Lorcan McDermott sent us this update:
Having read Eanna Ni Lamhna’s fascinating book Wild Musings: A Celebration of the Natural World, our book club decided to organise a field trip with her. In early April, she brought us on a most enjoyable walk in the UCD woodlands at Belfield. As well as finding out about hazel, sycamore, holly, and numerous plants and ecosystems we also discussed traditions like taking berried holly indoors as part of Christmas festivities and related pre-Christian traditions. We were surprised to hear that allowing ivy to grow on trees has a positive side because it enables biodiversity. When speaking of birdlife, Eanna explained that swans mate for life in contrast to ducks who have more ‘temporary arrangements’. This gives a greater opportunity for both parents to take care of the young cygnets once hatched, an interesting example of the diversity of nature.
