What are native woodlands?
	Native woodlands are communities of plants that came to a region, for example, Ireland, without the aid of humans in the first several hundred years after the last Ice Age. Woodlands, of course, are dominated by trees, but these include low-stature woodlands such as hazel scrub and short willow-tree communities in wet areas. Most native woodlands in Ireland have been affected to some degree by humans, and this may include planting or invasion by alien plants. On fieldwork in the northwest of Ireland
	What are some of the plants found in the plant surveys?
Webmaster: rcoll@ireland.com	The plants found in the ecological surveys done by Sylvan Consulting Ecologists can range from tiny filmy ferns (see photograph opposite) to massive old trees. Forest structure analysis and management planning for conservation are also available services. Why are public opinion surveys important? Our natural resources are managed, used, and damaged by people depending on their attitudes towards the resources. The view of the public towards Irish woodlands is crucial for conservation of these biodiverse and important natural resources. How do I learn about woodlands? Go out and enjoy them. Watch the mist collecting and dripping off leaves or forming small rivulets on smooth tree bark. Go on a walk with someone who can tell you about plants. Smell the leaves in the autumn and the flowers in the spring. Or read about them in magazines, books and relevant websites.
	Wood speedwell (Veronica montana) grows in a particular type of native woodland in Ireland.						Many Irish native woodlands are flooded during part of the year.