Wildlife
Habitats
Dry, broad-leaved woodland
Glengarriff woodland consists of a sizeable area of broad-leaved semi-natural woodland comprised of Oak (Quercus petraea) and Holly (Ilex aquifolium), with much Downy Birch (Betula pubescens) and Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia). A little Yew (Taxus baccata) occurs and Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo) is scattered through the woods. There is much small-scale variation in the ground flora, including heathy vegetation with Heather (Calluna vulgaris), Great Wood-rush (Luzula sylvatica) and Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus). Common woodland herbs include Enchanter’s-nightshade (Circaea lutetiana), Irish Spurge (Euphorbia hyberna), Common Cow-wheat (Melampyrum pratense) and Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea). Ferns, include Hard Fern (Blechnum spicant), a characteristic species of old oak woodland, and Hay-scented Buckler Fern (Dryopteris aemula).
A particular feature of this hyper-oceanic woodland is the luxurious growth of mosses, lichens and Polyody Fern (Polypodium vulgare agg.) on the trunks and branches of t
rees.
Although this is the site of an ancient woodland, it was once part of an estate and some exotic species were also introduced, such as Beech (Fagus sylvatica) and Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum). The latter has invaded parts of the woodland posing a serious problem, however, it is being systematically removed.
The oak woodland corresponds with the EU Habitats Directive Annex I habitat, Old Oak Woodland.
Wet, broad-leaved, semi-natural woodland
Wet woodland occurs along parts of the Canrooska and Glengarriff rivers. This is dominated by Willows (mainly Salix cinerea subsp. oleifolia) and Downy Birch, with Alder (Alnus glutinosa) also frequent. A rich herb layer is found, characterised by such species as Bugle (Ajuga reptans), False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum), Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), Remote Sedge (Carex remota), Tufted Hair-grass (Deschampsia caespitosa) and Wood Sanicle (Sanicula europaea). The rivers flood regularly, depositing silt within the woodlands.
Coniferous forest
From the 1950s to 1970s, prior to the Nature Reserve being established, conifers were planted as part of commercial forestry operations. Most have now been removed to allow native woodland to re-establish, but there are small pockets of conifers remaining. The main species present are Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis), Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris), Larch (Larix decidua) and Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla). 
Rivers and streams
The principal river within the site is the Glengarriff River. The Coomarkane River and Canrooska River are tributaries. The river and streams are relatively fast flowing and stony bottomed. Glengarriff River is unpolluted (Q value 4-5).
Grassland
The Nature Reserve features an area of open pasture known as the Big Meadow. The grassland grades from wet to dry. The wetter areas feature rushes (Juncus spp.) and the pink and blue hues of Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi) and Devil’s-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis).
The drier areas of grassland support numerous ant-hills. The ant-hills provide a microhabitat which supports it’s own flora. Species present include Wild Thyme (Thymus praecox) and Yarrow (Achillea millefolium).
Peatlands: wet heath and blanket bog
There are a few small blanket bogs in the Reserve, with peat reaching a depth of several metres in places. In the past some of the bogs were used for cutting turf to provide fuel for local villagers. However, the bogs are no longer cut and the blanket bog is regenerating. Species present include Ling Heather (Calluna vulgaris), Purple Moor-grass (Molinia caerulea), Bog Myrtle (Myrica gale), Bog Cotton (Eriophorum spp.), Cross-leaved Heath (Erica tetralix), Bell Heather (Erica cinerea), Tormentil (Potentilla erecta), sedges (Carex spp) and Sphagnum.
Exposed rock
Like the old oak trees, many of the rocks are covered in a lush green growth ofmosses and lichens. One plant on the rocks that looks like a moss, is in fact the tiny Filmy-fern (Hymenophyllum sp.). Typical plants of these rocks in the woods are St. Patricks Cabbage (Saxifraga spathularis), Kidney-leaved Saxifrage (Saxifraga hirsuta), Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea) and Navelwort (Umbilicus rupestris).
