Today, I finally got my hands on Padraic Fogarty’s new book “Whittled Away: Ireland’s Vanishing Nature”. I’m not one for dwelling on the sad environmental stories but I think this is a really important read. Padraic is an ecologist and is the current campaigns officer of the Irish Wildlife Trust, which puts him in a great position to outline what has happened, and what is happening in the Irish environment. I flicked straight to page 140, where the list of extinct animals starts – it doesn’t fit on just one page – the list continues over 5 pages of mammals, birds, plants & insects that are extinct from the Irish environment. I haven’t had a chance to fully read this, but I know from dipping in and out of this book that it is not all sad, there are good stories too. The colour plates in the centre of the book show beautiful natural spaces that are protected or rehabilitated, and the final chapter is firmly focused on how people and wildlife can live together in the future.

Despite the sad theme to this book, I’m looking forward to delving deeper into it. It is clear from outset that it is a well written book packed with startling and important facts. I hope it reaches as many people as possible, and will spark deep conversations and ideas of how we will progress together, living our modern life along side our native flora & fauna.