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Picture 5 Picture 6 • Picture 6 Description Habitat found Ash Ash trees can grow up to 40 metres tall. Ash trees are common and They have a greyish bark. Their leaves grow widespread throughout Common Name: Ash as leaflets with several leaves growing from Ireland. They are often Irish Name: Fuinseog the same stem. Their seeds are called keys seen in hedgerows and in and hang down in bunches. They look like woodlands as well as in Scientific Name: Fraxinus excelsior one wing of the helicopter seed. They start parks and gardens and off green and turn brown before falling off. school grounds.

Ash trees are In Spring new deciduous. They seeds from the lose their leaves previous year for the rest of may begin to the year in early grow. autumn Life

Flowers form The keys each contain Cycle in about April one seed. Their wing and are allows them to be moved by the wind in autumn pollinated by the wind.

The fruit is called keys. They dangle in Fun Facts! bunches from the tree. Keys The wood from Ash trees is extremely dense Flowers: Spring form in late Fruits: Late summer summer and because of that it is often used in furniture making and to make hurley and Leaves: Late to arrive in spring and quick to drop in autumn camogie sticks. Threats Ash Although ash is widespread in Ireland these trees are under threat. Ash trees are at risk of a fungal infection called “ash Draw a picture of how you think an ash tree dieback”. This has become widespread throughout Europe. It infected with ash dieback may look . causes discolouration of the bark and leaves, dieback of the shoots and branches and can lead to the of the tree. A very small number of trees are resistant (are able to fight off the Photo: Philip Haling via infection). This is important because fungicides (which may kill the Wikimedia fungal infection) are difficult to use as treatment. Ash keys start off green and Draw a picture of an ash tree in late autumn. Does it have leaves or turn brown In winter ash trees look keys? when the seed quite distinctive. There inside is ready. branches are grey with They are then black tips and look like blown off the pencils! tree. Life

Ash keys rattle in the Ash leaves are slow to wind as they knock Cycle bud. They often against each other in appear later than their late summer. flowers in April Ash flowers are Did you know.. small and dark with no petals. Ash trees are very important for animals Fun Fact: They don’t Ash trees are dioecious. This means that trees are either male or attract living in the same ecosystem. They support a so must rely on female (have only male or female flowers) although some trees the wind to huge variety of different species of insects. can have male and female flowers on different branches. Only pollinate them female trees will produce fruit (keys). This is slightly unusual but Their keys are also an important food source holly trees are another example of a tree which will be either for birds, squirrels and mice. male or female. Description Habitat found

Wild Garlic (also known as ramsons) Wild garlic is quite common and Wild Garlic is a perennial* plant which has widespread throughout Ireland. It white, star shaped flowers and long, is often seen at the edges of Common Name: Ramsons or wild garlic pointed leaves. It grows quite low to woodlands and along hedgerow. the ground. It has a very strong, You generally won’t see just one Irish Name: Creamh “garlicky” smell which you may plant by itself, they tend to grow notice if passing by. like carpets all together. Scientific Name: Allium ursinum In autumn and Carpets of wild winter growth garlic begin stops. Seeds lie growing in late dormant in the spring soil until spring. Life

The fruit is a capsule Long, pointed containing seeds. The Cycle leaves appear seeds are quite heavy first in circular and often just drop clusters close to to the ground below the ground the mother plant Photo: Michael Mueller via Flickr.com The white star shaped flowers bloom in Fun Facts! April/May and are pollinated by You can eat the flowers and leaves of wild insects such as bees. The fruit garlic! It is the leaves that the strong smell is develops coming from. The garlic we buy in shops is bulb *Perennial plants are those that live for garlic which is a relative of wild garlic. Flowers: April- May more than two years. Wild Garlic Wild Garlic in Medicine Wild garlic has been used for many years for Wild Garlic medicinal reasons. According to Irish folklore wild garlic was used to treat lung Draw a picture that shows any differences you see between wild garlic and either Lords and Ladies or Lily-of-the-Valley infections as well as other ailments. Now we know that it contains lots of beneficial vitamins and nutrients which may Photo: Amanda Slater via help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Flickr.com

