Changing the conversation on Ireland’s Natura 2000 sites
‘If you live in a very special place, that should be a good thing and not a bad thing’
Nature
Articles related to nature
Birdwatching in Ireland has changed remarkably in the past century and a quarter – for good and bad
Authors of seminal 1900 book The Birds of Ireland would be surprised by species’ decline, extinction and recovery
Eye on Nature: ‘We saw these translucent blobs on the beach in Rosslare. What are they?’
Éanna Ní Lamhna identifies curious wildlife spotted by readers from around the country
Asian hornet spotted in Cork a ‘significant threat to biodiversity’, says wildlife service
Public urged to be ‘vigilant’ and report any sightings of the hornet, which endangers native pollinators
Two endangered red panda cubs born at Cork’s Fota Wildlife Park
Public invited to suggest names for the newborn red panda cubs
Boyne Companions – Frank McNally on why the road from Dublin to Slane lies mainly on a plain (allegedly)
The loveliness of the setting is matched by that of the village of Slane itself
An Alaskan adventure: Someone whispers ‘bear’ – then we see him: huge, dark and ambling towards us
On a cruise from Seattle to the glaciers of Alaska, we admire coastlines too beautiful for words, encounter a bear and take a polar plunge
How to build a bird-friendly garden
Providing nutritious plants and prey and shelter can maximise your garden’s appeal to our feathered friends
Are there actually more biting insects in Ireland these days?
It’s possible, but what’s certain is that warm sunny days draw more of us outdoors, increasing the chance of being bitten or stung
Revealed: Ireland’s Greenest Places 2025 long list
Nominee places range from the shadows of Croagh Patrick to a once derelict dump site in Dublin’s Liberties
I say, these butterflies look rather busy
Éanna Ní Lamhna on mating rituals, a shrew having a bad fur day, and a fine photograph of a hummingbird hawkmoth
The life of microplastic: how fragments move through plants, insects, animals – and you
The story might start with your washing machine and end in your food
Ireland’s nature lovers on their favourite trees: ‘I felt I could talk to it, like going to a good therapist’
Connecting with woodland can have a profound influence on our lives
14 tips to prevent and treat insect bites and stings
Cover up, stay still when wasps are around, and consider avoiding alcohol
Red kites have thrived since reintroduction, but motorists remain a threat to their safety
Éanna Ní Lamhna outlines the plight of a majestic bird and clears up confusion around the ichneumon
Pine martens: One of Ireland’s rarest wildlife species in recovery
Shrinking woodland, persecution and poison at the start of the 20th century led to its near extinction
The tiny ‘eggs’ in this field bird’s nest fungus are spore-bearing structures
Eanna Ní Lamhna on whether a particular ladybird is good or bad, a blackbird with a white head and a rare violet sea snail
Ban on inshore fishing of sprat to protect whales, birdlife and other sea mammals
Cabinet approves ‘actions to safeguard Ireland’s marine biodiversity and coastal communities’
I saw ‘selfies’ with puffins being taken on the Saltee islands. People should keep their distance
For nature to flourish humans need to engage with wild creatures. But if that engagement involves disturbance, damage may be done
My dahlias are struggling this summer - what can I do to rescue them?
The plants are growing in good, rich soil in a nice sunny spot in the garden where they’ve always done well before now
Ireland’s only protected insect the marsh fritillary to star in new comic championing cause of insects
‘The bee gets the glory. The wasp gets the swat. I work so hard at pest control and pollination all day long and what thanks do I get?’
Amazon remains in great peril and should top Cop30 agenda
‘If we don’t reduce carbon from fossil fuel emissions, the forest will be destroyed anyway’
‘Beautiful, crisp and clear’: Winning pictures in Biodiversity Photographer of the Year contest are announced
Image of dragonfly in Meath takes top prize in competition aimed at celebrating photography and wildlife diversity
Stork sightings on the increase in Ireland
Éanna Ní Lamhna on the yellowtail caterpillar, the field grasshopper and a spider known by many names
Ash dieback: It’s hard to ignore the lines of dead and dying trees around Ireland
I am optimistic that nature will find a way around this as it has done with many other plant pathogens
Report condemns decline of Ireland’s largest saltwater lake over 40 years
Oireachtas committee calls for full restoration of heavily polluted Lady’s Island Lake in Co Wexford
How the Dingle Peninsula is modelling a new way for rural Ireland to thrive
Kerry community is embracing innovation with mix of local energy projects, nature-positive farming and sustainable tourism
Jaws at 50: the most significant piece of negative publicity sharks have ever received
Six species found in Irish waterss considered to be critically endangered
Eye on Nature: ‘Nesting blue tits have comandeered my letterbox again’
Eanna Ní Lamhna answers queries on blue tits, navelwort, uniquely Irish butterfies, dogfish egg cases and a pipistrelle bat in a glass
Rathlin Island’s puffins: We have quite a lot of people who arrive and say, ‘So, where exactly are the penguins?’
The island, with its rare golden hare, corncrakes and large seabird colonies, sustains a tourism economy
Preventing Mam from accepting a hug from a friend at my sister’s funeral will haunt me forever
Gestures ubiquitous at Irish funerals before the pandemic ravaged the world were no longer allowed during the most surreal period in a generation
Eye on Nature: If bees can’t see red, why is one drawn to this red poppy?
Éanna Ní Lamhna on the colourful bumblebee, declining linnets, and coots in UCD
How plans for new Guggenheim museum have triggered major biodiversity row in Spain
Proposed Guggenheim development in Guernica faces opposition over ecological concerns
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