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In most of the poor land that is currently afforested Coillte have planted Lodgepole Pine and Sitka Spruce because no other trees could grow commercially. Thes

In most of the poor land that is currently afforested Coillte have planted Lodgepole Pine and Sitka Spruce because no other trees could grow commercially. These trees do not harbour much wildlife and they are generally unsuitable for walking through, unlike forests of oak and beech which I believe would be better for animals and humans alike. Therefore I agree with you.

antupis 7y ago
Have you ever been an old spruce forest you can definitely walk thought it eg https://johnbarger.photoshelter.com/image/I0000eZaLJgCgJHg https://johnbarger.photoshelter.com/image/I0000eZaLJgCgJHg .
- arethuza 7y ago
  I don't know about Ireland - but some commercial forestry here in Scotland look nothing like that - dark, almost no plants at ground level and very unpleasant to walk through. Scotland had a problem with the "wrong kind of forest" when someone thought it would be a good idea to plant non-native tree species on enormous blanket bogs of the 'flow country': https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_Country https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_Country
  - patrickk 7y ago
    Sounds similar to Irish forests. The trees are in artificially straight rows, really dark underneath as no natural copse can form. No wildlife to be heard.
    - arethuza 7y ago
      Some examples of natural forests in Scotland - which look nothing like commercial planting: https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/news/our-pick-scotlands-native-forests/0012621/ https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/news/our-pick-scotlands-nati...
- Sharlin 7y ago
  These plantations in Ireland are not "old spruce forests", they are tree farms. Big difference.
- aksss 7y ago
  This has been my reaction to most of the criticisms: give it time. Spruce forests are beautiful and magical places once they are aged. Those rectangular boundaries will smooth out naturally the way flora does. Having grown up in old spruce forest, I would attest that it will be valued greatly in a couple generations. They are great places to play in and really spark the imagination. One issue with reforesting places is that many people just aren't used to what comes with forests - sight lines are obscured and inconvenient animals (some dangerous) tend to take refuge in them. But that's what comes with forest.
  - laurencerowe 7y ago
    These tree plantations will be clear cut and replanted long before they reach that beautiful and magical state. We had similar plantations where I grew up in the UK, mostly planted after the war for the paper industry. Nothing like the natural or even managed native forests.

antupis 7y ago

Have you ever been an old spruce forest you can definitely walk thought it eg https://johnbarger.photoshelter.com/image/I0000eZaLJgCgJHg https://johnbarger.photoshelter.com/image/I0000eZaLJgCgJHg .

arethuza 7y ago
I don't know about Ireland - but some commercial forestry here in Scotland look nothing like that - dark, almost no plants at ground level and very unpleasant to walk through. Scotland had a problem with the "wrong kind of forest" when someone thought it would be a good idea to plant non-native tree species on enormous blanket bogs of the 'flow country': https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_Country https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_Country
- patrickk 7y ago
  Sounds similar to Irish forests. The trees are in artificially straight rows, really dark underneath as no natural copse can form. No wildlife to be heard.
  - arethuza 7y ago
    Some examples of natural forests in Scotland - which look nothing like commercial planting: https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/news/our-pick-scotlands-native-forests/0012621/ https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/news/our-pick-scotlands-nati...
Sharlin 7y ago
These plantations in Ireland are not "old spruce forests", they are tree farms. Big difference.
aksss 7y ago
This has been my reaction to most of the criticisms: give it time. Spruce forests are beautiful and magical places once they are aged. Those rectangular boundaries will smooth out naturally the way flora does. Having grown up in old spruce forest, I would attest that it will be valued greatly in a couple generations. They are great places to play in and really spark the imagination. One issue with reforesting places is that many people just aren't used to what comes with forests - sight lines are obscured and inconvenient animals (some dangerous) tend to take refuge in them. But that's what comes with forest.
- laurencerowe 7y ago
  These tree plantations will be clear cut and replanted long before they reach that beautiful and magical state. We had similar plantations where I grew up in the UK, mostly planted after the war for the paper industry. Nothing like the natural or even managed native forests.