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It is the position of Ballydehob that makes the village so attractive for anyone with a passing

interest in Natural History. Being on the Southwest coast it benefits from climatic effects of the Atlantic Gulf Stream which contributes to the mildness conductive to the survival of a host of common and rare Wild flowers and ferns, as well as such unusual animals as the Kerry slug.

It is the perfect base for exploring such well known areas of ecological interest such as the Lough Hyne Marine Nature Reserve to the East, the cliffs and seabird colonies to the West, the old Oak woods Of Glengarriff to the North, and the islands of Roaring Water Bay to the South.

However it is the location of the village in the middle of a variety of unspoilt rural landscape, it's Proximity to the sea and the river running by its East edge that offers the opportunities for exploration By the naturalist. A walk along any of the quiet roads leading out of the village, brings you in contact With the plants of the hedgerows and roadside. Rare plants such as the St. Patrick's Cabbage (Saxifraga) And Irish Spurge (Euphorbia) are easily seen in Summertime in these habitats. The brilliant Red Fuchsia, introduced from South America, thrives in many of the local hedgerows. The wetter areas contain populations of Osmunda, the Royal Fern, scarce in Britain. The hedgerows also provide feeding and nesting for a wide variety of birds.

The alert observer may see the Kingfisher of Dipper in the vicinity of the Three arch bridge.

Otters are regularly seen also in this area and along the estuary, an indication of the high quality of the water there.