Notes from Co. Offaly, H18

(Fossitt, 2000). Furthermore, there are sufficient positive indicator species (including at least two aforementioned “less-common” orchid species) (National Parks and Wildlife Service, 2019) in the grassland in order to justify its classification as the EU Habitats Directive priority Annex I habitat [*6210] Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometea) (*important orchid sites). The landowner farmer was very amenable to my visits to the site, and was generally appreciative of and concerned with the rare natural treasures within his local area, as well as with their protection for posterity. However, even with a well-meaning landowner, there is significant pressure (including from younger, more ambitious generations taking over the farm duties) to adhere to the modern farming practices of excessively high cattle stocking numbers on fields (and the resulting over-grazing and trampling), over-zealous slurry/fertiliser application, repeated cutting of grasslands for silage, etc. and the site in question has suffered significantly from these pressures over recent decades. Many local farmers, even well-meaning ones, often see maximising yields on their land as a victimless (and even forward-looking) pursuit, not realising the cumulative impacts of their individual actions upon the health of their land and of the wider countryside. Or if they do realise it, they all too often fall prey to a ‘tragedy of the commons’ scenario. The population was last visited in 2019, and has not been re-visited since the coronavirus pandemic. I intend to return to the site in a post-pandemic world to see how this period has fared for the species. However, I fear that even a global pandemic will not have slowed the onslaught of modern farming practices upon our rarest flora and habitats.

References

Bateman, R.M., Hollingsworth, P.M., Preston, J., Yi-Bo, L., Pridgeon, A.M. & Chase, M.W. (2003). Molecular phylogenetics and evolution of Orchidinae and selected Habenariinae (Orchidaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnaean Society 142: 1-40. Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (2022). BSBI Distribution Database. Available at: https://database.bsbi.org/. Accessed: 17th February 2022. ENSCONET (2009) ENSCONET Seed Collecting Manual for Wild Species. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (UK) & Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Spain) [main editors] Farrell, L. (1972). A Preliminary Report on Areas of Scientific Interest in County Monaghan. Report for An Foras Forbartha. Fossitt, J.A. (2000). A Guide to Habitats in Ireland. The Heritage Council, Kilkenny. National Parks and Wildlife Service (2019). The Status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland. Volumes 1-3. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Dublin. Stace, C.A., Preston, C.D. & Pearman, D.A. (eds) (2015). Hybrid Flora of the British Isles. BSBI, Bristol. Synnott, D.M. & Breen, C. (1982). Reports. Kingscourt, Co. Cavan. 26th -29th June. Watsonia 14: 114-116 [in fact this meeting focussed mostly on Co. Monaghan rather than Co. Cavan] Wyse Jackson, M., FitzPatrick, Ú., Cole, E., Jebb, M., McFerran, D., Sheehy Skeffington, M. & Wright, M. (2016). Ireland Red List No. 10: Vascular Plants. Report for National Parks and Wildlife Service, Dublin.

Notes from Co. Offaly, H18

Fiona Devery, Emmet Street, Birr, Co. Offaly, R42 XK73

Email: findevery@yahoo.co.uk