Ballinakelly Woods
(not currently open to the public, except via scheduled visits and accompanied visiting days)

Ballinakelly Wood consists of over 40 acres of mixed old woodlands, with some plantations of conifers and other hardwoods. The name comes from Baile na Coille, meaning the townland of the woods. 

 

The woodland here has been documented from the early 1700s, but parts of the woodland are likely to be much older, with a number of ancient Yew trees, the oldest of which is between 400 and 600 years old. There are also other species indicative of ancient woodland, such as Toothwort (Lathraea squamaria) which only grow on the roots of trees and rapidly disappears if the trees are removed. 

​

Ballinakelly is notable for its numerous large veteran trees, including a spectacular avenue of centuries old Lime trees. These mature trees support a vast array of wildlife and the wood hosts a particularly impressive dawn chorus of singing birds in Spring and early Summer. 

​

The wood is crossed by several kilometres of walking trails, from the Lime Avenue near the entrance, through dense Cherry Laurel to newly planted areas of native woodland. 

​

Substantial intervention in required on the site, due to invasive Cherry Laurel and inappropriate planting of exotic conifers and non-native hardwoods. All of these will be removed in the coming years and replaced with local provenance native trees, which are being grown onsite.