The New Year often arrives with pressure. New goals. New habits. New versions of ourselves. But what if this year, instead of trying to do more, we chose to feel more connected to Nature ? In Ireland, we are surrounded by nature and yet many of us feel disconnected from it. A recent large-scale international study exploring nature connectedness across 61 countries found that access to green space alone does not guarantee a strong sense of connection to nature (1). Being near

The coming Tree Week , held by Tree Council in Ireland, is a week full of activities from tree planting and arts to woodland walks and webinars. This event prompted me to learn more about Irish native tree species . I decided to go for a walk to the largest native hardwood forest in Ireland - Vale of Clara Nature Reserve, Co. Wicklow. The first tree that emerges above the others is an oak - tall, powerful, with beautiful branches and many different mosses and lichens growi