Portglenone Forest

This natural wood provides an enjoyable recreational environment for all. Dr Augustine Henry, born locally and known as ‘the father of commercial forestry’, stated, “A forest is the finest thing in the world: it is the expression of nature in the highest form: it is so full of beauty and of variety.”

All of Portglenone Forest is classified as an ‘Ancient Woodland’, although records show that forest was once part of a much larger woodland comprising Mountreivelen, Killetra, and Glenconkeyne Woods, forming one of the biggest oak forests in the country. In 1607 Sir John Davys, the Irish Attorney-General, described this area as “well nigh as large as the New Forest in Hampshire and stored with the best timber in Ireland.”

The Forest Service has provided visitor facilities in this main area, previously called Decoy Wood, since 1969. Here, the ground flora contains extensive colonies of Ancient Woodland indicator species such as bluebell, wood anenome, and wild garlic, which take centuries of woodland cover to establish. The observant walker may enjoy these features, which provide the wood with its important conservation and educational aspects.

Details to follow.