Seeing the wood for the trees — why our Sitka planting policy needs the chop 

We’ve got so little of our ancient forests, like Beara's Uragh Wood, left in this country, probably less than 0.25%, many are insisting it's time we see the light and deliver a root and branch reform of the State approach to biodiversity 

"Hunter-gatherers were likely in Beara from Mesolithic times. At Uragh, there is a spectacularly sited, probably Bronze Age, stone circle overlooking the woods," Mr Daltun said.

On the Kerry side of the Beara peninsula lies a forest. It contains secrets and wonder and marvel to those that live in its proximity, but remains unknown to most of us.

This mystical place, named Uragh, is a throwback to Ireland’s ancient past, when forest cover was the norm, biodiversity thrived and the climate was not in crisis.