Donegal

Ballyarr Wood is a national Nature Reserve owned and managed by the National Parks & Wildlife Service. It has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive because it is one of the best and largest examples of semi-natural deciduous woodland in the north-west of the country, and it forms an important link in Ireland’s network of woodland reserves. Old sessile oak woods with holly and hazel is a habitat listed in Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive.

Is Anaclann Náisiúnta Dúlra í Coill Bhaile Áir atá faoi úinéireacht agus faoi bhainistíocht na Seirbhíse Páirceanna Náisiúnta & Fiadhúlra. Tá sí ainmnithe mar Limistéar Caomhantais Speisialta faoi Threoir maidir le Gnáthóga ón Aontas Eorpach mar go bhfuil sí ar cheann de na samplaí is fearr agus is mó de choill dhuillsilteach leathnádúrtha in iarthuaisceart na tíre agus tá sí ina nasc tábhachtach i ngréasán anaclanna coillearnaí na hÉireann. Tá gnáthóg de choillte le seanchrainn darach Gaelach agus cuileann agus coll liostaithe in Aguisín I de Threoir maidir le Gnáthóga ón Aontas Eorpach.

Old Oak Woodland

Ballyarr Wood is predominantly old oak woodland. A number of other habitats including wet woodland, scrub, wet heath and wet grassland also occur. The oak woodland has a well developed structure, with a high canopy of well grown oaks, and a good understory of holly and hazel and rich ground flora. The woodland has responded well to recent management practices such as the exclusion of grazing livestock, and natural regeneration of trees is occurring, particularly of Oak, Rowan, Holly and Hazel. The other habitats, particularly the open areas of heath and wet grassland, enhance the diversity, value and character of the woodland.

Seanchrainnte Darach

Seanchrainnte darach is mó atá i gCoill Bhaile Áir. Bíonn roinnt gnáthóga eile, cosúil le coill fhliuch, grágán, fraochmhá fhliuch agus féarach fliuch, ann freisin. Tá struchtúr dea-fhorbartha ag an gcoill darach, le ceannbhrat ard de chrainn darach lánfhásta agus sraith mhaith mheánach de chuileann agus de choll, chomh maith le flóra saibhir ar an talamh. Ghlac an choill go maith le cleachtais bhainistíochta a cuireadh in áit le déanaí. I measc na gcleachtas sin coinníodh amach beostoc féaraigh. Mar thoradh air sin, tá na crainn á n-athghiniúint go nádúrtha, go háirithe na Crainn Darach, na Crainn Chaorthainn, an Cuileann agus an Coll. Cuireann na gnáthóga eile, go háirithe na limistéir oscailte le fraoch agus féarach fliuch, go mór le héagsúlacht, luach agus carachtar na coille.

Wildlife

Access is provided at Ballyarr by a circular path which takes you through the oldest part of the woodland and shows the variety of habitats. The woodland is also being traditionally grazed during the winter months by small horses which eat the grasses, sedges and rushes and open up the ground to facilitate regeneration of the oak, hazel and holly. Ballyarr is a fantastic place to explore some of Ireland’s better known mammals. Evidence of badgers with huge sets and fox holes are to be found, deer visit the woodland occasionally and stoats make their homes in the old stone walls throughout the wood.The birdlife in Ballyarr is very diverse from the larger nesting Buzzards and Ravens to the noisy Jay and not to mention the wonderful chorus of the smaller woodland birds.

Fiadhúlra

Tá bealach isteach go Baile Áir ar chosán ciorclach a thugann tríd an bpáirt is sine den choill tú agus a léiríonn éagsúlacht na ngáthnóga.Cuirtear capaill bheaga ar féarach ar an mbealach traidisiúnta sa choill le linn mhíonna an gheimhridh. Itheann na capaill sin an féar, an chíb agus an luachair agus osclaíonn sé seo suas an talamh ionas go mbíonn na crainn darach, an cuileann agus an coll in ann athghiniúint.Is áit iontach í Baile Áir chun cuid de mhamaigh is coitianta in Éirinn a aimsiú. Tá lorg broc le brocaisí móra le feiceáil, chomh maith le poill sionnach. Tagann fianna isteach sa choill ó am go chéile agus déanann easóga a gcuid féin de na seanchlaíocha cloiche ar fud na coille.Tá éagsúlacht mhór éan i mBaile Áir, na Clamháin mhóra agus na Fiacha Dubha, chomh maith leis an scréachóg ghlórach agus cór álainn éin bheaga na coille.

