Habitats:

Habitats Introduction

Marine & Coastal Habitats

Wetlands

Peatlands

Grasslands

Limestone Habitats

Woodland, Trees and Hedgerows

Buildings and Stone Walls

Gardens and Parks
Gardens and parks provide important habitats, particularly in urban areas. Birds such as Robin, House sparrow and Chaffinch benefit from gardens and parks. The number of gardens is generally increasing as more houses are being built in County Clare.

Gardens and parks can be managed in a way which benefits wildlife. Also planting local varieties of vegetables, flowers and fruit helps maintain genetic diversity. Intensive management such as removing all natural vegetation, using herbicides, pesticides and clearing all dead vegetation is not beneficial for wildlife. Where gardens are replacing semi-natural habitats such as grassland, scrub or woodland, it can have a negative impact on biodiversity.