Flora
A feature of the woods are the so-called Hiberno-lusitanian species. These plants have an unusual distribution in that they occur almost exclusively in south-west Ireland and in northern parts of Spain and Portugal. Species in this group include two species of saxifrage, St. Patricks Cabbage (Saxifraga spathularis) and Kidney-leaved Saxifrage (Saxifraga hirsuta), Irish Spurge (Euphorbia hyberna) and Large-flower Butterwort (Pinguicula grandiflora). The latter species is found in boggy areas. Perhaps one of the best known plants in this group is the Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo), whose distribution extends to the Mediterranean area. In the woods of Glengarriff it occurs on rocky outcrops, with one located near Lady Bantry’s Lookout.
A rare woodland orchid, Narrow-leaved Heleborine (Cephalanthera longifolia) occurs at one location in the woods. This species is so rare that it is listed in the Irish Red Data Book.
The woods are also notable for the presence of several rare species of Myxomycete fungus, namely Echinostelium colliculosum, Cribraria tenella, Arcyria affinis, Stemonitis nigrescens, Symphytocarpus impexus, Fuligo muscorum, Diderma deplanatum and D. lucidum.
The section on habitats refers to many of the commonly found plant species found in the woods.
Fauna
Mammals
Bats
At dusk you may see bats flying around the woodland clearings, along the tracks or along the rivers. Seven species of bat have been recorded in the Glengarriff area, the most notable of which is the lesser horseshoe bat. This species is listed in Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive and particularly favours woodland areas in the south-west of Ireland. There are several lesser horseshoe bat roosts in and around the nature reserve, including some winter roosts (hibernacula) that have been specially created for the bats.
Other bat species found in the reserve are Daubenton’s bat (seen along the rivers), long-eared bat (pictured above right), common pipistrelle, soprano pipistrelle, Leisler’s bat and Natterer’s bat.
Other mammals
Otters are common in the area but they are shy and secretive. Their ‘sprainting points’, where they leave their droppings to mark territories, are found along the riverbank. You might be more likely to see mink, which is a North American species which spread into the area some years ago. Similar in size to the mink, is the pine marten (’tree cat’), distinguishable from the mink by its’ creamy yellow bib. Pine martens have been making a comeback in the Reserve in recent years.
Stoats make their homes in walls and usually have a reddish-brown coat and a black tip to their tails. Stoats are highly inquisitive and if you see one it can usually be enticed from cover by making a squeaking noise. Red squirrels are a similar size and colour but have characteristic bushy tails. The squirrels particularly like the areas of the Reserve with Scot’s pine or hazel.
Other mammals present in the Reserve include fox, badger, Sika deer, feral goats, hare, hedgehog, wood mouse and bank vole.
Birds
The woodland supports characteristic bird communities, with chaffinch, robin and tits being the most common breeding species. In spring willow warblers and chiffchaffs arive from Africa to breed in the woods and the population of blackcaps, some of which over-winter in the south-west, is augmented by summer migrants.
Several species of the crow family occur, including the colourful and noisy jay. In autumn this bird feeds on fallen acorns. The late autumn also sees the arrival of migrants from Scandanavia such as fieldfare and redwing, which feast on the woodland berries.
Along the river you will see birds such as wagtails and the unmistakable dipper, with its white bib and bobbing habit as it perches on rocks in mid-stream. You might also be lucky to see a flash of brilliant blue as a kingfisher streaks past.
At dusk look out for the deceptively slow flight of a long-eared owl that nests in the Scot’s pine as well as woodcock, mainly a winter visitor, that emerges at nightfall to feed on open grassland. You might also see the ghostly white shape of a barn owl searching for bank voles.
Amphibians
Ponds and pools within the reserve swarm with frog spawn and tadpoles from early spring and the Reserve supports a healthy population of adult frogs.
