Grantstown Wood and Grantstown Lough is a national nature reserve of approximately 120 acres (0.49 km2) located in County Laois, Ireland. It is managed by the Irish National Parks & Wildlife Service.
| Grantstown Wood and Grantstown Lough | |
|---|---|
  Grantstown Wood and Grantstown Lough Location of Grantstown Wood and Grantstown Lough in Ireland | |
| Type | National |
| Location | County Laois |
| Coordinates | 52°52′12″N 7°30′07″W / 52.87°N 7.502°W |
| Area | 120 acres (48.56 ha) |
| Operated by | National Parks and Wildlife Service (Ireland) |
| Status | Open all year |
Features
editGrantstown Wood and Grantstown Lough, sometimes written Granston, was legally protected as a national nature reserve by the Irish government in 1982.[1] It is very close to another nature reserve, Coolacurragh Wood.[2] The area was formerly the demesne of Grantstown Manor.[3]
Grantstown Wood is a wet woodland, with rich base soils. The woodland is predominantly ash, alder and birch, with an under planting of hawthorn, meadowsweet, nettle and brambles. The lough has infilled gradually with fen to alder carr. The reserve also has a lake which provides fish for otters, kingfishers and cormorants.[4] Perch, pike, eel, rudd and tench fish are found in the lake.[5]
The site has two looped walks, a Lake Walk and a Wood Walk.[6]
References
edit- ^ "S.I. No. 378/1982 - Nature Reserve (Grantstown Wood and Granston Lough) Establishment Order, 1982". electronic Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ^ "Midlands Ireland.ie Guide" (PDF). Midlands Ireland. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ^ Kelly, D.L. (1990). "Cornus sericea L. in Ireland: an incipient weed of wetlands" (PDF). Watsonia. 18.
- ^ "Grantsown Wood and Granston Lough Nature Reserve". National Parks & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ^ "Grantstown Lake". Durrow & Cullohill Parish Anglers Association. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ^ "Grantstown Wood and Lake Nature Reserve Trail". Laois Directory. Retrieved 6 September 2020.