Duntally wood is a National Nature reserve as well as a candidate Special Area of Conservation under the EU habitats Directive. Extending to over 15 hectares it is a fantastic example of an oak, ash, hazel woodland. Other notable tree species include Holly, Elm and Downy Birch. Ground flora is varied throughout the woodland and changes with soil and habitat type, common species include wood anemone, early purple orchid, hard fern, wild garlic, meadowsweet, bugle, and bluebell.

Birdlife

Birdlife in the wood is very diverse from the colourful Jays to the agile Tree-creepers. Raven, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk all breed within or close to the woodland, while Wood pigeon and Blue and Long-tailed tits are regularly encountered on a walk.

Éanlaith

Tá éanlaith éagsúil sa choill ó scréachóga dáthúla go snaig lúfair. Póraíonn fiacha dubha, clamháin agus spioróga sa choill nó in aice láimhe. Buailtear le coilm coille, meantáin gorma agus meantáin earrfhada go rialta le linn siúlóide.

The Trail

A 2.5km loop trail takes you from the car-park along old cart-ways and down into the valley bottom. Potatoes and cereals were once grown in these meadows. Some have been cleared of tree cover to increase diversity within the woodland.

An Casán

Téann casán lúibe dhá chiliméadar go leith ar shean bhealaigh trucaile ón charrchlós síos go bun an ghleanna. Chuirtí prátaí agus arbhair uair amháin sna moinéir seo. Glanadh an clúdach crann de cuid díobh seo chun níos mó éagsulachta sa talamh coille a chothú.

Visiting

Duntally wood is a good place to explore some of our native mammal species. Deer visit the woodland occasionally during the winter months, while evidence of fox and badger can be found by their tracks and trails. Stoats and otters also frequent the woodland. Coppicing of the older stands of hazel trees is down by cutting the old tree down to almost ground level, far from the death of the tree this pruning actually increases the vigour of the tree while also changing light levels reaching the woodland floor. A quick growing species, hazel soon sends out new multi-stemmed growth. Historically these hazel wands were cut and used around local homes and farms as light timber for fencing and tool handles.Contact David McNamara on 087 6468412 National Parks & Wildlife Service Conservation Ranger, with any queries.

Ar Cuairt

Is áit mhaith í Coill Dhún Tulaí chun eolas a fháil ar ghnéithe ár siní dúchasacha. Tugann carrianna cuairt ar an talamh coille ó am go ham i rith míonna an gheimhridh agus bíonn fianaise madaí rua agus broc le feiceáil ina rianta agus ina gcasán. Is cuairteoirí minice easóga agus dobharchúnna go dtí an talamh coille chomh maith. Déantar roschoill ar na seastáin chrann coil agus gearrtar síos iad go leibehéal an talaimh. Ní mharaíonn an roschoilliú seo iad ar chorr ar bith ach méadaíonn sé fuinneamh an chrainn agus athraíonn sé méid an tsoilais a shroicheann urlár an talaimh coille. Is gné crainn an coll a fhásann go gasta agus ní fada go gcuireann sé amach fás ilghasach. Sa tsean-am ghearrtaí na fleasca coill seo agus d’usáidtí iad thart ar thithe agus ar fheirmeacha áitiúla mar adhmad éadrom chun claíocha nó fálta a thógáil agus crainn nó cosa úirlise a dhéanamh.Teaghmháil David McNamara ar 087-6468412, Saoiste Caomhantais An tSeirbhís Páirceanna Náisiúnta agus Fiadhúlra.

Birds of Pettigo

The plateau provides good hunting habitat for Merlin and Hen Harrier which can be seen at the reserve. Surrounding forestry supplies suitable nesting habitat for these species. During the spring and summer the soft mournful whistle of the Golden Plover can be heard on the higher grounds of Croaghadalough. These birds breed on the upper slopes of the reserve and will alarm call if disturbed by walkers. In the winter these birds form much larger flocks as they are joined by wintering birds from Iceland and the Faroes. One of the most enticing things about the reserve is its very isolation and feeling of remoteness. Though uninhabited today this area was formerly part of the Leslie Estate and in the mid-1800s was occupied by two families. The remains of their small cottages and cultivation plots can still be seen in the reserve today. An old trackway runs through the reserve providing visitor access.