Invertebrates
Oak has more animal species associated with it than any other tree species and over 200 species of insect inhabit it. The mature oaks of Glengarriff host Ireland’s only aboreal ant species (Lasius fulginosis). The arboreal ant colonies are known to persist in association with individual trees for up to a century. Old birch trees too have their own fauna among which is the beautiful black and yellow longhorn beetle (Leptura aurulenta). Both the arboreal ant and the longhorn beetle are representatives of Ireland’s much reduced old forest fauna and, together with a species of hoverfly (Microdon analis), demonstrate the ancient origins of these woods.
The small bogs within the Reserve are the habitat for species which only occur where woodland and bog combine. These include Ireland’s largest grasshopper (Stethophyma grossa), the grey and orange horse-fly (Hybomitra muhlfeldi) and the largest western European horse-fly (Tabanus sudeticus), which is over 2.5cm long.
The aquatic habitats of the Reserve add to the faunal diversity. The rivers support freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera), a species listed in Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive. The pearl mussel can live up to 130 years old, making its Ireland’s longest living animal. The larvae of the mussels (glochidia) attach themselves to the gills of salmonid species of fish. The glochidia drop off after several months and settle within gravel beds where the mussels can develop to maturity.
The two lakes associated with the Nature Reserve support a wide range of dragonflies and demoiselles, including the downy emerald dragonfly (Cordulea aenea). Elsewhere in Ireland this species is only known from Killarney. 
An invertebrate species with a distribution similar to theHiberno-lusitanian plant species is the Kerry slug (Geomalacus maculosus). This species is known only from south-western Ireland and the north-western part of the Iberian peninsula. Dark with distinctive cream spots, the slug can be found grazing on lichens on rocks or tree trunks in damp weather. Like the freshwater pearl mussel, the Kerry slug is listed in Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive.
Butterflies recorded in the Nature Reserve include silver-washed fritillary (Argynnis paphia), green hairstreak (Callophrys rubi), purple hairstreak (Quercusia quercus), large heath (Coenonympha tullia), holly blue (Celastrina argiolus) and wood white (Leptidea sinapis).
Fish
The rivers of the Reserve contain species such as salmon and trout. Fishing permits are available in the village.
Conservation Management
One of the main management issues is controlling Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum). This exotic species was introduced by Lord Bantry in the 1800s and became highly invasive, infesting much of the woodlands. It casts a heavy shade which suppresses native plants and thus prevents woodland regeneration. Since the Nature Reserve was designated in 1991 efforts have been underway to remove the rhododendron and control any reinfestation. To date most of the 300ha Nature Reserve has been cleared of mature rhododendron, but maintenance continues with the removal of seedlings. Other exotic species, such as re-seeding conifers, are also being tackled.
Large areas have been cleared of conifers over the last 10 years. The clear-felled areas are being allowed to revert to broad-leaved woodland through a process of natural regeneration, supplemented in places by the planting of young oak grown from acorns of local provenance and grown on in modules in polytunnels located in Killarney National Park. Regeneration levels are good, due to low levels of grazing animals (in contrast to Killarney National Park where regeneration is poor due to the large numbers of deer, sheep and goats).
Dead wood is a very important woodland component and so any fallen trees are left to rot in situ. If the trees are dangerous (e.g. along roads) the trees are either crowned and some standing dead wood left or log piles created.
Some habitat creation has taken place, with the construction of a new lake in September 2005. The Nature Reserve hosts a very rare dragonfly, the Downy Emerald, and the lake was dug to provide additional habitat for the species. In June 2006, an adult male was seen and in the summer of 2008 Downy Emeralds were recorded breeding at the new lake. Habitat creation has also taken place for lesser horseshoe bats, with a winter roost (hibernacula) being constructed close to an existing summer roost. A number of bat boxes were put up by the Vincent Wildlife Trust and these provide a home for other species of bat.
The unimproved grassland of the Big Meadow was traditionally grazed which helped maintain floral diversity. The lack of fertiliser or ploughing has also allowed the numerous ant-hills to survive. At present the grassland is grazed by a small herd of Kerry cattle, an indigenous breed, that is part of the Killarney National Park organic herd.