Welcome to Louth Nature Trust

Biodiversity is a widely used word these days. On the face of it, it means diverse life, or maybe just lots of different species together in one place. But it is really a reflection of the genetic diversity of species and their interaction with one another and with the environment. The highest biodiversity is achieved in places where species have been living together for a long time. This is because over time species evolve together. This massively increases the biological productivity of systems because these close interactions that develop over millennia are extremely efficient. It also drives speciation processes as species become more and more specialised, increasing species richness and abundance in these systems, and is the reason why native species are so important

Globally the most diverse systems are in tropical rain forests, or coral reefs.

In county Louth the most biodiverse systems are to be found in Louth’s several estuaries: the Boyne, the Dee and Glyde, the Fane and the Castletown and Flurry. Also notable for biodiversity is Carlingford Lough, and in particular its tidal rapids and shore in places. Ardee bog, despite its past exploitation for turf, still supports significant biodiversity. Over the years I have searched of ancient Oakland habitats in Louth but so far only a few patches in Ravensdale and perhaps north of Omeath, and maybe at Dunaney Point.

The whole of the Louth shore represents good biodiversity areas, some better than others.

Away from the coast, the other main source of biodiversity are in its wetlands, most of which have been surveyed. Notable are the rivers, the three small loughs, Drumcah, Toprass and Cortial Loughs. Several wetland areas in the Cooley mountains are high biodiversity, especially around Corakitt, the White bog and a few other patches. Though not huge biodiversity, the Cooley mountains and Clogherhead represent relatively unspoilt habitats supporting specialist species. Similarly several dune systems represent great examples of succession ecology, especially between the Baltray and Clogherhead. There are also several other small bogs, fens, marshes and ponds scattered around the county which are of good local interest, and a few of national or international importance.

But biodiversity is under constant threat, mostly from human impacts, from development, farming, industrial activity, transport and all the rest. Global warming has increased the pressure, contributing further to the habitat loss which is the main driver of biodiversity loss.

The Louth Nature Trust supports a halt to biodiversity loss through the restoration a protection of natural habitats.

The Louth Nature Trust operations are largely funded by Local Biodiversity Action Plan fund, operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, through the Heritage Office of Louth County Council.

Latest News

03/03/2025

Avian Influenza 2025

The ongoing bird flu epidemic continues. In summer 2022, the UK’s seabirds were hit extremely hard by bird flu hitting tousands of Gannets. Over 2,500 Great Skuas  died in Scotland, as well as over a quarter of our Roseate Terns on Coquet Island, the only breeding colony of this species in the UK, Roakcbill was similarly hit. Againspring/summer 2023, we again saw devastating impacts on seabirds, including Black-headed Gulls, Guillemots, Kittiwakes and Herring Gulls, as well as significant impacts on terns; fortunately our colony of ittle terns at Blatray were largely unaffected.. Seabirds are long-lived, take several years to reach breeding age and rear only one or two chicks per year, so it is particularly difficult for them to recover from such an impact. F In winter 2022/23, up to 5,000 Greenland Barnacle Geese died on Islay, as well as hundreds of ducks, swans, gulls and other geese species. Birds of prey such as Peregrine Falcon, Hen Harrier, Buzzard, White-tailed Eagle and Golden Eagle have also been testing positive. The most recent series of bird flu outbreaks is the largest ever in the UK and worldwide and has killed tens of thousands of birds in the UK alone.  

  • A case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI H5N1) has been confirmed in a peregrine falcon in Co. Wexford.
  • This is the fifth confirmed case of the virus in a wild bird in Ireland since December 2024.
  • The Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has confirmed the presence of HPAI H5N1 in wild birds across 3 separate counties in Northern Ireland.
  • An Avian Influenza Protection Zone was introduced across Northern Ireland on 18th January 2025, which establishes similar mandatory biosecurity requirements as introduced by DAFM’s Avian Influenza (biosecurity measures) Regulations introduced on 6th December 2024, on all keepers of poultry and captive birds.
  • From November 2024 to date, there have been 24 confirmed outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in poultry flocks and 3 in captive birds in England and 1 case in a poultry flock in Scotland (10th January 2025).
  • Members of the public are reminded not to touch sick or dead wild birds.
  • Poultry keepers are reminded to remain vigilant for any suspicions of avian influenza in their flocks, and to report such suspicions to their Regional Veterinary Office or the National Disease Emergency Hotline 01 492 8026 without delay.

Hopefully the disease will evolve in the same way as 2024, when incidences seemed to drop off as the breading season progressed.

 

01/03/2025

Restrictions on Cutting Hedgerows and Burning

Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976 prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or other destruction of vegetation growing on “any land not then cultivated” between 1st March and 31st August annually.

This is to protect bird life during the nesting season, to help prevent forest fires, and to protect vegetation and wildlife habitats during the months of growth and reproduction.

The legislation allows for some limited exemptions. For business, landowners and the general public the most notable of these exemptions are:

  • The destruction, in the ordinary course of agriculture or forestry, of any vegetation growing on or in any hedge or ditch.
  • The clearance of vegetation in the course of road or other construction works or in the development or preparation of sites on which any building or other structure is intended to be provided;
  • The felling, cutting, lopping, trimming or removal of a tree, shrub, hedge or other vegetation pursuant to section 70 of the Roads Act 1993.

Suspected breaches of Section 40 of the Wildlife Act can be reported to WildlifeEnforcement@npws.gov.ie or your local NPWS office (see: Contact Us). Breaches of Section 40 of the Wildlife Act constitute a wildlife crime and may result in prosecution.

According to Section 22 of the Wildlife Acts it is also a criminal offence to wilfully destroy, injure, or mutilate the eggs or nest of a wild bird or to wilfully disturb a wild bird on or near a nest containing eggs or un-flown young birds at any time of the year.

The Wildlife Act 1976 is available to view and download.

01/09/2024

National Heritage Week

National Heritage week 2024 was from 17th to 25th August with many events of heritage interest around the country. Our event this year was a talk on terns at the Spirit Store Dundalk Docks delivered by Breffni Martin.

17/08/2024

Mell Quarry update

According to local ecologist Tony Conaghy, the tufted ducks successfully produced several ducklings on the ponds this year, which the kestrel pair produced four to five chicks. in the meantime debate continues over the future of Mell Quarry: https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/drogheda-news/pictures-show-potential-for-louth-towns-very-own-central-park/a2012775358.html



21/07/2024

Green Island

A small population of sandwich terns has set up to breed on Green Island in Carlingford Lough, arriving late (end of June) probably from a failed colony elsewhere. Over recent years attempted nesting on green island has consistently failed in recent years, mainly doe to the presence of large numbers of herring and great black-backed gulls, as well as over washing during spring tides. This may be exacerbated by the passage of the Seatrucks usually travelling at 20 knots up the lough. There are also several pairs of herring gull nesting in close proximity.

21/07/2024

Botany Update

Botanical team Ciaran and Enda Flynn have recorded an exceptional year for lesser butterfly orchids (Platanthera bifolia) with 39 specimens recorded at a regular site in the Cooley mountains this year. Ciaran discovered a new record for the county two years ago in the form of Killarney fern (Trichomanes speciosum) in the Cooley Mountains, written up in the latest edition of Irish Botanical News. Other finds over recent years include bog orchid (Hammarbya paludosa) one of our rarest wild flowers, and many others. Ciaran is a county recorder for the BSBI in County Louth.

Breffni