What Happened To Ireland's Trees?
<p>For thousands of years after the last Ice Age the natural woods of oak, elm, hazel, pine, birch<br />and other Irish native species dominated our landscapes and Ireland was very much a forest culture. The arrival of the Stone Age farmers (around 3000 years ago) was when clearance first started and by the 15th century only 14% of native woodland remained. Sadly by the 1801 this island was completely deforested and only a fraction of the original landscape has returned. We are still the least wooded country in Europe, with merely 1% of our native woodland left. While Irish native woodlands are a valuable part of our past, it is vital they are preserved as part of our future.</p>