Glengarriff Forest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glengarriff Forest |
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| Irish: Tearmann Dúlra Gleann Garbh | |
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IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
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| Location | County Cork, Ireland |
| Area | 300 ha |
| Established | 1991 |
| Governing body | National Parks and Wildlife Service |
Glengarriff Forest is a beautiful area of woodland found near Glengarriff in West Cork, Ireland. Most of this forest is a special nature reserve. This means it's a protected area where nature is kept safe. People sometimes call it Glengarriff "forest park" or "state forest."
Glengarriff Forest is one of the best examples in Ireland of a unique type of woodland. It has many sessile oak trees that thrive in a mild, wet climate, like near an ocean. This forest is part of a much bigger protected area called the Glengarriff Harbour & Woodlands Special Area of Conservation (SAC). This larger area helps protect important plants and animals.
Contents
A Look at Glengarriff's History
How the Forest Changed Over Time
In the 1700s, a rich family called the White family bought these woods. They later became known as the Earls of Bantry. These Earls actually planted some of the trees you can still see in the forest today!
Later, in 1955, the Irish government took over 380 hectares (about 940 acres) of the woods. They used the land for "commercial forestry." This means they grew trees to cut them down and sell the wood. During this time, many fast-growing conifer trees (like pine or fir) were planted. Sadly, some of the oldest oak trees were cut down or damaged.
Becoming a Nature Reserve
By the 1970s, people started to realize how important the remaining oak woodlands were for nature. So, in 1991, a large part of Glengarriff Forest was officially made a Nature Reserve.
Today, the Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve covers about 300 hectares (740 acres). It is looked after by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Their main goals are to protect nature and make sure people can enjoy the forest. They have even started replacing some of the conifer trees with new oak trees.
Plants and Animals of Glengarriff Forest
Amazing Wildlife in the Woods
You might spot Sika deer in Glengarriff Forest. These deer eat plants, but they don't cause as much damage to the forest's new growth here as deer do in places like Killarney National Park. That's because there are fewer deer in Glengarriff.
The mild, wet weather in Glengarriff is perfect for some very special creatures and plants. These are called "Hiberno-Lusitanian" species. This means they are found in southwest Ireland and also in places like Spain and Portugal (the Iberian Peninsula).
One amazing example is the Kerry slug. This unique slug loves living on the oak trees in the forest. It's so important that it's a key reason why Glengarriff is a Special Area of Conservation! Another special plant found here is the Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo). It's also a Lusitanian species, meaning it's found in both Ireland and warmer parts of Europe.
