castle archdale islands

These small, hilly islands are the tops of drumlins, the lower parts of which were drowned when Lough Erne was formed. The relatively unspoilt woodland on these islands is a mixture of many species including oak, yew and ash. These trees grow tall and from the canopy of the woodland whilst underneath, willow and hazel spread their branches to gather light. The spindle tree, with its green stems, grows here too but is hard to find. Only in autumn when its leaves turn dark red and the fruits are bright pink and red does it stand out, then also aspens add a splash of colour with their golden, circular leaves. Open glades in the wood with dense leafy areas of bracken, bramble, hawthorn and ivy provide the ideal home for the garden warbler. This uncommon small brown bird nests close to the ground amongst the foliage. The central part of Inishmakill was once improved for agriculture but the only evidence of this past use are old field ditches and the walls of a house , abondoned in the 1930's, now virtually swallowed up in the trees. Unlike the surrounding forests which are coniferous, the majority of the trees in the Country Park are deciduous.