Peter Dowdall: 'Ecosystems like Ballybrack Woods take time to develop'

Hazel, alder, oak, elder, elm and ash are just some of the native Irish trees thriving in this area

The Ballybrack woods at Mangala Valley, Douglas, Co Cork. A bridge over the riverside walkway and woods, linking the Grange Road with the Carrigaline Road, had been proposed. Picture: Larry Cummins

Over the years Ireland has lost much of its natural wet grasslands and the species that exist and thrive in such spaces have decreased in number with some having died out completely.

Semi-natural grassland in Ireland has become an extremely vulnerable habitat type, particularly wet grasslands which are important in supporting many species of flora and fauna.