Overview of Ireland's Wildlife

by Dick Warner

Bumblebee

Bumblebees live in small colonies and make their nest underground. They assist with the pollination of fruit and flowers. Unlike bees, they do not make enough honey for the colony to survive the winter. Only the queen lives through the cold weather.

Copyright the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Bumblebee
Copyright the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Bumblebee

Bumblebees live in small colonies and make their nest underground. They assist with the pollination of fruit and flowers. Unlike bees, they do not make enough honey for the colony to survive the winter. Only the queen lives through the cold weather.

Copyright the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government

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The biodiversity of a place - all the living things that inhabit it - is one of the main things that give that place its character and individuality. Many different places within Ireland have their own unique biodiversity that singles them out and gives them their identity.

In this article, I will look at Irish biodiversity on a national and a local level to find out what makes it different, discuss how it’s changing and what should be done about these changes. There’s some good news and some bad news - but it’s all important news.

Read the full article by Dick Warner under the Featured Articles section.

Dick Warner

Dick Warner is a writer, broadcaster and environmentalist specialising in wildlife and the environment.

Dick Warner

Dick Warner

Dick Warner is a writer, broadcaster and environmentalist specialising in wildlife and the environment.

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About the author

Dick Warner is a writer, broadcaster and environmentalist specialising in wildlife and the environment. He writes a regular wildlife column in the Irish Examiner and contributes to many other newspapers and magazines. He has published several books, the most recent about the River Liffey. He has also made many radio and television programmes, including the award-winning ‘Waterways’ television series about Ireland’s inland waterways and ‘Spirit of Trees’ about trees around the world. He is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and lives on a small-holding in rural County Kildare.