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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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

Heron

This heron was snapped in the Botanic Gardens, Dublin.

Copyright John Kennedy