Derek Watters
Well-known member
Hi James. My understanding is that this is a planned clearup. Apparently the OPW? decided that the area needed management, as the flora previously on the hillside was of little or no ecological benefit.Did anyone notice a large area of natural habitat cleared away on the Head (Port Oriel).
All fern,bracken,bramble and gorse totally gone over a large area.This was a haven for Whitethroat,Reed Bunting and other arriving migrants in Summer.Was there not a record of Icterine Warblers seen here?.Does anybody know a reason for this work?.
On a different note, it was also sad to see the only conifer forest in Dundalk (Clarkes Forest) being felled this week. Sparrowhawks once nested in what used to be a substantial forest. Over the years, major developments in the area, resulted in sections of the forest being lost. Then in 2007 a large storm resulted in over 100 trees blown down, probably due in part to the fact that the stronger perimiter trees were being felled.