Unique insects aren’t in the Burren for the scenery - but add another resplendent layer to an astonishing part of Ireland
The Burren is home to 27 species of moths and butterflies found nowhere else in the country, along with all of our rarest butterflies and half our rarest moths
Once feared extinct in Ireland, the secretive nightjar calls again
The confirmation revives the question of whether nightjars could have a more hopeful future in Ireland than previously believed
Ardnacrusha is an ecological catastrophe that has devastated the Shannon and its salmon
Consecutive Irish governments have sanctioned the plundering of salmon stocks
When a farmer saw a field of dead worms, he started to pay much greater attention to underground life
Farming for Nature is a movement of dairy and tillage farmers towards sustainable practices that respect the land
Mushroom season: On the hunt in Wicklow for the most striking fungi of them all
The mushroom’s striking silhouette resembles a classic toadstool from a children’s story
We have effectively given up hope for nearly half of our rivers, lakes and estuaries
We must move fast to secure clean, healthy water for the future. But to do so, we need three things: ambition, investment and action
What’s wool worth? ‘It’s an incredible product - natural, low carbon, biodegradable’
Mayo sheep farmer David Heraty sees an opportunity for rejuvenation in the industry beyond high-end clothing
Starlings’ unmissable performances mesmerise on dark winter days
About three million starlings breed in Ireland yearly, joined in winter by visitors from all over Europe
Have you noticed that milk bottle caps are now tethered? There is good reason for that
Far from being ‘the worst thing to happen to humanity’, this EU law is a very small step towards combating a huge problem
Building houses can be compatible with the creation of new habitats for wildlife
Ella McSweeney: London and Amsterdam offer good examples, and Bray developers could factor in new research showing the extraordinary array of species in the town
Inside an Englishwoman’s campaign to bring back Ireland’s missing ‘big old trees’
Imogen Rabone came from a farm in Herefordshire in England, and during her years in Dublin felt an urgency to find a way to help people include trees in the landscape
Pond party: just fill a hole with water and watch as an astonishing array of life emerges
Ella McSweeney: Digging a pond, however small, is worth it for the cascade of positive effects it brings
Puffins on the Saltee Islands are thriving again. There’s now an obvious next step
Ella McSweeney: With the rat menace addressed, the question now is how to protest puffins’ nests from another threat - tourists
The recent brutal period of wet weather should not be surprising, the predictions were there
Ella McSweeney: The powers that be would do well to pay more attention to climate scientists
Our urban lives are wrapped up in the swift’s fate. To survive, they need our help
Ella McSweeney: Leaving these gaps isn’t always compatible with insulation projects, but there are alternatives that don’t cost a huge amount