Lords and Ladies Lily-of-the-Valley Draw a picture of a carpet of wild garlic in bloom

Photo: Peter O’Connor via Flickr Photo: ElPadawan via Flickr.com Fun Facts! Take care not to confuse wild garlic with Lords and Ladies The scientific (Latin) name Allium ursinum means “Bear garlic”. or Lily-of-the-Valley. These are both poisonous plants that This comes from a old legend that when bears woke from often grow in similar areas to garlic and whose leaves are hibernation they would eat lots of wild garlic to get rid of any similar. If unsure rely on your nose! Wild garlic leaves have toxins that built up over winter and to begin spring in good health! a strong smell which should leave you in no doubt! Description Habitat found

Black headed gulls are one of the smaller Black headed gulls are one of the most Black Headed Gull members of the gull family. They are slightly common species of gull in Ireland. They are confusingly named as the head is white with found inland as well as in coastal regions. just a black dot on the side most of the year. They will spend time on inland lakes. They Common Name: Black headed gull In summer their head is actually dark brown. are attracted to places which often have They have red, webbed feet and a red beak. food lying around such as urban Their body is mostly white and grey. They environments and school yards after lunch! Irish Name: Sléibhín have black tips on the end of their wings. Scientific Name: Larus ridibundus Adult black headed gull in The young will Breeding winter Adult black headed gulls in summer fledge and occurs in leave the nest coastal areas within 6 and inland in weeks. spring. Life They generally nest in large It takes 3-4 Cycle colonies in weeks for the wetland areas to hatch. on ground nest sites. Photo: David Merrett via Flickr A breeding pair Photo: Steenbergs via Flickr.com will usually lay one brood of about 5/6 eggs “It’s a seagull” Sounds like… per year Seagull is a nickname often given to many different Black headed gulls can make a lot of noise especially species of gulls including the black headed gull but in flocks. They have several calls which are harsh there is no specific bird whose real name is seagull. sounding variations on a screech of “kreee- aaa” Black Headed Gull Diet: Predators: Black headed gulls mainly feed on The main danger from predators insects and worms in fields but will comes during nesting season. Draw a picture of an black headed gull in winter also scavenge for food in urban Since black headed gulls are areas, around fisheries etc. They ground nesting birds they are will eat a large variety of food they vulnerable to attack from find from fish to leftover mammals as well as other large sandwiches. birds such as crows.

In Spring they will The gulls life return to their cycle can be Draw a picture of a juvenile black headed gull nest sites and divided into produce a new the juvenile brood and adult stages Life

In winter flocks will be Juveniles are joined by migrating birds Cycle birds in their from Europe and can be first year of seen in huge groups leaving the scavenging for food nest Juveniles will have darker Juvenile plumage than adults. When they are one Did you know…. they will get their adult The numbers of black headed gulls have been falling plumage in recent years. Changes in their habitats is a big reason why. Another cause is the arrival of the Seen in Ireland: Year-round American mink, an invasive species who preys on the eggs and chicks at nest sites. Photo: Gareth Williams via Flickr.com Description Habitat found House sparrows are a small The house sparrow is House Sparrow bird with a pale chest and widespread throughout dark brown back, wings and Ireland. It is one of the top Common Name: House sparrow head. The female is more dull 20 most common garden Irish Name: Gealbhan binne in colour than the male. Their birds. They are also seen in beaks are short, dark and parks, farmland and urban Scientific Name: Passer domesticus straight. areas. In Spring sparrows will Sparrows do not nest under the migrate from eaves in Ireland. During Photo: Steve Herring via Flickr.com buildings, in winter they may holes in walls or have to work trees and in thick Female harder to find hedges. They will food. often nest in Male colonies Life Sparrows may Females will have more than usually lay 4/5 one brood in a eggs per brood Photo: Kenneth Cole Schneider via Flickr year. It can be as Cycle beginning in many as 4 March or April Fun Facts! Seen in Ireland: Year-round. These can hatch and fledge (learn You can often tell male and female birds apart by House sparrows do not migrate abroad to and leave their colour. Males are generally brighter or more the nest) within in winter. They may move to different a month. distinctive. This allows them to attract a mate. areas searching for food depending on Females generally need to use camouflage when they the season and then return to the nest are sitting on eggs to avoid attracting predators site in spring. Diet Predators Sparrows are omnivores (they House sparrows have several House Sparrow eat meat and plants). They eat predators in Ireland. These a selection of seeds, insects, include larger birds, such as Draw a picture that shows the differences buds and will also eat lots of sparrowhawks and even cats! between the male and female house sparrow things left on bird tables. They will generally build their They beaks are small enough nests in hard to access or to be able to use peanut bird hidden areas to protect their feeders. young. Young sparrows will often join a In early spring Draw a picture of a nest with a brood of sparrows being fed flock and head the female will somewhere with lay her first abundant food brood of eggs. sources for They take about autumn and 11 days to hatch. winter. Life

