Trees
The trees we plant determine what kind of forest, and therefore what kind of habitat, will develop at each of our Cloudforests.
Where possible we prefer to plant native Irish species that our local flora and fauna have evolved to coexist with, but we also keep in mind the soil and ground conditions, industry needs, and the potential climatic shift that may occur.
We take pride in the diverse range of trees we have planted.
Select any grid square to view the full variety.
Cloudforest One Lahinch
🌳 Oak, 🌲 Alder, 🌿 Rowan
Cloudforest Two Carrigaholt
🌲 Alder, 🌲 Sitka 🌲Spruce
Cloudforest Three Doonaha
🌳 Downy Birch, 🌲 Alder, 🌲 Sitka🌲Spruce
Cloudforest Four Ennistymon
🌳 Oak, 🌲 Alder, 🌿 Rowan
Cloudforest Five Mountoven
🌳 Oak, 🌲 Alder, 🌿 Holly
Cloudforest One – Lahinch, Co. Clare
Oak, Alder, Downy Birch, Sitka Spruce, Rowan, Hazel, Wild Cherry, Guelder Rose, Crab Apple, Yew, Scots Pine, Redwood (Sequoia), Bird Cherry, Willow, Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Apple, Plum, Dog Rose, Wild Privet, Elder, Field Maple, Silver Birch, Spindle
Cloudforest Two – Carrigaholt, Co. Clare
Alder, Sitka Spruce
Cloudforest Three – Doonaha, Co. Clare
Alder, Sitka Spruce, Downy Birch
Cloudforest Four – Ennistymon, Co. Clare
Alder, Bird Cherry, Crab Apple, Downy Birch, Elder, Guelder Rose, Hazel, Hawthorn, Hornbeam, Oak, Rowan, Scots Pine, Sequoia (Redwood), Spindle, Sitka Spruce, Willow
Cloudforest Five – Mountoven, Co. Kerry
Downy Birch, Oak, Rowan, Scots Pine, Alder, Holly
One of our most valuable native Irish trees, Spindle occurs in our hedgerows and woodland on all of our sites.
One of our most valuable native Irish trees, the Hawthorn occurs in our hedgerows and woodland on all of our sites.
One of the few evergreen trees native to Ireland, the Yew is planted in our first Gift Tree Grove at Cloudforest One in Lahinch.
Crabapple trees are stunning ornamental flowering trees. Crabapple flowers come in spectacular shades of pink, white, cream, purple, orange, and red. Crabapple trees produce small fruits called crabapples that generally have a tart taste. We have planted Crab Apple Trees at our gift grove on Cloudforest One.
The Holly Tree Is Planted On Our Cloudforest One and CloudForest Five Sites
Hazel trees are native to Ireland and have been an important part of Irish culture for centuries. But what makes the leaves of this majestic tree so special? In this article, we’ll explore the unique beauty of hazel tree leaves, the history and mythology of this native Irish treasure, and the uses of hazel tree leaves. We’ll also provide tips for identifying and harvesting hazel tree leaves, as well as ways to use them in crafts and recipes. So, let’s dive in and uncover the unique beauty of hazel tree leaves!
The Olive Tree is a beautiful, symbolic & historic tree that can be found scattered throughout human history. From ancient civilisations like The Phoenicians in the 16th century BC to the fall of the Roman Empire, the majestic Olive Tree has been a pillar of many Mediterranean civilisations which have been crucial in the destiny of mankind.
Guelder rose is a deciduous, upright shrub. Guelder-rose usually grows by lakes and in hedgerows. They sometimes reach as high as 4 meters.
The Wild Cherry Tree (Crann silín fiáin) is one of Ireland's most attractive native trees. Its beauty, and its fruit, have made it one of Ireland’s most respected, protected trees throughout history & it continues to be a popular tree around the country today.
Its scented flowers are particularly appealing to insects & it’s easily recognizable, white cherry blossoms are a joy for any fortunate individual who may lay eyes on them.
Although Larches aren’t native to Ireland (or Britain), it is relatively commonly planted in Ireland. The European Larch is native to mountains of central Europe, upland areas in France, Germany and Austria. Larches have woody trunks & stems, needle leaves and a waxy coating that keeps the leaves from losing water which is all characteristic of conifers. But, unlike other evergreen Conifers, they are deciduous, meaning they drop their leaves for part of the year. It is known to be the only deciduous conifer in Europe & the majority of deciduous conifers in other continents are related to them in one way or another.
Although it is well known in Ireland & has been widely planted in parks & garden across Ireland, the Horse Chestnut Tree (Aesculus hippocastanum) is not a native Irish Tree. In saying that, one could argue that after over 200 years of being found in Ireland, the Horse Chestnut Tree has long been naturalised to the Emerald Isle.
Overall, the Scots Pine is a very hardy species and can grow in rocky, sandy, or shallower soils, that have a limited reservoir of nutrients and water available to plants. It has been known to grow for up to 700 years in parts of Sweden & Norway. Mature trees can grow up to around 35 meters.
In Celtic times, the Birch tree was a symbol of love, with Birch branches frequently being placed above cradles in order to protect the baby within. Birch was also known to symbolise renewal and purification. Commonly known as a ‘Pioneering Tree’, Birch is seen as an opportunist which takes over areas that have been abandoned or have been newly cleared. This was how it spread across Ireland thousands of years ago.
We know what you’re thinking...
“Sitka Spruce?! That’s a non-native tree, why is there Sitka Spruce in your forests?”
Well, today, we’re going to answer that question by laying out some facts, dispelling some myths, and telling you how powerful a tool the Sitka Spruce can be in making planet earth cool.
Rowan Trees are an often overlooked native Irish tree. Although they are smaller than many other native trees, this does not make them any less beautiful. Typically they grow to a height of about 15 meters. In Irish, Rowan tree can be translated as Caorthann, which is also the Irish Translation for Mountain Ash. This is due to the fact that their leaves are very similar to the common ash tree, however, the trees are not related in any way.
As The King Of The Forest, The Oak Tree symbolises; Wisdom, Strength & Endurance. Its history is rich and its heritage is unmatched in the Forestry world.