Fiddown Island facts for kids

Fiddown Island is a special place in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is a national nature reserve, which means it is a protected area for nature. The island is about 52 acres in size. The Irish National Parks & Wildlife Service takes care of it.

What Makes Fiddown Island Special?

Fiddown Island became a protected national nature reserve in 1988. This means the Irish government made laws to keep its unique nature safe.

A Unique River Island Habitat

Fiddown Island is a long, narrow island in the River Suir. It has a special type of forest called an alluvial woodland. This means the trees grow in rich soil left behind by the river.

The island is mostly covered with willow trees. These trees were once used to make baskets. You can find different kinds of willow here, like osier, almond, white, and grey willow. Because of these willow trees, some local people also call it Sally Island.

Plants of Fiddown Island

Besides willows, many other plants grow on Fiddown Island. You might see bright yellow yellow iris and meadowsweet with its creamy white flowers. Other plants include hemlock water-dropwort, angelica, and valerian. The island also has different types of sedges, grasses, and tall herbs.

The edges of the island have reed swamps. These are wet areas with tall reeds. The reeds were once used by local people to make thatched roofs for houses. The island also has areas of willow scrub, which are like thick bushes of willow trees. This mix of reed swamps and willow scrub is very rare in Ireland. In drier parts of the island, you can find ash, hawthorn, and blackthorn trees. Hazel and guelder rose are also found here.

Animals and Birds of Fiddown Island

Fiddown Island is home to many interesting animals. You might spot otters swimming in the river or Daubenton's bats flying at dusk. The bright blue kingfisher is another beautiful bird that lives here.

Many different birds visit or live on the island. Some of the smaller birds include grasshopper warblers, sedge warblers, willow warblers, blackcaps, long-tailed tits, whitethroats, and reed buntings. Larger birds like cormorants, teals, water rails, mute swans, whooper swans, and little egrets can also be seen.

Island Geology

The ground beneath Fiddown Island is made of yellow and red sandstone, and green mudstone. These rocks belong to something called the Kiltorcan formation. This tells us about the ancient history of the land.