After about 2 weeks The male is mostly they can take flight but Cycle responsible for the parents will help feeding chicks as the them feed for another female may be fortnight until they can already preparing for find their own food. the next brood. Did you know… When chicks first hatch from their eggs they can not fly or leave the nest so they are completely reliant on their Chicks are mostly parents to bring them food. Their feathers are not yet suited to fed on insects Sparrow Sounds! flying and they will often look quite different than the adults. The such as chicks will compete with their siblings to try and get the most food caterpillars and Sparrows make a variety of sounds to by chirping and opening their beaks as wide as they can when a grasshoppers but also vegetation communicate. If listening out for them you parent returns with food. Often, if there is not enough food the and seeds. may hear either a lively “chirrup” or a lower largest chicks will be given most of the available food. This is to ensure that at least some of the brood survives. sounding “churrrr”. Description Habitat found

Pill bugs are one species of woodlouse. There are Pill bugs and many other woodlice are Pill bug about 32 different species of woodlouse in Ireland! widespread throughout Ireland. They are They are not an but actually a member of the found underneath things in large numbers family (which also includes and such as rotten logs, piles of leaves and flower Common Name: Pill bug !). They have 14 legs and a tough outer pots in gardens, parks, woodlands and even covering (). The pill bug is dark in colour school grounds! They are also often found in Irish Name: Míol críon ((woodlouse)) with a ridged back. They have a pair of antennae. crevices or gaps such as between bricks or Other species of woodlice found in Ireland can be under window sills. They are attracted to Scientific Name: vulgare different shades of grey but otherwise look very damp, dark places as they can easily dry out similar to a pill bug. if out in the open or exposed to sunlight.

Woodlice Photo: Larry Jacobsen via Flickr Photo: Larry Jacobsen via Flickr As woodlice grow usually lay one they begin to moult*. brood of eggs After the first moult per year. A they leave their brood may mothers pouch and have over 100 live independently eggs! Life After hatching The female has woodlice remain in the a brood pouch pouch initially to Cycle which she prevent drying out in holds the eggs this vulnerable time in. Fun Facts! Photo: Peter O’Connor via Flickr Eggs hatch after 3 to 6 When a pill bug is threatened or scared it will roll weeks into a ball to protect itself (similar to a hedgehog). Seen in Ireland: Year-round * Moulting is the process of shedding skin or an This gives the pill bug its nickname “roly poly”. outer covering. This is necessary when animals with a fixed or inflexible outer layer are growing. Other species of woodlice can not do this. Diet Predators Despite their name woodlice do not Woodlice have many predators. A wide Pill bug only feed on wood. It is a part of their variety of birds, small mammals, frogs etc diet but they eat lots of different will feed on woodlice. Some birds may Draw a picture of any suitable habitats you can think of for a pill bug in your school grounds. dead or decaying plant matter eat huge numbers in a single day if they including logs, twigs and branches, come across a large group under a log or leaves which have fallen onto the stone. There is also a few spiders that ground, rotting fruit, fungi and even feed almost exclusively on woodlice with poo! specially adapted features to penetrate the defences of the woodlice.

