Richmond Esker
| Richmond Esker | |
|---|---|
  Richmond Esker Location of Richmond Esker in Ireland | |
| Type | National |
| Location | near Moylough, County Galway |
| Coordinates | 53°31′55″N 8°37′01″W / 53.532°N 8.617°W |
| Area | 39 acres (15.78 ha) |
| Operated by | National Parks and Wildlife Service (Ireland) |
| Status | Open all year |
Richmond Esker is a national nature reserve of approximately 39 acres (0.16 km2) located near Moylough, County Galway, Ireland. It is managed by the Irish National Parks & Wildlife Service.
Features
Richmond Esker was legally protected as a national nature reserve by the Irish government in 1985.[1]
Richmond Esker, with Timahoe Esker, is one of only a small number of esker ridges that remain in Ireland and that have native woodland. The site has been planted with conifers and other non-native species, but the NPWS have stated the goal of expanding the native woods through management.[2][3] A review of historical maps of the area concluded that there was a period around 1838 that the area was completely devoid of trees, and that the wood had been re-established by 1892. In 1951 Fagus sylvatica and Larix were planted on the site. Other species recorded on the reserve include Avenula pubescens, Luzula sylvatica, Poa nemoralis, and Mnium hornum.[4]
References
- ^ "S.I. No. 380/1985 - Nature Reserve (Richmond Esker) Establishment Order, 1985". electronic Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ "Richmond Esker Nature Reserve". National Parks & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ "Walk on the Wild Side". People and Nature - The County Galway Biodiversity Project. 1 November 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ Cross, J. R. (1992). "The Distribution, Character and Conservation of Woodlands on Esker Ridges in Ireland". Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. Section B: Biological, Geological, and Chemical Science. 92B: 1–19. ISSN 0035-8983. Retrieved 29 August 2020.