Stopping By The Woods!

Wood in Leap Co Cork

Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle due to its vast green landscapes and rolling green hills. However, the Irish landscape has changed drastically over the last 10,000 years or so. Before the first settlers, nearly 9,000 years ago, made their way to Ireland, it was said that a squirl could run from one coast to another without ever touching the ground because over 80% of Ireland was covered in forests. These first settlers lived in harmony with the wildlife and developed a connection to the forests. 

3,000 years later the first farmers arrived in Ireland, and they began to clear large areas of forest to make space for fields for both crops and grazing. This clearing of land created not only the first rolling green hills that can be seen in Ireland today, but the combination of the rainfall and lack of trees changed the soil composition of portions of Ireland making way for peat bogs to grow. As the population of Ireland grew and the English laid claim to the Island, the forests dwindled. Wood became an important part of the growing towns, but much was exported as well. Huge quantities of lumber were exported to help rebuild London after the Great Fire in 1666. And so, by the end of the 19th century, the forests of Ireland had dwindled to a mere 1% of the total land from the 80% before. 

In the early 20th century however, this downward spiral was reversed as the Republic of Ireland gained its independence and encouraged the growth of new trees. The total forestry of Ireland has grown to an amazing 11% and hopes are to reach nearly 20% in the next ten years. Most of the reforestation is accomplished by private individuals with the aid of the government in hopes to return more of Ireland’s natural beauty.