They may live for about 3 Due to their rigid Draw a picture of a pill bug before and after it notices a years and have exoskeleton young predator approaching several broods pill bugs must moult in this time as they grow Life At about 1 year old They moult in two they have reached stages. One half of adulthood and Cycle their shell drops may begin off about a day breeding before the second

A pill bug will Fun Facts! undergo 4-5 Did you know….Woodlice are a crucial part of the moults before Woodlice can lose water vapour through their exoskeleton they are fully ecosystem. As they are feeding on dead plant material grown (outer covering). This makes them vulnerable to drying out. they are helping to recycle nutrients and return them to This is why they are attracted to damp, shaded places and the soil whilst at the same time ensuring that plant why you will not see them out in the open (especially on a matter does not build up. sunny day!) Description Habitat found Red Squirrel Red squirrels are mostly reddish brown in Red squirrels are fairly scarce in many colour with a white patch on their parts of Ireland. They are found in Common Name: Red Squirrel underbelly. They have a bushy tail, long isolated, woodland habitats. They pointy ears (with distinctive tufts of hair on generally live in hollows of trees or will Irish Name: Iora rua top) and a triangular face. They are the only build a “drey”. A drey is built from twigs, native squirrel in Ireland. The grey squirrel is leaves and other materials. It looks like a Scientific Name: Sciurus vulgaris the other member of the family. It is larger large bird’s nest but with a hole in the and grey or brownish in colour and was middle which the squirrel gets inside brought here from America rather than sitting on top as a bird would. During winter squirrels may spend several days at a time Baby squirrels (kits) in their dreys if the are born in late weather is very bad spring/early summer. but they do not hibernate! Life

When food is In summer time red scarce in winter Cycle squirrels will spend they will go back most of their time up in and find the trees and will only hidden food briefly come onto the Photo: Herdiephoto via Flickr.com stashes ground looking for food Photo: Chris Parker via Flickr.com During autumn Seen in Ireland: Year-round (they do not hibernate!) they will hide extra food in Fun Facts! Did you know… red squirrels were once much more widespread in Ireland. However, when grey stashes near but Red squirrels are excellent at running across narrow squirrels were brought to Ireland about 100 years ago this led to the numbers of red squirrels not in their dropping. This is not because the grey squirrels attack or eat the red squirrels but rather home branches and jumping across the tops of trees. The have because the grey squirrels “outcompete” them. This means that when both live in the same long, sharp claws which help them to climb and grip and place the grey squirrels are better at surviving there. Grey squirrels can eat a wide variety of their long tails help them to keep their balance and food in many Irish woodlands. They spend more of their time gathering food. Grey squirrels are also able to eat certain seeds or nuts before they ripen and red squirrels do not. While the red avoid falling. squirrels are waiting for these seeds to become ripe the grey squirrels may have eaten them all! Diet: Predators: Red squirrels are herbivores. They feed The pine marten is a natural predator Red Squirrel on a variety of fruit and buds but mostly of squirrels. However it may actually be seeds and nuts such as pine cones, helping the red squirrel! Grey squirrels Draw a picture of a red squirrel looking for acorns, horse chestnuts and hazelnuts. are more at risk of attack from pine food in winter They will often stash some extra food martens and their presence can cause away during autumn so they can have the numbers of grey squirrels to some available for winter when food is decrease leaving opportunities for red scarce. squirrels to take over! If there is no second litter kits A breeding pair may stay with the of squirrels can Differences between red and grey squirrel parents over winter. Otherwise have 1 or 2 they will leave the litters in a year nest in autumn. Life Babies are born Breeding can hairless and begin as early as blind. They will Cycle December/Janua feed on their ry depending on mothers milk for food availability Photo: Paul Buxton via Flickr.com 7-10 weeks

There are often 3 kits in a litter Fun Facts! but can be up to 6. Pregnancy Squirrels are sometimes called “nature’s gardeners” because they lasts 5-6 weeks accidently plant trees/shrubs in their habitats. Most of the food they Did you know… another reason for the drop in numbers of red squirrels in stash away for winter is seeds (acorns, horse chestnuts etc) which they Ireland is the spread of squirrel pox. Grey squirrels “carry” this disease often hide by burying under the soil. If they forget where they put it this (not in a bag!). This means that the disease lives in their body but does not seed can grow into a new plant. This eventually helps the squirrel kill them. However red squirrels who live near a “carrier” can be infected population as when the tree grows they will lots more of that food! (just like catching a cold) and will generally die from the disease.