Eoghan Daltun 🌍
@irishrainforest.bsky.social
Author of award-winning bestseller 'An Irish Atlantic Rainforest'. Over 16 years living with 73 acres of wildland in Beara, West Cork. #Rewilding.
Imagine when around 80% of the island of Ireland looked something like this, with lynx, wild boar, wolves, bears, and so much more. We should be a rainforest nation.
A *massive* part of our heritage has been stolen from us. Let's start bringing some of it back, via #Rewilding.
A *massive* part of our heritage has been stolen from us. Let's start bringing some of it back, via #Rewilding.
November 15, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Imagine when around 80% of the island of Ireland looked something like this, with lynx, wild boar, wolves, bears, and so much more. We should be a rainforest nation.
A *massive* part of our heritage has been stolen from us. Let's start bringing some of it back, via #Rewilding.
A *massive* part of our heritage has been stolen from us. Let's start bringing some of it back, via #Rewilding.
The magic of an Irish rainforest in fungi season.
November 14, 2025 at 7:21 AM
The magic of an Irish rainforest in fungi season.
Scots pine was a major part of the prehistoric wildwood here on the Beara Peninsula, but died out as habitats were cleared for farming.
Now, it's back. #Rewilding
Now, it's back. #Rewilding
November 13, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Scots pine was a major part of the prehistoric wildwood here on the Beara Peninsula, but died out as habitats were cleared for farming.
Now, it's back. #Rewilding
Now, it's back. #Rewilding
A loud, raucous screech told me to look out the bathroom window yesterday. There, in the rainforest just outside (and the lashing rain), was a very wet jay.
Champion oak tree planters, and my favourite bird, they're highly secretive, so really great to see one only feet away.
(Just a phone photo!)
Champion oak tree planters, and my favourite bird, they're highly secretive, so really great to see one only feet away.
(Just a phone photo!)
November 12, 2025 at 6:05 AM
A loud, raucous screech told me to look out the bathroom window yesterday. There, in the rainforest just outside (and the lashing rain), was a very wet jay.
Champion oak tree planters, and my favourite bird, they're highly secretive, so really great to see one only feet away.
(Just a phone photo!)
Champion oak tree planters, and my favourite bird, they're highly secretive, so really great to see one only feet away.
(Just a phone photo!)
Living sculpture.
Notice also the pool of water held in the crook of this ancient oak on the shores of Kenmare River (bay).
Notice also the pool of water held in the crook of this ancient oak on the shores of Kenmare River (bay).
November 11, 2025 at 5:46 AM
Living sculpture.
Notice also the pool of water held in the crook of this ancient oak on the shores of Kenmare River (bay).
Notice also the pool of water held in the crook of this ancient oak on the shores of Kenmare River (bay).
Looking forward to reading this.
November 10, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Looking forward to reading this.
There was a great art to the building of drystone field walls, since, without mortar, every stone needed to be held in place by gravity.
Construction styles varied according to locality and stone type, and some walls could be 100s or even 1,000s of years old (but with periodic repairs).
Construction styles varied according to locality and stone type, and some walls could be 100s or even 1,000s of years old (but with periodic repairs).
November 10, 2025 at 6:17 AM
There was a great art to the building of drystone field walls, since, without mortar, every stone needed to be held in place by gravity.
Construction styles varied according to locality and stone type, and some walls could be 100s or even 1,000s of years old (but with periodic repairs).
Construction styles varied according to locality and stone type, and some walls could be 100s or even 1,000s of years old (but with periodic repairs).
On the left, goldenrod growing as an epiphyte on an oak in my place.
This is rainforest.
This is rainforest.
November 9, 2025 at 7:39 AM
On the left, goldenrod growing as an epiphyte on an oak in my place.
This is rainforest.
This is rainforest.
Heavy shower incoming.
November 8, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Heavy shower incoming.
A real pleasure and privilege yesterday to participate in the Irish Landscape Architect Institute's conference in Dublin, along with Seán McCormack, @philipb-h.bsky.social, @unamullally.bsky.social, and others.
