NATURE TRAIL

undertaken by The Sustainable Landuse Company

Established on the property of Donegal Organic Farm Produce, Glenties Co. Donegal in connection with The Donegal Millennium Forest Treesponsorship. Open all year round from 4.00am 11.00pm. This Trail (inside a Special Area of Conservation) is a great opportunity for people with an interest in trees, birds, butterflies, blanket bog, rivers & streams etc. Free of charge for all of our organic customers and people who have sponsored a tree in the "Millennium-Forest". If you are not a customer and not a treesponsor with us, we would be thankful for a financial contribution towards the maintenance cost of this project. We appreciate what ever you can afford. Information material will be provided at farm-gate. The aim of this trail is to provide you with some knowledge about nature, but most of all just look, listen and enjoy it.

Detailed Features(with numeric key): 1 Wild Cherry (Prunus avium) NATIVE Attractive blossom, foliage and fruit. Establishes easily. Blooms attract bees, fruit taken by birds. High quality timber, especially favoured for Furniture. A pyramid shaped tree with attractive bark and leaves which turn red or yellow in autumn. It carries masses of white flowers in April/May, followed later in the year by dark ornamental cherries. It will reach a height of 7metres in 10 years, and eventually 15 metres. 2 Oak (sessile) NATIVE Tolerates shallow rocky soils and can grow on clay. Very windfirm. Outstanding wildlife tree. Grows best when "nursed" between faster growing species. Richest insect tree. Many associated plants. Birds and mammals feed on acorns. Excellent quality timber. 3 Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa) NON NATIVE Rapid growth. Coppices freely in sheltered locations. Little wildlife value. Liable to suffer from cold and exposure. Timber is strong and tough. Ideal for fencing and furniture. 4 Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) NATIVE Tolerant of cold and exposed sites, including windswept coastal areas. Dislikes waterlogged sites. Best transplanted young. Casts light shade, which permits rich undergrowth. Seeds (keys) eaten by birds and small mammals. Valuable timber with many uses. 5 Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) NON NATIVE Hardy, invasive species, tolerant to exposed coastal conditions. Shelterbelt tree around upland farms. Worth using in difficult places. Grows easily. Rich in Insects. Nectar for bees, insects. Seeds taken by birds. 6 Alder (Alnus glutinosa) NATIVE Fast growing. Increases soil fertility by fixing nitrogen. Flourishes in the wettest places where little else grows. Grows also on clay and fill. Easily established and coppices well. Many varieties of insects on foliage. Seeds taken by many small birds. 7 Poplar (Popolus) NON NATIVE Fast growth, enables rapid establishment for shelterbelts or timber. White poplar is salt resistant. Grows easily from cuttings. Rich in insects. Timber suitable for matchwood and pulp. 8 Willow (Salix) NATIVE Many varieties. Rapid growth, attractive form in larger species. Good shelterbelt and screen trees. Coppices readily. Cannot survive permanent water logging. Grows from cuttings. Early blossoms valuable for insects and bees. Excellent nesting cover on wet sites. Pliable light timber, widely used. 9 Birch (Betula pubescens) NATIVE Pioneer species. Hardy and fast growing. Shelters slower growing species. Wide range of tolerance to exposure, wet ground and poor soils. Dislikes shade, grows best free of rank grass. Foliage rich in insects; seeds eaten by birds. Light shade permits rich ground vegetation. Hard timber but little used. 10 Beech Fagus sylvatica) NON NATIVE Saplings will grow in shade. Salt tolerant. Fine autumn colour Best on well drained sites. Grows best with nurse species. Mast (beechnuts) taken by birds and mammals. Strong, fine grained timber, valuable for veneer, furniture etc. Very high fire wood value. 11 Holly (Ilex aquifolium) NATIVE Evergreen, hardy, tolerant to exposure. Attractive foliage and berries (x-mas deco) Grows well in shade. Intolerant of wet sites. Difficult to establish. Berries eaten by birds. Holly Blue Butterfly depends on Holly flowers. Hard white wood. Valuable for inlays. 12 Gorse (Ulex europaeus) NATIVE Provides ideal protection for saplings. Excellent wildlife value. Often flowers in winter. Tolerates acid and damp soil. Spreads through roots. 13 Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) NATIVE Prime hedgerow tree. Provides ideal protection for saplings. Dislikes acid soils and wet sites. Excellent wildlife value. Flowers attract bees and many insects on leaves. Berries taken by mammals and birds. Hard, but small sized timber, decorative use only. A familiar sight in both hedgerows and gardens. Has white flowers in late spring followed by red berries in autumn. It will reach a height of 4 metres in 10 years, finally growing to 10 metres. 14 Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) NATIVE Also called Mountain Ash Hardy, tolerant to exposure. Will grow on thin soils. Attractive flowers and berries. Prefers dry sites, transplants well. Good wildlife value. Insects on flowers, berries are taken by birds. This graceful slender tree has splashes of cream coloured flowers in early summer and a dazzling display of red berries in the autumn. It will reach a height of 7 metres in 10 years, and 15 metres finally. 15 Whitebeam (Sorbus aria) NATIVE Attractive form, foliage, fruit and flowers. Tolerant to coastal exposure. Will grow on thin soils. Prefers dry sites, but can tolerate damp sites. Transplants well. Good wildlife value. Insects on flowers, berries are taken by birds. 16 Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) NATIVE Dense thicket form makes ideal stock proof hedge. Tolerates exposed and windswept coastal locations. Provides protection for saplings from grazing animals. Can be planted as whips or transplant suckers. Early flowers provide food for insects and bees. Excellent nesting cover. Hard, small sized timber. Specialist ornamental use. 17 Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) NATIVE Attractive foliage and bark. Grows easily, but dislikes lime or wet peat. Best conifer for wildlife. Attracts insects, birds and squirrels feed on seeds. Used by owls for breeding and roosting. Excellent timber (red wood) for furniture, building and poles. Good firewood. 18 Sitka Spruce (Picea stichensis) NON NATIVE Rapid growth, exposure tolerant. Good for shelter in acidic uplands. Prefers grassy to heathery sites. Needs high rainfall. Prefers western counties. Foliage aphids taken by limited range of birds. Cones attract crossbills. Light softwood for pulp or chipboard. Good firewood. 19 Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta) NON NATIVE Rapid early growth. Wide range of soil tolerance, Good for shelterbelts. Many varieties (choice of short heavy crown or tall light crown). Poor wildlife value. Good quality softwood for building, timber and pulp. Fair firewood. 20 Hazel (Corylus avellana) NATIVE The common hazel is known for its long yellow catkins in spring and its crop of nuts in the autumn. It can be useful as a screen on exposed sites. It will reach a height of 4 metres in 10 years and will eventually reach 7 metres. Norway Maple (Acer Platanoide) NON-NATIVE The Maple has masses of small yellow flowers growing in clusters in spring with brilliant yellow leaves in autumn. It tolerates most soil types. It will reach a height of 7 metres in 10 years, and 20 metres finally. Please bear the following rules in mind: Do not leave the path. Keep dogs on a lead. Keep noise level down. You are using the trail at your own risk. E-Mail us here