Joined March 2014
- Tweets 3,742
- Following 689
- Followers 1,659
- Likes 8,721
351 Photos and videos
Pinned Tweet
31 May 2023
What are semi-natural grasslands? A perhaps confusing name, but it helps separate improved agricultural fields from more natural fields. They are often grazed by domestic animals so aren't wild like savannah. Watch our full animation here youtu.be/9LTiqYLCP-Y @GrasslandsIrl
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Phoebe O'Brien retweeted
2 Nov 2025
The next #aquaticplantproject webinar is now available, thanks to funding from @NPWSIreland . Nick Stewart will be talking about the identification of introduced aquatic plants. To book your free place use the link tickettailor.com/events/bota… Photo from Paul Green
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Phoebe O'Brien retweeted
2 Nov 2025
Grazed by cattle and horses. hay every other year. no artificial fertiliser.
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Phoebe O'Brien retweeted
1 Nov 2025
Check out stunning Ballerina Waxcaps! Great indicators of good quality grassland, & found by #Clare #BiodiversityOfficer @BarryOLochlainn
Grassland is summer-grazed by cattle, receives no fertiliser.
ID guide on: GreatIrishGrasslands.ie
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Phoebe O'Brien retweeted
30 Oct 2025
Sometimes the study of #grasslands is overwhelming! 🙃
These hardy @NPWSIreland staff were learning about #Calaminarian grassland, a protected habitat. In Ireland it is largely defined by rare mosses, limited to old mine sites, generally w heavy metals.
Ph: Clare Heardman
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Phoebe O'Brien retweeted
25 Oct 2025
God, #waxcaps are just fabulous aren’t they?
And if their grasslands get damaged they are gone. Like ‘20 years for partial recovery but maybe no coming back’ gone
Makes me both full of awe (that they still exist at all, let alone in number) and so bloody scared for their future
ALT A slimy (grey) waxcap looking at itself in a mirror.
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Phoebe O'Brien retweeted
18 Oct 2025
In Donegal and took opportunity to photo a few grassland/ heathland plants needed for a current project (more anon!). Can you name any? In each case I've tried to capture a feature that I find quite distinctive. I'll put answers in the comments tomorrow evening :)
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Phoebe O'Brien retweeted
15 Oct 2025
Spent last week in Hungary for EU-wide ‘implementation support event’ titled ‘Restoring Europe’s Threatened Grasslands’.
Talks, workshops, field visits, all aimed at navigating opports & challenges in fast-changing EU policy context (Nature Restoration Regulation, new CAP, etc.)
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Phoebe O'Brien retweeted
30 Sep 2025
Last weekend saw 2 days of learning in
@GlengarriffWood focused on #ants & management of #GreatIrishGrasslands. It took place in #BigMeadow, a #GrasslandTrail site.
Huge thanks to the organisers & participants, esp John Breen (ants)& Susanne Raven (scything).
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Phoebe O'Brien retweeted
26 Sep 2025
As cattle return to the machair for winter grazing, their grazing is essential for creating favourable conditions for flowers to return next year. However, some seeds can be unwanted. Here we can see burdock seed heads doing a great job at dispensing itself via grazing cattle!
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Phoebe O'Brien retweeted
21 Sep 2025
#Grasslands around the country still jst about looking good, w both long & short still sporting a few blooms! Short grasslands can support valuable species like #clover & #selfheal, longer may have #knapweeds & #scabious! We're just coming into #waxcap season, so keep an eye out!
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Phoebe O'Brien retweeted
30 Aug 2025
Do you know what seeds are ripe in your meadow or local hedgerow? Phoebe O'Brien found these recently in her meadow, which is ready to cut.
Can you guess what species are shown here?
No prizes this time, it's just for fun
#GreatIrishGrasslands
#MeadowSeeds
#PlantsToCelebrate
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Phoebe O'Brien retweeted
29 Aug 2025
Thanks so much folks for showing me some great sites!
29 Aug 2025
🌾 Grasslands Training Day at Lough Ree!
Our team enjoyed a grasslands training day on Lough Ree recently. Thank you to Maria Long from the NPWS for visiting us and sharing such valuable insights.
Lough Ree is a truly special place for nature and biodiversity. We had to share some of the amazing pictures our team captured on the day.
@GrasslandsIrl @agriculture_ie @Notice_Nature @NPWSIreland
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Phoebe O'Brien retweeted
28 Aug 2025
📍Ile Grande, in North-West #Brittany 🇫🇷
As part of the #Natura2000 network & protected under the Habitats Directive since April 2⃣0⃣0⃣2⃣, this #coastal dune grassland represents one of the 10 habitats of the Pink Granite Coast, which hosts over 10 🇪🇺 protected species, including the shore dock & the grey seal
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Phoebe O'Brien retweeted
27 Aug 2025
Things to look for in late summer/ autumn in #GreatIrishGrasslands...
- the purple haze of beautiful Devil's-bit Scabious
- the occasionally white or pink flowers - can you find one?
- Harebell can flower quite late. Have you seen it?
#SpeciesRichGrassland
#GrasslandsTrail
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Phoebe O'Brien retweeted
21 Aug 2025
Grassland/ wetland surveys - Brú na Bóinne National Park, Dowth, Meath. Extensive areas of species-rich floodplain, inc Annex hab 'hydrophilous tall herb'.
Great nature value, supports suite of uncommon species of plants
#GreatIrishGrasslands
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Phoebe O'Brien retweeted
18 Aug 2025
To celebrate @HeritageWeek 2025 and its theme 'Exploring Our Foundations', our Farmland Officer Ruth Wilson looks back at the tradition of haymaking on farms, which has taken place in Ireland for centuries & forms part of our cultural and natural heritage tinyurl.com/23dha9rs
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Phoebe O'Brien retweeted
13 Aug 2025
Super day visiting #GreatIrishGrasslands on Lough Ree w @BreedingWaders team. Saw fab species-rich grasslands, supporting tons of biodiversity.
Rarities incl Water Germander (Teucrium scordium) and Betony (Betonica officinalis), both in profusion
#GrasslandsTrail
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Phoebe O'Brien retweeted
Do you want to improve your #ACRES grassland scores? Download the @GrasslandsIrl's booklet and find inspiration from the key principles for managing grasslands. Take a look now: greatirishgrasslands.ie/the-…
#grassland #irishfarming #biodiversity
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Phoebe O'Brien retweeted
8 Aug 2025
And the other great thing is that you can go visit most of these sites too!
#GreatIrishGrasslands
#GrasslandsTrail
Do you want to improve your #ACRES grassland scores? Download the @GrasslandsIrl's booklet and find inspiration from the key principles for managing grasslands. Take a look now: greatirishgrasslands.ie/the-…
#grassland #irishfarming #biodiversity
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