November 8, 2025 at 10:02 AM
A real pleasure and privilege yesterday to participate in the Irish Landscape Architect Institute's conference in Dublin, along with Seán McCormack, @philipb-h.bsky.social, @unamullally.bsky.social, and others.
Wonderfully wet and wild.
Make up all the bug hotels and bird boxes you want, but without way more healthy wild natural habitats like this, nature will continue to crash.
Rewilding is how we make that happen.
Make up all the bug hotels and bird boxes you want, but without way more healthy wild natural habitats like this, nature will continue to crash.
Rewilding is how we make that happen.
November 8, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Wonderfully wet and wild.
Make up all the bug hotels and bird boxes you want, but without way more healthy wild natural habitats like this, nature will continue to crash.
Rewilding is how we make that happen.
Make up all the bug hotels and bird boxes you want, but without way more healthy wild natural habitats like this, nature will continue to crash.
Rewilding is how we make that happen.
Your regular reminder that by throwing away nature, we throw away *everything*.
November 7, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Your regular reminder that by throwing away nature, we throw away *everything*.
We're told one of these land uses is 'productive', while the other is not.
But in terms of photosynthetic levels, as well as the production of clean air, water, no flooding, a stable climate, etc, etc, the natural ecosystem wins hands down.
As for biodiversity, let's not even go there.
But in terms of photosynthetic levels, as well as the production of clean air, water, no flooding, a stable climate, etc, etc, the natural ecosystem wins hands down.
As for biodiversity, let's not even go there.
November 7, 2025 at 6:34 AM
We're told one of these land uses is 'productive', while the other is not.
But in terms of photosynthetic levels, as well as the production of clean air, water, no flooding, a stable climate, etc, etc, the natural ecosystem wins hands down.
As for biodiversity, let's not even go there.
But in terms of photosynthetic levels, as well as the production of clean air, water, no flooding, a stable climate, etc, etc, the natural ecosystem wins hands down.
As for biodiversity, let's not even go there.
Records of great spotted woodpecker, extinct in Ireland for centuries, but which reintroduced itself naturally to the east coast and has been moving west ever since.
Still waiting for them to make it down to my place in Beara, but looks like it's only a matter of time!
Nature CAN come back!!
Still waiting for them to make it down to my place in Beara, but looks like it's only a matter of time!
Nature CAN come back!!
November 6, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Records of great spotted woodpecker, extinct in Ireland for centuries, but which reintroduced itself naturally to the east coast and has been moving west ever since.
Still waiting for them to make it down to my place in Beara, but looks like it's only a matter of time!
Nature CAN come back!!
Still waiting for them to make it down to my place in Beara, but looks like it's only a matter of time!
Nature CAN come back!!
Clouded funnel on yesterday's rainy rainforest floor.
Saprotrophic, it breaks down fallen leaves and feeds their nutrients and energy back into the ecosystem.
It's part of a true circular economy.
Saprotrophic, it breaks down fallen leaves and feeds their nutrients and energy back into the ecosystem.
It's part of a true circular economy.
November 5, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Clouded funnel on yesterday's rainy rainforest floor.
Saprotrophic, it breaks down fallen leaves and feeds their nutrients and energy back into the ecosystem.
It's part of a true circular economy.
Saprotrophic, it breaks down fallen leaves and feeds their nutrients and energy back into the ecosystem.
It's part of a true circular economy.
It's easy to take autumn's colours for granted. But across much of the world, there's no such seasonal leaf fall: eg in the tropics, or where conifers hold sway in the north.
Another of the things that make our natural forests so incredibly special.
Another of the things that make our natural forests so incredibly special.
November 4, 2025 at 5:53 AM
It's easy to take autumn's colours for granted. But across much of the world, there's no such seasonal leaf fall: eg in the tropics, or where conifers hold sway in the north.
Another of the things that make our natural forests so incredibly special.
Another of the things that make our natural forests so incredibly special.
Anyone who thinks the invasive species problem is exaggerated, that it's "all just nature", should experience the cemetery that is a native Irish rainforest choked by rhododendron, as so many are.
