copyright the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Image is present on following page(s): More factors
A flood in County Clare -
Earthworm
Worms feed on organic material, break it down and then expel it as worm castings. The castings are in the form of tiny pellets which are coated with a gel. This crumb-like structure helps improve soil drainage and aeration. Worms are constantly tunnelling which also helps ventilate compost and soil and enables water, nutrients and oxygen to filter down. The organic matter also undergoes chemical changes in the process. This makes the nutrients more readily accessible to plant roots.
Earthworm -
Do the right thing
ENFO, Ireland's public environmental and sustainable development information service, produced this poster to encourage people to increase and continue recycling. And Ireland are doing well at recycling - in 2007 Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Weee) Ireland reported that 9kg of electronic waste per person was collected and recycled – over double the annual 4kg target set for Ireland by the EU.
Copyright the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Image is present on following page(s): What you can do
Do the right thing -
An urban Seagull
Birds can live by the sea or they adapt to the urban setting like they seagulls getting food from the Liffey in Dublin
Copyright John Kennedy
Image is present on following page(s): Dublin - Dublin City, Fauna
An urban Seagull -
Heron
This heron was snapped in the Botanic Gardens, Dublin.
Copyright John Kennedy
Image is present on following page(s): Aibhneacha agus Locha, Aibhneacha agus Locha, Aibhneacha agus Locha, Aibhneacha agus Locha, Aibhneacha agus Locha, Fauna, Lough Allen, Tory Hill, Aibhneacha agus Locha
Heron -
Common frog
The Common Frog is the most widespread of Ireland
Courtesy of Lorcan Scott Duchas
Common frog -
Hedgerow
We can all see the removal and the cutting back of hedgerows in the Irish countryside. This makes for more efficient farming but creates problems for the birds, animals and insects who made their homes there.
Courtesy of Pete Birch
Image is present on following page(s): Fálta Sceach, Fálta Sceach, Fálta Sceach, Fálta Sceach, Fálta Sceach, Factors for Biodiversity loss, Fálta Sceach
Hedgerow -
Whales in the sea
Five most endangered whales: North Atlantic right whale - fewer than 350 animals. Western Pacific grey whale - fewer than 120 animals. Bowhead - fewer than 120 animals. Narwhal - fewer than 120 animals. Cook Inlet beluga whales - fewer than 400 animals
Image is present on following page(s): Compare Fish & Marine Mammals, Compare Fish & Marine Mammals, Compare Fish & Marine Mammals, Factors for Biodiversity loss, Cape Clear, Compare Fish & Marine Mammals
Whales in the sea -
Red Grouse
The population is declining, and the Red Grouse has made it onto the Red List. Understanding the limited movements of grouse populations is important to reasoning their limited numbers. They are more affected - than other bird species - to changes in their landscape and perhaps the pace of change has been too swift for some local populations to react. Other possible causes include; disease, fertilisers, predators, hunting and climate change -The relatively wet Irish climate might influence the breeding success of ground nesting birds such as the Red Grouse.
Image is present on following page(s): Boleybrack Mountain
Red Grouse -
Native conifer - Scots Pine
This image of a large scots pine tree was taken in the Raven Natural Reserve in Wexford.
Copyright John Kennedy
Image is present on following page(s): Flora
Native conifer - Scots Pine -
River
Agriculture remains an integral part of life in Ireland, and 63 percent of the land is farmed. The EPA’s Millennium Report said the amount of artificial fertilizers used in Ireland increased significantly during the twenty years up to 1980. There is a concern that pollution levels of the inland waters will increase substantially in the next few years if the problem is not stemmed soon. Water quality surveys prove that the quality of the inland waters has decreased since they were first assessed in the 1970s. Fish begin to die because there is a lack of dissolved oxygen in the water. One of the worst cases of fish kills recently occurred in a stream that feeds into the Shannon River in County Offaly in June 2000, which had a dead fish count of 2,000.
Courtesy of Betsey Hickey
Image is present on following page(s): More factors
River -
House sparrow
The sparrow is a widespread garden bird with a lively "chirrup" sounds and a more grating "churrrr".
Copyright John Kennedy
Image is present on following page(s): Fauna
House sparrow -
Urban
Nature on your doorstep, whether it be in an apartment block or house, needs looking after too. Watering plants during the summer, trimming and weeding can all help keep your little patch going. It may only seem like a small thing but all helps in the race to halt biodiversity decline.
Urban -
Robin on a rock in the Iveagh Gardens Dublin
The Robin stays in Ireland all year round and its song is one of the most recognised of the bird world.
Copyright John Kennedy
Image is present on following page(s): Birdsongs
Robin on a rock in the Iveagh Gardens Dublin -
Lichen - Sea Ivory
Costal rocks are the best place to find this type of lichen. Other types can be found growing on rocks in different areas.
Copyright John Kennedy
Image is present on following page(s): Flora
Lichen - Sea Ivory -
Cutting Turf
This image of a man cutting turf was taken in 1935 by Dorothy Hartley. It was taken between Athlone, Co. Westmeath and Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly. Taken from Hartley, Dorothy (1935) Irish Holiday, London, Lindsay Drummond.
Photograph by Dorothy Hartley
Image is present on following page(s): Changes to Irish bogs
Cutting Turf -
Bedford Row Shops 2009
The site of the newly developed and pedestrianised Bedford Row which now has numerous retail units and commercial space.
© John Walsh
Bedford Row Shops 2009 -
Bedford Row Church 2008
This church was hidden behind the facade of the old Grand Central cinema for years until the National Development Plan began in the city centre. This picture was taken before a new more transparent frontage was added to the building in late 2008.
© John Walsh
Bedford Row Church 2008 -
Young Shrimp found in Galway
There have been increased conservation attempts in relation to shrimp. The Shrimp Fishing Conservation Order 2002 introduces a closed season for the fishery from May 7th to August 17th.
Copyright John Kennedy
Image is present on following page(s): Diverse Ireland, Cold Water Reefs
Young Shrimp found in Galway -
O'Connell Street 2009
A picture of the current corner of William Street and O'Connell Street.
© John Walsh
O'Connell Street 2009 -
Dublin Docklands Development
This example of sustainable inner city regeneration delivers a major contribution to the social and economic prosperity of Dublin and the whole of Ireland.
Image is present on following page(s): Greening Our Cities
Dublin Docklands Development -
Bedford Row Shops 2006
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Bedford Row Shops 2006 -
Cork County Council is an excellent example of a sustainable structure.
This bulding is an excellent example of Accessible Design and a sustainable structure. The tower has been fitted out with a climactically responsive glass louver façade - which allows it to be naturally ventilated - text pads, anti-glare blinds, wheelchair accessible toilets on eight floors and lifts on each floor.
Courtesy of Cork County Council
Image is present on following page(s): Cork County Hall, Buildings that Last a Long Time, Cork County Hall
Cork County Council is an excellent example of a sustainable structure. -
Thrush
A Thrush
Thrush -
Grand Canal Square
This is one of the most innovative landscape design projects ever undertaken in Ireland.
Image is present on following page(s): Greening Our Cities
Grand Canal Square