©Peter Birch via Flickr © Kentish Plover via Flickr ©Michael John O’Mahony ©Thomas B. via Pixabay

Picture 1 Picture 2 Picture 3 Picture 4 ©Alexas Fotos via Pixabay © Michael John O’Mahony Can you name these Irish Plants and ? Try our interactive quiz on these species here • Picture 1

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Picture 5 Picture 6 • Picture 6 2C4 Description Habitat found Sessile Oak The traditional Irish oak species is The There are small remnant Oak woods in most Sessile Oak; one of two native Oaks. There counties. Sessile Oak is found more Common Name: (Sessile) Oak Tree are three key ways to recognise the Sessile commonly on poor acid soils, in hilly regions. Oak: 1) it has acorns on short or no stalks, 2) It is the main species to be found in the leaf outline is only lightly grooved, and 3) Ireland’s most familiar woodlands, e.g. Irish Name: Dair ghaelach leaves are borne on long stalks. In contrast Killarney. Native Oaks are an important the other one, the Pedunculate Oak, has habitat for hundreds of and many Scientific Name: Quercus petraea acorns which grow on long stalks and has birds and mammals. Oak trees can grow to deeply grooved leaves on very short stalks. 40m tall, and can live for over 1,000 years!

Oak trees are deciduous – Oak trees start to this means they drop their grow new shoots and leaves in Autumn and Winter. leaves in Spring when This allows them time to rest they get energy from during a period when there is the extra sunlight at very little energy available this time of year Image by Peter Birch via Flickr.com from the sun. Flower: May Fruit: October Tiny flowers grow in late Acorns will form in the Life Spring; male flowers appear Did you know? summer. These will grow big as dangling catkins; female Image by Peter Birch via Flickr.com Oak Trees also rely on animals such as and fat and eventually fall Cycle flowers occur in stiff Squirrels and Jackdaws to spread acorns off the tree naturally by reddish stalk-less clusters. far away from the parent tree. Animals the end of Autumn, if not Each tree will have both Fun Facts! do this accidentally! For example when a taken by an before male and female flowers. then. One in every five town-land names in squirrel has eaten its fill, it will then Ireland refers to a tree! And more collect extra acorns, and bury them in the ground for later or for fear that The male flowers spread than 10% of these have some link to food will be scarce in the winter. If the their pollen using the wind - the word ‘dair’, the Irish word for oak. winter is mild, or the animal is forgetful, when a female flower Eg. Cill Dara, the Irish for Kildare and can’t remember the storage place, receives pollen it can then means ‘Church of the Oak’. Can you produce seeds. Oak tree the acorns get left in the ground. They think of any others? then become new Oak Trees in Spring! seeds are called ‘Acorns’. 2C4

Sessile Oak Draw Sessile Oak leaves:

Image by Peter Birch via Flickr.com In Winter Acorns will fall to the ground, or be Draw acorns on the trees in Autumn. carried away from the In Spring Oak trees Can you see any animals trying to eat them? tree by hungry animals grow their branches such as squirrels or a little longer. Acorns jackdaws from last year will also sprout and turn into new trees. Life By Autumn the mammy flowers, which have got Cycle pollen from the In early Summer the daddy flowers, trees make mammy will turn into flowers and daddy chunky seeds flowers. Pollen is carried called Acorns. on the wind from daddy flowers and can land on mammy flowers on other Oaks far away. 2C1 Description Habitat found Holly This is a well-known small tree. The This small native tree is widespread in evergreen, glossy leaves are spikey and stiff; woodlands and hedgerows throughout Ireland. the upper side is darker green than the It forms the shrub layer in some of our oldest Common Name: Holly lower side. It has small white flowers (6- woodlands. The Holly leaves are a main food- 10mm) from May to July. By August these plant (along with Ivy) of the Irish Name: Cuileann have turned into green berries (just on the ’s caterpillars. The berries are a great female trees). This is followed in late autumn source of food for many birds (e.g. The Song Scientific Name: by the familiar bright scarlet berries. Thrush and Mistle Thrush) during winter.

By Winter these berries have turned bright red; and have the Holly is an typical appearance of the common evergreen tree, festive decorations in Ireland. and so has green Many seeds (located in the leaves all year berries) are spread by birds! round.

In Autumn green Life In Spring, with the Image by Hornbeam Arts via Flickr.com berries can be increasing seen on the trees. temperatures and Cycle sunlight, the plant Fun Facts! grows new shoots. Image by Kentish Plover via Flickr.com o Holly trees are either male or female! – only the female can bear berries, but both sexes bear flowers. It is therefore important to plant several Holly trees Fertilisation happens when a together to make sure that the female trees can be Flower: May – July flower on a female tree Small white flowers fertilised by the male pollen, and thus go on to produce Fruit: November – January receives the pollen from a blossom in Summer fruit. flower on a male tree. A from May through to o In European folklore, Holly trees were associated with fertilised flower will then turn July. protection from lightning, so people used to plant them into a berry. near to their homes! 2C1

Holly Draw Holly leaves:

Draw Holly in the Winter: These berries turn bright red in Winter, In Spring Holly before they fall to the trees grow their ground, with little branches a little seeds inside. longer. Seeds from the winter berries will also turn into new Holly trees. Life By Autumn the Cycle flowers, which have been pollinated by insects, will have In Summer small white turned into round flowers grow on the green berries. plants. They will attract visitors such as the Holly Blue Butterfly. 2C3 Description Habitat found Pied Wagtail A small, black and white, long- The Pied Wagtail lives in a wide variety tailed, active bird. It is often seen of habitats, often close to water, and Common Name: Pied Wagtail / Willy Wagtail standing whilst busily wagging its including urban areas in Ireland. It is tail up and down. It dashes about not common in upland areas or bogs. Irish Name: Glasóg shráide over grassland, lawns and car parks They feed mainly on insects caught on in search of food. It often calls out the ground or in flight. These birds Scientific Name: Motacilla alba yarrellii during its somewhat bobbing flight. often visit school yards and car-parks!

In Spring, birds find a In Autumn and Winter, suitable mate and nest site females and first-winter and will start to build their males feed together in nest. They like tree hollows flocks. Adult males and log piles; but prefer to establish feeding nest in holes. territories on their own.

Around mid-May they Outside the breeding lay 5-6 eggs. Eggs are season, birds roost in Life incubated by the reed beds, bushes and female. Chicks will ©Michael John O’Mahony trees; sometimes in city hatch after about 2

centres! Cycle weeks. ©Michael John O’Mahony John ©Michael Fun Facts! Parents will look after their Chicks are fed mainly During the winter, pied wagtails form Seen in Ireland: All year round. young for about two weeks on flying insects, and large groups at night to keep warm and after leaving the nest. And they grow quickly. Common throughout Ireland. then they will go on to have They are ready to safe. In the UK these roosts have had as a second family if it’s not leave the nest after many as 4000 birds huddled together! too late in the summer. about 2 weeks. That must be one noisy sleep-over! 2C3 Draw a Pied Wagtail:

Pied Wagtail

©Michael John O’Mahony

In the Autumn and Winter, adult males often feed alone, but all the other birds are happy to In Spring the feed in small groups together. mammy and daddy They also sleep in large groups birds pick a good at night-time; sometimes in spot to build a nest; Is there anywhere in your school where you think Pied Wagtails might like trees in the city centre! usually a tree hollow. to build a nest? Draw a picture of that place: Life Cycle By late Summer the chicks will fly out of In early Summer the the nest. The parents mammy lays up to 8 will stay with them and eggs. They will hatch help them get food for after 2 weeks. Both a few more weeks. parents then feed the chicks insects. 2C6 Description Habitat found Jackdaw This is a relatively small crow species. It Jackdaws can be found almost anywhere in is dark grey or black all over with a hint of Ireland; living happily in towns or in wild silver on the back of the neck. It has places. They feed in open areas such as Common Name: Jackdaw black legs and blue eyes. pastures, parks, on the tide line at the Jackdaws are usually seen in pairs; even beach and in school yards. They are within larger flocks you can notice birds omnivores, meaning they eat lots of Irish Name: Cág staying close to their partner. They are different foods. This includes insects, very social and noisy birds; spending a lot seeds, fruit, scraps and birds eggs. They Scientific Name: Corvus monedula of time calling to each other. also eat acorns when they are ripe.

In winter Jackdaws can In Spring young Jackdaws join really large flocks; in their first year will find usually with a mix of crows, a partner for life. All pairs including Rooks. These will start to establish a flocks can number tens of territory and find good thousands of birds! nest sites at this time.

Young birds will stay Both the male and female feeding with their parents Life help to build a nest. The for a number of weeks, nest site can be in a before joining bigger flocks coastal cliff, old house, Image by Maxwell Hamilton via Flickr.com and feeding independently. Image by Jez via Flickr.com Cycle shed, chimney, or in tree holes in woodlands, parks and gardens. Seen in Ireland: Year-round Fun Facts! After one month in the The central cup of the Jackdaw’s nest is In Autumn and Winter, Jackdaws often join nest, being fed by both parents, the 4-5 eggs are laid in the usually lined with hair, grass or fur. up with Rooks and Hooded Crows to feed chicks are big and nest, usually around the Jackdaws have been known to perch on and roost together in very large numbers. strong enough to take start of April. The the back of horses and sheep to pull out flight. female will incubate the eggs for about 20 days. hairs in order to line their nest. Ouch! 2C6 Draw a Jackdaw:

Jackdaw

Image by Jez via Flickr.com

In Winter Jackdaws can join really large In Spring the mammy flocks sometimes and daddy birds pick a with more than good spot to build a 10,000 birds!! nest; this can be a shed, Is there anywhere in your school where you think Jackdaws might like to an old house, or in a sea build a nest? Draw a picture of that place: cliff. The mammy lays Life about 4 eggs. Cycle By Autumn the young birds do not need any In early Summer the more help from their eggs will hatch out. parents and they will Both parents then join big flocks with feed the chicks with other young Jackdaws. insects and other food until they are strong enough to fly. 2C5 Description Habitat found Hedgehog The hedgehog is a medium sized In Ireland the hedgehog is mammal (i.e. an animal with hair, that associated with Hedgerows and gives birth to live young, and Pasture Farmland. Mainly they eat Common Name: Hedgehog produces its own milk). It is easily insects, including moth larvae, recognisable because of its very earwigs, beetles, harvestman and Irish Name: Gráinneóg spiny fur. They are nocturnal caterpillars, and will also devour animals, which means they are active spiders, slugs and earthworms if

Scientific Name: Erinaceus europaeus by night, and rest during the day. they find them. ©Michael John O’Mahony Foraging is a time consuming Hedgehogs come out of nightly activity, for both hibernation around sexes of hedgehog during March each year, once the autumn period. It will go the weather begins to into hibernation around get mild. October.

Most hedgehogs breed After a month, the young between April and July. Males will leave the nest, will travel far and wide to DO NOT TOUCH accompanied by their Life find a partner. Females tend Hedgehogs are obviously very mother and learn to forage to stay in their own area and prickly. Their spines would hurt for two weeks. By the age await the arrival of a you if you try to pick them up! of 6 weeks old they are Cycle wandering male. Ouch! But also they are very ready to live alone! often covered in fleas! Image by avantgardener4 via Flickr.com

Females take care of the The female makes a Fun Facts! family alone. Most will give cosy nest; they are not If attacked by a predator e.g. a fox or Seen in Ireland: Spring to Autumn birth to 3-6 babies around too fussy. They have badger, the hedgehog rolls into a tight Present in Ireland: Year-round June. After birth the young been known to use: ball so that its spines stick right out. remain in the nest with their abandoned rabbit These will hurt the attacker, and (but usually not seen during their mother, who feeds them holes, dense hedges hibernation period over winter) milk, for about 4 weeks. and old hay bales! probably get them to give up the chase! 2C5 Draw a Hedgehog out looking for food at night-time:

Hedgehog ©Michael John O’Mahony John ©Michael

All hedgehogs hunt every night until the end of In Spring the Autumn, getting as fat as hedgehog comes out they can! They then make of hibernation and a bed, somewhere cosy, starts looking for and they go to sleep for food. the whole Winter! Life Cycle In Summer the The mammy looks after mammy builds a nest; the babies all summer, somewhere dry under feeding them with her stones, logs or soil. own milk. By Autumn the The mammy and daddy young have learned how to then make a family. hunt for food too. 2C2 Description Habitat found The wings are mainly pale blue, 26mm- Found in gardens Holly Blue Butterfly 35mm across. The upper wing (when wings containing Holly and are open) has a black border, which is Ivy, and also close to Common Name: Holly Blue more pronounced in females. The where remnants of old underside of the wing (visible when wings woodland retain Holly Irish Name: Gormán Cuilinn are closed) are even paler blue, almost and Ivy plants. silvery, with small black dots and streaks. Scientific Name: argiolus New Holly Blue These do butterflies emerge not survive on the from cocoons in Flight period: wing over winter, as March and April April – May there is no food for across all of Ireland, and; them. These adults feed July – August in areas mainly on the nectar Most caterpillars* will from flowers of Holly. where the butterfly has a build a cocoon and lie Life They mate, and females second brood (which is only dormant for six months will lay eggs singly, in the south of Ireland, or more, as they over- beside unopened flower where weather is milder). winter in the chrysalis Cycle buds. phase of the life-cycle. ©Michael John O’Mahony *Fun Facts! Eggs hatch after After nearly 4 weeks of Holly Blue Butterflies that live in the southern half of the island about 2 weeks; the feeding on the of Ireland can double-brood! This means that the first caterpillars are developing flowers and caterpillars born in early Summer, turn into butterflies within a generally a pale few weeks; they get out flying in July or early August. These fruits of Holly the green colour. butterflies then mate and lay eggs, which grow into caterpillars caterpillars turn a dull by the end of the Summer. This second batch of caterpillars purple colour and prepare only feed on Ivy (as Holly flowers are no longer available). This to pupate Images by Dean Morley via Flickr.com brood of caterpillars will over-winter in cocoons. 2C2 Draw a Holly Blue Butterfly coming out of its brown cocoon: Holly Blue Butterfly

©Michael John O’Mahony

By Spring the In early Autumn the caterpillar has turned Draw Holly Blue caterpillars caterpillars turn purple into a butterfly! When eating on the Holly Tree: and start to make a it wakes up it comes out cocoon. When finished of the cocoon and the caterpillars fall starts looking for food. asleep inside for the Draw a Holly Blue Butterfly feeding on the whole Winter. Life small white Holly flowers on the Holly tree: Cycle In early Summer the By late Summer small butterfly feeds on the light-green nectar from flowers. caterpillars come out The mammies lay their of the eggs and eat eggs on the Holly plant. the flowers and fruits of Holly.