Oak Woodland

Woodland dominated by oak trees naturally occur on moist free draining sites throughout Northern Ireland and would have been very common at one time. We know this by the name 'Derry', meaning oak, being a prefix to many place names here.

Wildlife

Trees present include sessile and pedunculate oak, downy birch, holly, rowan and hazel. Bluebells can be found covering extensive areas alongside greater wood rush and bilberry. These woodlands are noted for the diversity and abundance of mosses, lichens, liverwort and fungi.

Distribution

Oak woods (.PDF 102.64Kb) are now found in scattered sites from Breen Wood in the north to Rostrevor Wood in the south-east and Crom in the west. They are particularly well developed in moist, mild conditions found in upland margins in the north and west.

Places to Visit

Why not visit Crokaghole Wood in Magherafelt, Breen Wood in Moyle, Glenarm woodlands in County Antrim.