Springing to Life: Plant and Wildlife Guide For Nature Walks

Spring is just around the corner folks. 

There's been no shortage of bad weather over the past few weeks, but longer periods of clear skies and sunshine aren't far from our reach now. In anticipation of brighter, warmer days, we've put together a little compilation of flora and fauna facts and activities to remind you what to look out for in your garden or on your walks. 

Seeing the Woods For The Trees

The magnificent Scots pines of Pine Island, Connemara, Co. Galway

Who doesn't love a peaceful walk in the woods while following the mossy trails and enjoying the crisp forest air? We love the scenery, the atmosphere, but most of us have probably forgotten what we learned in primary school about the differences between tree species. 

The most common native trees are oak, ash, hazel, birch, Scots pine, rowan and willow. To shake up your 5km walks, why not see if you can recognise these trees along your route? Take a look at this visual guide beforehand to refresh your memory or learn something new about your local flora.

To celebrate National Tree Week (21-26 March), the Tree Council of Ireland is running a photography competition. The entry conditions are simple — take a picture of a tree you love and tell them what makes it so special. The winning photo will be published on their website and they are giving away cash prizes of €100, €75, and €50 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place respectively. For more info on how to enter, go to https://www.treecouncil.ie/nationaltreeweek2021.

Find plenty of atmospheric woodland trails in the Hikes and Trails section of the Xplore app.

Stopping to Smell the Flowers

Wildflowers at the Burren, where 75% of flora that can be found in Ireland grows

Remember holding a buttercup to someone's chin to 'check' if they liked butter? Picking the love-me-not petals off a daisy? Blowing the seeds off a dandelion? Wildflowers form part of our collective childhood memories, and although we might see clusters of them every day, it may have been a while since we last really looked at them.

Why not take some time this Spring to appreciate the natural and timeless beauty of these childhood favourites? Check out this page by wildflower expert Zoe Devlin to learn how to identify the different types of flowers that are blooming at this time of year. 

Refine Your Bird's-Eye

Many kinds of birds visit our gardens daily, but it's difficult to put a name to some, especially when they have similar characteristics, postures and colours. 

This BirdWatch Ireland poster is a great reference for spotting the differences between them. Learn how to tell a dunnock from a wren, or a rook from a starling. 

This could be a great solo activity, or something to do with the kids to keep them busy and curious over the weekend.