Vale of Clara
Vale of Clara Location of the Vale of Clara in Ireland
Type	National
Location	County Wicklow
Coordinates	52°56′31″N 6°14′20″W / 52.942°N 6.239°W / 52.942; -6.239
Area	545 acres (220.55 ha)
Operated by	National Parks and Wildlife Service (Ireland)
Status	Open all year

Vale of Clara (Irish: Gleann an Chláraigh)^[1] is a national nature reserve of approximately 545 acres (2.21 km²) located in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is managed by the Irish National Parks & Wildlife Service, part of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Features

The Vale of Clara was legally protected as a national nature reserve by the Irish government in 1983.^[2] The Special Area of Conservation, Ballygannon Wood, is contained within the Vale of Clara nature reserve.^[3]

The Vale of Clara, sometimes known as Clara Vale Forest,^[4] is a fragmented oak woodland set over a large area, with the largest semi-natural woods in County Wicklow. It is possibly the largest native hardwood wood in Ireland. This area has been partially covered in trees since the Ice Age.^[5] There is also a variety of hazel, willow, holly, and birch trees as well as bluebells, bilberry, honeysuckle, and wood sorrel. Some of the birds which inhabit the woodlands include buzzards, woodcock, tree-creepers, and redstarts^[4] alongside fallow deer.^[6]

See also

• Clara Lara FunPark

References