Westmeath welcomes the Native Woodland Trust

TheRe have been exciting developments in Westmeath recently thanks to a pioneering partnership between Westmeath County Council and The Native Woodland Trust, which involved the council leasing a nature reserve to the trust.

The nature reserve is ardan Woods (halfway between Tyrrellspass and Kilbeggan), and since finalising the partnership in July 2012, there has been a fantastic response from the community and volunteers have turned out to help the trust clear and improve the entrance to the woods, opening it up to visitors.

There has also been a huge attendance at Native Woodland Trust guided woodland walks, proving that the people of Westmeath and further afield truly appreciate their native woodland heritage.

The Native Woodland Trust is an environmental charity dedicated to the protection of Ireland’s native and ancient woodlands, which it achieves by planting new native woodlands and setting up woodland reserves that protect existing mature native woodland.

ardan Woods is one such nature reserve and is a brilliant example of mature native woodland and one of the finest the trust has come across. Native Woodland Trust manager Linda Lawlor explains: “ardan Wood is one of the most valuable types of woodlands left in Ireland and it has every indication that it is ancient woodland. This wood is shown on the first edition OS maps of the 1830s.” The management of the wood has been handed over to the Native Woodland Trust by the Westmeath County Council through a 200-year lease agreement. This decision now ensures that the woodland and all its wildlife will be managed as a nature reserve long into the future. activities carried out to date on site have been the clearing of the entrance steps, a native seed collecting visit and most recently the strengthening of fencing to keep the woods safe from potentially damaging livestock grazing.

The Native Woodland Trust recently hosted a guided walk of the nearby Split hills and Long hill esker Woodland, which more than 50 people, young and old, from all areas of Westmeath and further afield attended.

Kieran Flood, Native Woodland Trust’s reserves and education officer said: “It is a fine sight to see such large groups of people from all generations gathering together to experience the wonders of an Irish native woodland. The level of local engagement in our activities already shows great hope for the woodlands of Westmeath for the future.”

The Native Woodland Trust is thankful for Westmeath County Council’s help in creating this success and the council is delighted that this previously hidden gem is, largely through voluntary input, being opened up to an appreciative community.

The Trust will be running many more guided walks and events in the Westmeath area during 2013 and the years to come as it endeavours to protect ardan Woods for future generations. • nativewoodlandtrust.ie