24/09/2026
There is something special about September in the . The seasonal change is akin to a change of shift as activity moves from the woodland canopy to the woodland floor and beneath as microbial activity takes over. It is this mix of flora, fauna and fungi that makes Native Irish Woodlands so special. Human activity plays an important part as well. Over the years the woodlands have hosted children from local schools and playschools and also adults learning the skills of native woodland management and coppice silviculture management.
With careful planning and management, woodlands such as these have been brought back from the brink of extinction and over the past quarter of a century we have seen newer woodlands planted under the Native Woodland Scheme blend with parts of the woodlands that are centuries old.
There is much talk and concern about LOSS but really we need to have the conversation about GAIN. Part of these woodlands are in Moy River Special Area of Conservation , part of the Network so are delivering a range of services.
I was inspired by writer Richard Louv, author of "Last Child in the Woods" and Dušan Bartůněk to use the woodlands as an education resource. We need to get our children back in the woods at every opportunity and rather than just bring children to the woods we have an opportunity to bring the woods to the children. Every community has some piece of woodlands or waste ground that can be allowed to evolve into a "Nature School". Is there a space in your community, a corner of a field even, ideally within safe walking distance from the local school or playschool where the local community could work together to create a resource that would benefit everyone in that community?
Nature School Woodlands of Ireland, Shared Green Societies
