Download - St. Johns Wood Leaflet
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Plan your trip to arrive in good time, so that you will get
back before dark and always let someone know where
you are going and what time to expect you back. Bring
your mobile phone with you.
The Walk.
St. Johns Wood has been undisturbed for a sufficient time
to allow a rich and varied flora and fauna to develop. The
entire area is underlain by Carboniferous Limestone and
the bedrock is close to the surface. The soil cover ismostly shallow and well drained, though patches of heavy
clay are also present. This adds to the uniqueness of St.
Johns Wood.Because of the fragile nature of the area
ALWAYS stick to the walkways and dont wander about.
We hope you enjoy your walk in St. Johns Wood. Please
remember that this rich heritage can only survive with your
co-operation. Do not leave the marked tracks. Do not
damage trees, plants or fences. Do not pick flowers. Do
not litter. Please keep St. Johns Wood safe for future
generations. Thank you.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service.The role of the National Parks and Wildlife Service
(NPWS) is to secure the conservation of a representative
range of ecosystems, to maintain & enhance populations
of flora & fauna in Ireland and to implement the EU
Habitats & Birds Directives and other National & EU
legislation. In addition the NPWS manage, maintain and
develop State-owned National Parks and Nature
Reserves.
St Johns Wood forms part of Lough Ree Special Area of
Conservation, a Natura 2000 site listed for wildlife
conservation by the European Union.
NPWS has been working with the other landowners to
manage the bio-diversity of the woodland. The work has
included survey work, wildlife ride-management and
coppicing of certain areas to maintain the richness of
habitats within the wood. The area is regularly used as a
study area by colleges and others.
How to get here.
Take the N61 RoscommonAthlone road and turn at
Lecarrow village when you see the St. Johns Wood sign.
Pass the old Lecarrow Mill on your right. After approx.
two miles the road turns through 90 degrees to the right.
Turn left. Ignore the gate entrance to St. Johns House
and continue along the roadway to the left of this gate.
Follow this road until you come to the first turn to your
right (signposted). A short drive will bring you to St.Johns Wood car park. Please park safely. GPS co-
ordinates: 53.552266 deg N - 8.003882 deg W.
Acknowledgements.
This leaflet wasproduced by St. Johns Parish Heritage Group
in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service
(NPWS). Photos: Padraig ODonnell, Niall Cribbon, NPWS &
Liam Byrne. Used with permission. Map: Ordnance Survey
Ireland Permit No. 8902. Ordnance Survey Ireland /
Government of Ireland.
National Parks & Wildlife Service: www.npws.ie
St. Johns Parish Heritage Group: [email protected]
Visitors Guide toSt. Johns Wood
Design
by
NiallCr
ibbon
&L
iam
Byrne
0872431240(Oc
tobe
r2013)
Lecarrow
St. Johns Wood
Turn left here
National Parks
& Wildlife Service
National Parks
& Wildlife Service
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Well developed woodland over limestone is uncommon in
Ireland and this makes woodlands around Lough Ree,
and in particular St. Johns Wood, unique. St. Johns
Wood comprises approx. 110 hectares and is bounded to
the east, north and north-east by the lake.
The boundaries of the wood have changed little since the
first Ordnance Survey maps of 1837 and the wood was
owned as a single unit until early in the 20th
century when
it was divided amongst the local farmers.
Tree cutting took place for many years and timber was
carried by boat to Athlone.
In recent years the wood has largely been in State
ownership and today most of the wood is managed by the
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
Flora.
The wood is dominated by Oak, Ash and Willow. In some
areas these species form a canopy with an understorey of
Hazel and Holly. From a total of twenty-six native species
of trees, twenty three can be found in St. Johns Wood.Remarkably few non-native species are found. Such a
canopy of native species is very rare in Ireland.
Portions of the wood are dominated by Hazel. This is the
result of earlier practices. Scots Pine planted in the 19th
century are present in the western part of the wood.
Along the western edge of the woodland a remarkable fen
community exists. Downy Birch, Alder, Yew, Crab-Apple,
Whitebeam and Wild Cherry are all to be found. Purging
& Alder Buckthorn are also present while Royal Fern is
frequently found within the fen area.
Plants characteristic of ancient woodland such as
Toothworth and Birds-nest Orchid occur here. Other
species of Orchids are plentiful. Mosses are abundant,
forming a continuous carpet over the ground in some
areas. Pockets of leached, acid soil support species such
as black bog-rush & grass of parnassus.
St. Johns Wood
Blackbrink North
Bay
Lough
Ree
Start and Finish Here
Important notice: Possession of this guide does not
constitute a legal right of way. Permission should be
sought from landowners before entering farmland.
Fauna.
The abundance of woodland flora plays host to a wide
variety of avian and mammalian fauna. Resident bird
species include summer visitors like the Garden Warbler,
Chiffchaff, Sedge Warbler, White Throat and Spotted
Flycatcher. The distinctive song of the warblers can be
clearly heard over the cacophony of other woodland birds.
This abundance of bird-life provides an attractive site for
those species higher up the food chain. These include
birds of prey such as the Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, BarnOwl and Long-Eared Owl who hunt and breed in the
woodland.
Animal species found here include Bats, Pine Martin,
Stoat, Fox, Field Mouse and Pygmy Shrew. An ongoing
bat-roost scheme is in operation. A recent invertebrate
study found a wide range of insects, including a number of
rare species. All this combines to make St. Johns Wood
one of the finest nature sites in Ireland. Its large size and
species richness make it a most valuable site in terms of
its heritage and ecological significance.
Fen area
Car Park
Gravelled walkway
Stone Wall