banagher glen

This reserve holds some of the last fragments of what were once extensive woods covering much of the north west. The steep sides of the glens are clothed by mature trees, mostly oak and ash, with an under storey of rowan, hazel, hawthorn and holly. Ferns and mosses thrive in damp shady nooks along the river banks. Drifts of primroses, bluebells, wood sorrel and wood anemone brighten and woodland floor in spring. In early summer the woods are filled with the sound of birdsong while on warm days in mid summer watch out for the fast flying silver-washed fritillary butterflies and common hawker dragonflies. Autumn frosts bring shades of russet and yellow to the glen. On most days you can see buzzards circling overhead or sparrowhawks darting through the tree-tops and patience may be rewarded by the sight of a stoat or squirrel. Legend has it that when Saint Patrick was driving all the snakes out of Ireland and into the sea, he first drive them into the rivers. One local serpent was too large to move from its pool in the glenedra Water so Patrick imprisoned it there where it still lives to this day!. Most of the woodland is on fragile soils on the steep glen sides.