About the reserve

Cooildarry (darragh [oak tree] and cooil [nook]) lies in a deep valley associated with two streams. The present woodland owes much of its character to planting in the Victorian era. Nowadays the canopy of woodland is varied with elm, ash, alder, sycamore and beech the dominant species. The woodland also includes exotic species such as Rhododendron, Portugal and cherry laurel. Mosses, liverworts, horsetails and ferns all grow in profusion in the moist shady conditions and this site is excellent for fungi. In springtime, the woodland floor is carpeted with primrose, wood anemone, wood sorrel, lesser celandine and bluebell. Opposite-leaved golden saxifrage spreads freely over the moister areas.

Management: Rhododendron is controlled in some parts of the site and being replaced with native scrub to create a more natural understorey. Standing or fallen dead wood is left to decay in situ for fungi and beetles where it is safe to do so.