Invasives are a *human* impact, and one of the top causes of biodiversity loss on Earth.
Invasives are a *human* impact, and one of the top causes of biodiversity loss on Earth.
November 3, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Anyone who thinks the invasive species problem is exaggerated, that it's "all just nature", should experience the cemetery that is a native Irish rainforest choked by rhododendron, as so many are.
Invasives are a *human* impact, and one of the top causes of biodiversity loss on Earth.
Invasives are a *human* impact, and one of the top causes of biodiversity loss on Earth.
Fungi magic in an Irish Atlantic rainforest 🌍
November 2, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Fungi magic in an Irish Atlantic rainforest 🌍
Some very heavy rain here over recent days, temporarily turning parts of the forest into a watery wonderland.
I love it like this. 🌎
I love it like this. 🌎
November 1, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Some very heavy rain here over recent days, temporarily turning parts of the forest into a watery wonderland.
I love it like this. 🌎
I love it like this. 🌎
Most of Ireland's uplands are commonage, ie co-owned by local farmers.
The ONLY real income from commonage is via subsidies, almost always for ecosystem-killing sheep. This is why Irish mountains are all empty wastelands, kept that way by your taxes.
Why are we STILL not paying farmers to rewild??
The ONLY real income from commonage is via subsidies, almost always for ecosystem-killing sheep. This is why Irish mountains are all empty wastelands, kept that way by your taxes.
Why are we STILL not paying farmers to rewild??
October 31, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Most of Ireland's uplands are commonage, ie co-owned by local farmers.
The ONLY real income from commonage is via subsidies, almost always for ecosystem-killing sheep. This is why Irish mountains are all empty wastelands, kept that way by your taxes.
Why are we STILL not paying farmers to rewild??
The ONLY real income from commonage is via subsidies, almost always for ecosystem-killing sheep. This is why Irish mountains are all empty wastelands, kept that way by your taxes.
Why are we STILL not paying farmers to rewild??
This holly grew horizontally out of a rock face to escape browsing sheep and goats. Now that they're gone, it has also been able to extend straight up vertically.
A tree's shape can tell a lot about its life story.
A tree's shape can tell a lot about its life story.
October 30, 2025 at 5:32 AM
This holly grew horizontally out of a rock face to escape browsing sheep and goats. Now that they're gone, it has also been able to extend straight up vertically.
A tree's shape can tell a lot about its life story.
A tree's shape can tell a lot about its life story.
We are constantly told by the media and authorities that these are both 'forest'.
One is a complex, diverse native ecosystem, full of life. The other is an industrial monoculture deadzone.
They could not be more different.
One is a complex, diverse native ecosystem, full of life. The other is an industrial monoculture deadzone.
They could not be more different.
October 29, 2025 at 6:22 AM
We are constantly told by the media and authorities that these are both 'forest'.
One is a complex, diverse native ecosystem, full of life. The other is an industrial monoculture deadzone.
They could not be more different.
One is a complex, diverse native ecosystem, full of life. The other is an industrial monoculture deadzone.
They could not be more different.
Stop and look awhile.
So much life, so much delicate beauty, on the floor of an Irish Atlantic rainforest.
So much life, so much delicate beauty, on the floor of an Irish Atlantic rainforest.
October 28, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Stop and look awhile.
So much life, so much delicate beauty, on the floor of an Irish Atlantic rainforest.
So much life, so much delicate beauty, on the floor of an Irish Atlantic rainforest.
Signs of a life ended, but also of healthy energy and nutrient cycling within the ecosystem.
Predation plays so many critical roles in nature.
Predation plays so many critical roles in nature.
October 27, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Signs of a life ended, but also of healthy energy and nutrient cycling within the ecosystem.
Predation plays so many critical roles in nature.
Predation plays so many critical roles in nature.
The light over the Atlantic coast of Ireland is like nowhere else on Earth 🌎
October 26, 2025 at 9:20 PM
The light over the Atlantic coast of Ireland is like nowhere else on Earth 🌎