Tree Species
at Dunsany
Trees are central to rewilding at Dunsany, with 290 acres of woodland supporting a complex web of life. As they mature, these woodlands create the conditions for native species to return and ecosystems to heal naturally.
The Importance of Trees in Rewilding
Trees are a vital part of the rewilding work at Dunsany Estate, where 750 acres are being returned to nature, including 290 acres of woodland. These woodlands support a rich mix of life by providing food, shelter, and space for native plants and animals to thrive.
Trees also help restore natural systems by improving soil health, managing water flow, and supporting the return of key species. Over time, they store carbon and help rebalance local climates, making them essential to long-term ecological recovery. At Dunsany, expanding and protecting these woodlands is key to bringing the land back to life.
Learn about the Trees in Dunsany Estate
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Silver Fir (Abies alba)
Grows up to 60 metres tall
Trunk diameter ranges from 2 to 2.5 metres at breast height (DBH)
Coniferous tree species
Non-native to Ireland
Typically found in mixed forests at elevations of 500–1,500 metres above sea level
The only European fir species with a naturally wide distribution
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Giant Fir (Abies grandis)
Typically grows 70–80 metres tall
Trunk diameter ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 metres at breast height (DBH)
Coniferous species
Non-native to Ireland; native to North America
Found in temperate rainforests from sea level up to 1,800 metres above sea level
Among the tallest tree species in the world
Considered the largest-growing fir species
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus)
Grows up to 35 metres tall
Deciduous tree species
Naturalised in Ireland
One of the most common trees found across the country
Introduced from central Europe in the 17th century, though possibly present as early as the Neolithic period (c. 4000–2500 BC)
Associated with the Greek goddess Hera and the Norse goddess Freya, symbolising fertility and love
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)
Grows up to 30 metres tall
Deciduous tree species
Non-native to Ireland
Irish name: Crann cnó capaill
Introduced from the Balkans around the 1600s
Known for its soft wood
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Italian Alder (Alnus cordata)
Grows up to 20 metres tall
Deciduous species
Non-native to Ireland
Valued for its highly versatile timber
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Alder (Alnus glutinosa)
Grows up to 30 metres tall
Deciduous species
Irish name: Fearnóg
Highly adaptable and commonly found in wetland areas
In Irish tradition, it was believed that the first man came from an alder tree
Widely used since the Mesolithic period (c. 8000–4000 BC)
Red shields in ancient times were made from alder wood
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Silver Birch (Betula pendula)
Grows up to 30 metres tall
Deciduous species
Irish name: Beithe (Scots Gaelic origin)
First letter in the early Irish Ogham alphabet; beithe means birch and represents the letter ‘ᚁ’ (B)
Symbolises love, purity, birth, and renewal across many European traditions
Featured in Irish legend—used to make the bed in the love story of Diarmuid and Gráinne
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Downy Birch (Betula pubescens)
Grows up to 20 metres tall
Deciduous species
Irish name: Beith chlúmhach
The northernmost-growing broadleaf tree species in the world
More widespread in Ireland than Silver Birch
Historically used to build bog trackways from the Bronze Age (c. 2200–800 BC) through to the Medieval period (c. 400–1600 AD)
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa)
Grows up to 35 metres tall
Deciduous species
Irish name: Castán
Known for its exceptional longevity and durability – can live for thousands of years
Non-native to Ireland; introduced in the 17th century
Spread across Europe by the Romans
Linked to Zeus in ancient Greek mythology
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica)
Grows up to 40 metres tall
Deciduous species
Irish name: Céadar Atlais
Non-native to Ireland; introduced from Morocco in the 1840s
Holds historical and cultural significance in Moroccan heritage
Produces antiseptic oils used in traditional medicine and perfumes
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Hazel (Corylus avellana)
Grows up to 12 metres tall if not coppiced
Deciduous species
Irish name: Coll
Deeply significant in Irish culture and mythology
Included in the early Ogham alphabet—Coll, meaning hazel-tree, represented the letter ‘ᚃ’ (C)
One of the “Seven Nobles of the Wood,” protected by law in early Ireland due to its value
Widely used as firewood, particularly during the Neolithic period (c. 4000–2500 BC)
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
Grows up to 15 metres tall
Deciduous species
Irish name: Sceach
Commonly used as hedging
Known as a “Commoner of the Wood” and protected under ancient Irish law due to its value
Its fruit was an important food source in the 12th century
Associated with folklore as a “fairy tree”
Trees in Dunsany Estate
European Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
Grows up to 20 metres tall
Deciduous species
Irish name: Feá
Considered naturalised in Ireland
Native until the last Ice Age; reintroduced in the 18th century
Traditionally used as a “message tree,” with carvings of initials or symbols in its smooth bark
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)
Grows up to 45 metres tall
Deciduous species
Leaves can reach up to 35 cm in length
Leaves emerge late in spring and fall early in autumn
One of the most widely distributed tree species in Europe
Considered one of the “Nobles of the Wood”; traditionally used for weapons, homes, oars, and furniture
Associated with the warrior queen Medb (Maedhbh) in Irish mythology
Three of the five sacred trees of Irish myth were ash
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Walnut (Juglans regia)
Grows up to 25 metres tall
Deciduous species
Spread widely by humans over thousands of years
Cultivated in China, the USA, France, Iran, and other regions for both its high-quality timber and nutritious nuts
Trees in Dunsany Estate
