đż Meet the Species Youâre Helping: Birds, Bees & Biodiversity in Our Forests
A CloudForests.ie story about Irelandâs returning wildlife
Irelandâs Atlantic coastline has always been wild, but much of its native woodland once disappearedâuntil now. Through the work of CloudForests and the community of people and companies who support our mission, weâre restoring pockets of vibrant, native forests along Irelandâs western edge.
And as the trees return, so do the creatures that depend on them.
Here are just some of the Irish species youâre helping to protect and re-establish every time a new CloudForest is planted.
đŠ Birds Returning to Our Native Woodlands
đïž The Wood Pigeon â Irelandâs Gentle Forest Grazer
A familiar sight, these calm, heavy-winged birds are often among the first to recolonise young forests. They feast on buds, seeds, and berriesâhelping to disperse seeds deeper into CloudForests sites.
đŠ The Robin â The Guardian of New Growth
Irelandâs favourite garden bird thrives in regenerating woodlands. Robins are territorial and often follow volunteers around as we plant, hoping for insects unearthed in the soil.
đŠ The Long-Eared Owl â A Silent Beneficiary
As CloudForests sites mature, they create hunting grounds for long-eared owls. These secretive predators need dense conifers for roosting and open areas for huntingâexactly the mosaic habitat weâre restoring.
đŠ The Chaffinch & Goldfinch â Colour in the Canopy
Both species benefit directly from the native trees we plant: alder, birch, and rowan produce seeds that keep these finches singing all year.
đ Bees & Pollinators Thriving in Rewilded Spaces
đ The Buff-Tailed Bumblebee â Irelandâs Hardest Worker
This species is vital for pollinating spring flowers. As CloudForests improves ground cover with woodland wildflowers, bumblebee populations rebound fast.
đŻ The Irish Honeybee â A Partner in Biodiversity
Honeybees flourish when native tree species like willow and hazel bloom. These early pollen sources help colonies thrive and boost surrounding farmland.
đŒ Hoverflies & Solitary Bees â The Hidden Heroes
Often overshadowed by honeybees, these tiny pollinators are some of the most effective pollen carriers in Ireland. CloudForestsâ diverse planting plansâespecially flowering shrubs like hawthorn and blackthornâgive them exactly what they need.
đŠ Insects, Butterflies & Tiny Forest Engineers
đŠ The Peacock Butterfly & Tortoiseshell
These bright, familiar butterflies rely on sunny patches and nettle beds near woodland edgesâcommon microhabitats in CloudForests projects.
đȘČ The Ground Beetle â The Soil Guardian
A sign of healthy, chemical-free soil, ground beetles help keep ecosystems balanced. As our forests grow, beetle diversity increases dramatically.
đ Moths of the Irish Night
Moths play a huge role in pollination that few people see. Native woodland habitats bring back species like the silver Y, poplar hawk-moth, and angle shades.
đ± Native Irish Trees = Irish Wildlife Comeback
Every tree planted at CloudForests.ie plays a specific ecological role:
Oak supports over 300 insect species, making it a cornerstone of new food webs.
Rowan feeds birds through the autumn with its red berries.
Hazel offers pollen in late winterâcritical for early bees.
Birch stabilises soil and shelters ground-nesting birds.
Alder restores boggy and coastal soils, fixing nitrogen naturally.
Your support helps recreate the layered richness of Irelandâs lost temperate rainforestâone sapling, one species, one forest at a time.
đ§ïž What Happens Next? Biodiversity Builds Biodiversity
The magic of reforestation is that once the ecosystem begins to return, it accelerates itself.
More trees mean more shelter â more insects â more bird species â healthier soil â more flowering plants â and so on.
This is how CloudForests restores self-sustaining natural systems, not just carbon sinks.
đ Youâre Not Just Planting a ForestâYouâre Rebuilding an Ecosystem
Every supporterâwhether an individual or a corporate partnerâhelps create real habitats that protect climate, wildlife, and Irelandâs natural heritage.
By supporting CloudForests.ie, you are helping:
đż Restore native Irish woodland
đ Rebuild pollinator populations
đŠ Create safe habitats for rare birds
đ± Protect biodiversity for generations
And most importantly: youâre proving that climate action can be local, visible, and alive.
