Laois
Grantstown Wood and Granston Lough Nature Reserve and Coolacurragh Wood
Location: These reserves are situated about 8 km north-west of Durrow, Co. Laois.
Area (ha.): 48.6 & 8.5
These reserves are examples of wet woodland on base-rich soils. They are dominated by alder, ash and birch with hawthorn in the shrub layer. The herb layer is dominated by bramble, nettle and meadowsweet. Granstown Lough is a classic example of a lake which has gradually infilled through fen to alder carr.
Animals and Plants of Interest: Fish in the lake provide Kingfishers, Cormorants and Otter with food. Otter tracks may be found in muddy places by the lake.
Established 1982. State owned.
Slieve Bloom Mountains Nature Reserve Tearmann Dúlra Shliabh Bladhma
This high mountain blanket bog, unlike many other bogs in Ireland, has been spared severe burning and grazing. It formed about six thousand years ago when the climate became wetter and bog began to blanket the mountain slopes.Timahoe Esker Nature Reserve
Location: 1 km north-east of Timahoe.
Area (ha.): 13.5
Ash woodland with pedunculate oak and grey willow, hawthorn and hazel. The herb layer includes bluebell, bugle and shield fern.
Animals and Plants of Interest: Bluebells carpet the woods in Spring and Long tailed Tits can be found nesting among the brambles.
Established 1985. State owned.
