Coillearnach
Bíonn cuma mistéireach draíochta ar choillte leathanduilleacha na hÉireann.
Is iad an t-iúr, an cuileann, an péine Albanach, an t-aiteal agus an crann neamhghnách sin, an chaithne, na crainn síorghlasa dhúchasacha amháin atá againn. Ní crainn dhúchasacha iad an fheá, an crann cnó capaill ná an seiceamar. Daoine a chuir ag fás anseo ar dtús iad.
Tá an brat coillearnaí is lú againn san Eoraip agus an scéal amhlaidh de bharr tosca stair fhada na hÉireann. Tá iarrachtaí á dhéanamh chun na limistéir bheaga de sheanchoillearnach dúchasach a chosaint mar pháirceanna náisiúnta agus mar ‘limistéir chaomhantais speisialta’. I measc na samplaí tá coillte forleathana uathúla i bPáirc Náisiúnta Chill Áirne, Coill Naomh Eoin ( Saint John’s Wood) i gContae Ros Comáin agus na coillte dara ar shleasa claonarda Shléibhte Chill Mhantáin.
Woodlands
Ireland’s broadleaved woodlands have an aura of mystery and magic.
Yew, holly, Scot’s pine, juniper and the unusual strawberry tree are our only native evergreen trees. Beech, horse-chestnut (the conker tree) and sycamore are not native to Ireland , but were first planted here by humans.
Circumstances in Ireland ’s long history have left us with the least woodland cover in all of Europe. Efforts are being made to protect remaining pockets of old native woodlands as national parks and special areas of conservation. Some examples are the extensive and unique woods of Killarney National Park, Saint John’s Wood in Roscommon, and the oak woods on the steep slopes of the Wicklow Mountains.