Even More "Coole" Stuff !
WE visited Coole Park in Gort, Co. Galway today. It is a very famous forest and woodland area. It is also a nature reserve. Animals such as bats, badgers, deer and mice live there. Wild swans live in Coolelaigh Turlough. Coole Park is supported by Dúchas, the National Heritage Service.
During our visit we did lots of different things. Our main guide was Ciara and our second guide was Rob Steede. First we looked at many different trees and their leaves and seeds. I took a bark rubbing from a sycamore tree. The sycamore tree's seed is the helicopter. Ciara explained to us that Ash trees have smaller type helicopters. She also explained to us that the largest leaves come from the lime tree and the sycamore. The smallest leaves come from the beech tree. We were then brought to see a reserve for red deer. red deer used to be plentiful in Ireland, however, now they're endangered. In the public toilets, at Coole, in summertime, there can be up to 900 bats living there. We also got to see a badger's set. A badger's set can be distinguished from a rabbit's burrow because it has many entrances to it and there's always fresh bedding outside it.. We got to see the wild swans swimming in the turlough, although we had to be quiet pot to disturb them and finally we went on a scavenger hunt.
The well known Lady Gregory and the well known writer W.B. Yeats who went out together and also founded the Abbey Theatre both loved Coole. Lady Gregory loved Coole and she lived very near the forest. She often invited Yeats on holiday to Coole  where he was inspired to write the famous poem "The Wild Swans at Coole"…."I have looked upon those brilliant creatures and now my heart is sore", is a n extract from the famous poem.
I enjoyed the visit to Coole Park as it was very interesting. I had never really visited a forest before so it was especially enjoyable. It was very good learning about the wonderful trees and animals that are situated in this beautiful part of the countryside.