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Plan your trip to arrive in good time, so that you will get

back before dark and always let someone know where

you are going and what time to expect you back. Bring

your mobile phone with you.

The Walk.

St. Johns Wood has been undisturbed for a sufficient time

to allow a rich and varied flora and fauna to develop. The

entire area is underlain by Carboniferous Limestone and

the bedrock is close to the surface. The soil cover ismostly shallow and well drained, though patches of heavy

clay are also present. This adds to the uniqueness of St.

Johns Wood.Because of the fragile nature of the area

ALWAYS stick to the walkways and dont wander about.

We hope you enjoy your walk in St. Johns Wood. Please

remember that this rich heritage can only survive with your

co-operation. Do not leave the marked tracks. Do not

damage trees, plants or fences. Do not pick flowers. Do

not litter. Please keep St. Johns Wood safe for future

generations. Thank you.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service.The role of the National Parks and Wildlife Service

(NPWS) is to secure the conservation of a representative

range of ecosystems, to maintain & enhance populations

of flora & fauna in Ireland and to implement the EU

Habitats & Birds Directives and other National & EU

legislation. In addition the NPWS manage, maintain and

develop State-owned National Parks and Nature

Reserves.

St Johns Wood forms part of Lough Ree Special Area of

Conservation, a Natura 2000 site listed for wildlife

conservation by the European Union.

NPWS has been working with the other landowners to

manage the bio-diversity of the woodland. The work has

included survey work, wildlife ride-management and

coppicing of certain areas to maintain the richness of

habitats within the wood. The area is regularly used as a

study area by colleges and others.

How to get here.

Take the N61 RoscommonAthlone road and turn at

Lecarrow village when you see the St. Johns Wood sign.

Pass the old Lecarrow Mill on your right. After approx.

two miles the road turns through 90 degrees to the right.

Turn left. Ignore the gate entrance to St. Johns House

and continue along the roadway to the left of this gate.

Follow this road until you come to the first turn to your

right (signposted). A short drive will bring you to St.Johns Wood car park. Please park safely. GPS co-

ordinates: 53.552266 deg N - 8.003882 deg W.

Acknowledgements.

This leaflet wasproduced by St. Johns Parish Heritage Group

in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service

(NPWS). Photos: Padraig ODonnell, Niall Cribbon, NPWS &

Liam Byrne. Used with permission. Map: Ordnance Survey

Ireland Permit No. 8902. Ordnance Survey Ireland /

Government of Ireland.

National Parks & Wildlife Service: www.npws.ie

St. Johns Parish Heritage Group: stjphg@gmail.com

Visitors Guide toSt. Johns Wood

Design

by

NiallCr

ibbon

&L

iam

Byrne

0872431240(Oc

tobe

r2013)

Lecarrow

St. Johns Wood

Turn left here

National Parks

& Wildlife Service

National Parks

& Wildlife Service

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Well developed woodland over limestone is uncommon in

Ireland and this makes woodlands around Lough Ree,

and in particular St. Johns Wood, unique. St. Johns

Wood comprises approx. 110 hectares and is bounded to

the east, north and north-east by the lake.

The boundaries of the wood have changed little since the

first Ordnance Survey maps of 1837 and the wood was

owned as a single unit until early in the 20th

century when

it was divided amongst the local farmers.

Tree cutting took place for many years and timber was

carried by boat to Athlone.

In recent years the wood has largely been in State

ownership and today most of the wood is managed by the

National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

Flora.

The wood is dominated by Oak, Ash and Willow. In some

areas these species form a canopy with an understorey of

Hazel and Holly. From a total of twenty-six native species

of trees, twenty three can be found in St. Johns Wood.Remarkably few non-native species are found. Such a

canopy of native species is very rare in Ireland.

Portions of the wood are dominated by Hazel. This is the

result of earlier practices. Scots Pine planted in the 19th

century are present in the western part of the wood.

Along the western edge of the woodland a remarkable fen

community exists. Downy Birch, Alder, Yew, Crab-Apple,

Whitebeam and Wild Cherry are all to be found. Purging

& Alder Buckthorn are also present while Royal Fern is

frequently found within the fen area.

Plants characteristic of ancient woodland such as

Toothworth and Birds-nest Orchid occur here. Other

species of Orchids are plentiful. Mosses are abundant,

forming a continuous carpet over the ground in some

areas. Pockets of leached, acid soil support species such

as black bog-rush & grass of parnassus.

St. Johns Wood

Blackbrink North

Bay

Lough

Ree

Start and Finish Here

Important notice: Possession of this guide does not

constitute a legal right of way. Permission should be

sought from landowners before entering farmland.

Fauna.

The abundance of woodland flora plays host to a wide

variety of avian and mammalian fauna. Resident bird

species include summer visitors like the Garden Warbler,

Chiffchaff, Sedge Warbler, White Throat and Spotted

Flycatcher. The distinctive song of the warblers can be

clearly heard over the cacophony of other woodland birds.

This abundance of bird-life provides an attractive site for

those species higher up the food chain. These include

birds of prey such as the Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, BarnOwl and Long-Eared Owl who hunt and breed in the

woodland.

Animal species found here include Bats, Pine Martin,

Stoat, Fox, Field Mouse and Pygmy Shrew. An ongoing

bat-roost scheme is in operation. A recent invertebrate

study found a wide range of insects, including a number of

rare species. All this combines to make St. Johns Wood

one of the finest nature sites in Ireland. Its large size and

species richness make it a most valuable site in terms of

its heritage and ecological significance.

Fen area

Car Park

Gravelled walkway

Stone Wall