Phoebe O'Brien

What are semi-natural grasslands? A perhaps confusing name, but it helps separate improved agricultural fields from more natural fields. They are often grazed by domestic animals so aren't wild like savannah. Watch our full animation here youtu.be/9LTiqYLCP-Y @GrasslandsIrl

The next #aquaticplantproject webinar is now available, thanks to funding from @NPWSIreland . Nick Stewart will be talking about the identification of introduced aquatic plants. To book your free place use the link tickettailor.com/events/botanic… Photo from Paul Green

@GrasslandsIrl @BarryOLochlainn @GreenerClare @phoebeob1 @PollinatorPlan @NatureNymph @NPWSIreland @Notice_Nature @HeritageHubIRE Grazed by cattle and horses. hay every other year. no artificial fertiliser.

Check out stunning Ballerina Waxcaps! Great indicators of good quality grassland, & found by #Clare #BiodiversityOfficer @BarryOLochlainn Grassland is summer-grazed by cattle, receives no fertiliser. ID guide on: GreatIrishGrasslands.ie

Sometimes the study of #grasslands is overwhelming! 🙃 These hardy @NPWSIreland staff were learning about #Calaminarian grassland, a protected habitat. In Ireland it is largely defined by rare mosses, limited to old mine sites, generally w heavy metals. Ph: Clare Heardman

God, #waxcaps are just fabulous aren’t they? And if their grasslands get damaged they are gone. Like ‘20 years for partial recovery but maybe no coming back’ gone Makes me both full of awe (that they still exist at all, let alone in number) and so bloody scared for their future

In Donegal and took opportunity to photo a few grassland/ heathland plants needed for a current project (more anon!). Can you name any? In each case I've tried to capture a feature that I find quite distinctive. I'll put answers in the comments tomorrow evening :)

Spent last week in Hungary for EU-wide ‘implementation support event’ titled ‘Restoring Europe’s Threatened Grasslands’. Talks, workshops, field visits, all aimed at navigating opports & challenges in fast-changing EU policy context (Nature Restoration Regulation, new CAP, etc.)

Last weekend saw 2 days of learning in @GlengarriffWood focused on #ants & management of #GreatIrishGrasslands. It took place in #BigMeadow, a #GrasslandTrail site. Huge thanks to the organisers & participants, esp John Breen (ants)& Susanne Raven (scything).

As cattle return to the machair for winter grazing, their grazing is essential for creating favourable conditions for flowers to return next year. However, some seeds can be unwanted. Here we can see burdock seed heads doing a great job at dispensing itself via grazing cattle!

@JohnTierney_ @GrasslandsIrl @PollinatorPlan Im so pleased to see this! Fabulous work all 😊

@GrasslandsIrl @PollinatorPlan @phoebeob1 Trying to break the 'death grip' of false oat grass at Mill & Churchquarter

#Grasslands around the country still jst about looking good, w both long & short still sporting a few blooms! Short grasslands can support valuable species like #clover & #selfheal, longer may have #knapweeds & #scabious! We're just coming into #waxcap season, so keep an eye out!

Do you know what seeds are ripe in your meadow or local hedgerow? Phoebe O'Brien found these recently in her meadow, which is ready to cut. Can you guess what species are shown here? No prizes this time, it's just for fun #GreatIrishGrasslands #MeadowSeeds #PlantsToCelebrate

Thanks so much folks for showing me some great sites!

📍Ile Grande, in North-West #Brittany 🇫🇷 As part of the #Natura2000 network & protected under the Habitats Directive since April 2⃣0⃣0⃣2⃣, this #coastal dune grassland represents one of the 10 habitats of the Pink Granite Coast, which hosts over 10 🇪🇺 protected species, including the shore dock & the grey seal

Things to look for in late summer/ autumn in #GreatIrishGrasslands... - the purple haze of beautiful Devil's-bit Scabious - the occasionally white or pink flowers - can you find one? - Harebell can flower quite late. Have you seen it? #SpeciesRichGrassland #GrasslandsTrail

Grassland/ wetland surveys - Brú na Bóinne National Park, Dowth, Meath. Extensive areas of species-rich floodplain, inc Annex hab 'hydrophilous tall herb'. Great nature value, supports suite of uncommon species of plants #GreatIrishGrasslands

To celebrate @HeritageWeek 2025 and its theme 'Exploring Our Foundations', our Farmland Officer Ruth Wilson looks back at the tradition of haymaking on farms, which has taken place in Ireland for centuries & forms part of our cultural and natural heritage tinyurl.com/23dha9rs

This looks like fun if you are in the area

Super day visiting #GreatIrishGrasslands on Lough Ree w @BreedingWaders team. Saw fab species-rich grasslands, supporting tons of biodiversity. Rarities incl Water Germander (Teucrium scordium) and Betony (Betonica officinalis), both in profusion #GrasslandsTrail

Do you want to improve your #ACRES grassland scores? Download the @GrasslandsIrl's booklet and find inspiration from the key principles for managing grasslands. Take a look now: greatirishgrasslands.ie/the-grasslands… #grassland #irishfarming #biodiversity