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Several woodlands in the county are associated with demesnes and estates. Examples include; Rockingham near Boyle (now within Lough Key Forest and Activity Park), Castletennison or Kilronan Castle, near Keadue, Strokestown Park and Mote Park, near Roscommon town. Lough Key Forest and Activity Park is important as both a wildlife and recreational area. Coillte have identified several old woodland sites within their estate in Roscommon including the properties Mote Park, Loughglinn and Drumalaghagh. These are woodlands that have had more-or-less continuous broadleaf cover since the 1830s. Old woodlands are particularly valuable for nature conservation because they tend to have a more species-rich flora due to their longevity and stability. Coillte have also identified and mapped ‘biodiversity areas’ within their properties, which are managed solely for nature conservation purposes. Woodlands tend to have particularly high biodiversity because they are relatively undisturbed environments and a varied structure with the canopy, shrub layer and ground layer. Many small mammals are found in and around woods; badgers, squirrel, pine martens and bats. Woodlands contain a huge variety of plants from the tall trees to the shrubs in the understory, to the climbers and the herbs on the woodland floor. Woodlands are important for biodiversity, recreation, carbon storage and environmental quality. There are many wonderful woods to visit in Roscommon: Lough Key Forest and Activity Park near Boyle, Knockranny Wood near Keadew, Mote Park near Roscommon Town, and St. John’s Wood near Lecarrow. Wild garlic. Photo by Janice Fuller focus oN roscommoN’s champioN aNd heritaGe trees the tree council of ireland has been recording ireland’s champion and heritage trees for a number of years. roscommon has some prime examples. did you know? n ireland’s biggest horse chestnut tree can be found in lough Key forest park (22m high, 6m girth) n ireland’s tallest silver fir grows near Kilronan castle (41m high, 4m girth) n ireland’s widest common lime is located at strokestown house (25m high, 9m girth) www.treecouncil.ie 30 Path running through St. John’s Wood. Photo by John Earley
Toothwort. Photo by John Earley Fly agaric mushroom. Photo by John Earley 31
Page 1: actioN for Biodiversity Nature and
Page 4 and 5: acKNoWledGemeNts Roscommon County C
Page 6 and 7: iNtroductioN roscommoN Roscommon is
Page 8 and 9: Goods aNd services provided By Biod
Page 10 and 11: FOCUS ON THE HUMBLE EARTHWORM The c
Page 12 and 13: plaNNiNG for Biodiversity In 1996 I
Page 14 and 15: Nature iN roscommoN 12
Page 16 and 17: farmlaNd As a largely rural and agr
Page 18 and 19: Ragged robin 16 RiveRs, lakes and w
Page 21 and 22: Tadpole. Photo by John Earley Water
Page 23 and 24: Turloughs are hugely important for
Page 25 and 26: Bog asphodel. Photo by John Earley
Page 27 and 28: Raised and blanket bogs are fabulou
Page 29 and 30: Buttercup Meadow. Photo by John Ear
Page 31: Woodland with carpet of bluebells.
Page 35 and 36: The fox can sometimes be seen in ur
Page 37 and 38: Alder buckthorn, leaves and berries
Page 39 and 40: Biodiversity is everywhere and all
Page 41 and 42: We all have a role in protecting ou
Page 43 and 44: Special Protection Area - Lough Ree
Page 45 and 46: Left to right: Dog rose; Fern. Both
Page 47 and 48: useful WeBsites www.batconservation
Page 49 and 50: 47 Sundew. Photo by John Earley
Page 52: Biodiversity is all around us in Ro

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