There have been exciting developments in County Westmeath recently with a pioneering partnership between Westmeath County Council and the Native Woodland Trust. This involved Westmeath County Council leasing a beautiful nature reserve to the Native Woodland Trust. The nature reserve is called Ardan Woods and is located halfway between the villages of Tyrrellspass and Kilbeggan.
Since finalising this partnership in July 2012, there has been a fantastic response from the local community with local volunteers turning out to help the Native Woodland Trust clear and improve the old entrance to the woods, opening up this fantastic woodland to visitors. There has also been a huge attendance at local Native Woodland Trust guided woodland walks proving that the people of Westmeath and further afield truly do appreciate their native woodland heritage.
The Native Woodland Trust is an environmental charity dedicated to the protection of Ireland’s native and ancient woodlands. The Trust achieves this by actively planting new native woodlands for the future while also 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. As 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 this fantastic wood has been handed over to the Native Woodland Trust by 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 was attended by over 50 people, young and old, coming from all areas of Westmeath and further afield. As Kieran Flood, Native Woodland Trust’s reserves and education officer observed. “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.”
This venture between Westmeath County Council and the Native Woodland Trust has already proved to be very successful. The Native Woodland Trust is very thankful for Westmeath County Council’s help in creating this success and the council are delighted that this previously hidden gem is, largely through voluntary input, being opened up to an appreciative local and wider community .
The trust will be running many more guided walks and events in the Westmeath area during 2013 and the years to come as they endeavour to protect Ardan Woods for future generations of the people of Westmeath.
For more information on events at Ardan and elsewhere or if you would like to become a member please see www.nativewoodlandtrust.ie