European Larch (Larix decidua)
Grows up to 40 metres tall
Irish name: Learóg
A deciduous conifer sheds its needles in winter
Non-native to Ireland; introduced around the 18th century
The only deciduous conifer native to Europe
Historically valued for its durable timber, used in carts, fences, bridges, paper production, and charcoal
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)
Grows up to 100 metres tall
Coniferous species
Irish name: Sprus Sitceach
Non-native to Ireland; introduced from western North America in the 1830s
The third largest conifer species in the world
Holds deep historical and cultural significance for Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest
Traditionally used for a wide range of purposes, including tea, medicine, hats, totem poles, and canoes
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)
Grows up to 35 metres tall
Coniferous species
Irish name: péine albannach
Once native, it died out in Ireland around 2,000 years ago; reintroduced from Scotland in the 17th century
A remnant native population was identified in Co. Clare by a Trinity College study
Considered one of the “Nobles of the Wood” in Irish tradition
Resin was historically used to waterproof boats
- Ireland’s only native pine and one of three native conifers
Trees in Dunsany Estate
White Poplar (Populus alba)
Grows up to 30 metres tall
Deciduous species
Non-native to Ireland
Native to regions of North Africa and central Eurasia
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
Grows up to 60 metres tall
Coniferous species
Irish name: Giúis Dhúghlais
Non-native; introduced to Ireland around 1827
Despite its name, it is not a true fir and does not belong to the Abies genus
The second-largest conifer species in the world, after the redwood
The tallest tree ever recorded in Ireland is a Douglas Fir – 56m tall at Powerscourt, Co. Wicklow
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea)
Grows up to 40 metres tall
Deciduous species
Irish name: Dair ghaelach
One of the “Nobles of the Wood”used for building sturdy homes; acorns were fed to pigs
Used by Vikings for shipbuilding
Deeply significant in Celtic mythology and tradition
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur)
Grows up to 40 metres tall
Deciduous species
Irish name: Dair ghallda
Less common in Ireland than the Sessile Oak
Historically, oak wood was used to produce charcoal for the English iron industry
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Hybrid Willow (Salix aurita hybrid)
Typically grows up to 3 metres tall
Deciduous species
Irish name: Crann sníofa
Used during the Bronze Age for making rope
Known as one of the “Commoners of the Wood” in Irish tradition
Valued for a range of uses including fencing, thatching, harp-making, and traditional medicine
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Goat Willow (Salix caprea)
Grows up to 10 metres tall
Deciduous species
Irish name: Saileach dubh
A “sally rod” (a rod made from willow) was traditionally seen as a charm for good luck on a journey
One of the most widely distributed willow species in the world
Associated with the river goddess Bóinn, who, according to legend, created the River Boyne
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Yew (Taxus baccata)
Grows up to 30 metres tall
Coniferous species
Irish name: Iúr
Yew spearheads are among the oldest known wooden artefacts
Considered one of the “Nobles of the Wood”
Often used to craft items of high status and importance
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra)
Grows up to 30 metres tall
Deciduous species
Irish name: Leamhán sléibhe
Ireland’s only native elm species
Now rare due to the impact of Dutch elm disease
Considered a “Commoner of the Wood” in Irish tradition
Place names like Lavagh or Leamhach translate as “place of elms”
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Norway Spruce (Picea abies)
Grows up to 40 metres tall
Coniferous species
Introduced from Scandinavia around the 1800s
Commonly used as a Christmas tree
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Portugal Laurel (Prunus lusitanica)
Grows up to 15 metres tall
Broadleaf evergreen (not coniferous)
Non-native; introduced from Portugal and Spain around the 1650s
Primarily planted for ornamental and decorative purposes
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Grey Willow (Salix cinerea)
Grows up to 15 metres tall
Deciduous species
Irish name: Saileach rua
Two subspecies exist: grey willow (subsp. cinerea) and rusty willow (subsp. oleifolia)
Less common than the rusty willow in Ireland
Willows frequently appear in folklore, poetry, and literature due to their graceful form and symbolism
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Elder (Sambucus nigra)
Grows up to 15 metres tall
Deciduous species
Irish name: Tromán
Young twigs produce an unpleasant smell when broken
Included in the early Ogham alphabet—Ruis, meaning “red,” represented the letter ‘ᚏ’ (R)
Traditionally used for dyes, syrups, wines, and musical instruments
Trim, Co. Meath derives its name from the elder; the Irish name translates to “Town of the Ford of the Elder Trees”
Often considered unlucky in folklore, associated with protective and mystical properties
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Western Red-cedar (Thuja plicata)
Grows up to 15 metres tall
Deciduous species
Irish name: Saileach rua
Two subspecies exist: grey willow (subsp. cinerea) and rusty willow (subsp. oleifolia)
Less common than the rusty willow in Ireland
Willows frequently appear in folklore, poetry, and literature due to their graceful form and symbolism
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Large-leaved Lime (Tilia platyphyllos)
Grows up to 40 metres tall
Deciduous species
Non-native to Ireland
Noted for its distinctive heart-shaped leaves
Culturally significant in folklore across many parts of Europe
Lime bark and wood were traditionally used for parchment and portrait panels
The Old English word lind (meaning shield) comes from lime wood, once used to craft protective gear
Trees in Dunsany Estate
Lime (Tilia × europaea)
Grows up to 35 metres tall
Deciduous species
Irish name: Teile
Became extinct in Ireland during the last Ice Age
Reintroduced and widely planted from the 1700s onward
Symbolically associated with liberty, justice, love, and fertility across European traditions
