The Raven Nature Reserve, Nature reserve and Ramsar site in County Wexford, Ireland
The Raven Nature Reserve is a large protected area in County Wexford covering about 590 hectares, composed of sand dunes, coastal woodlands, and lagoons. The landscape centers on a narrow strip of land running along the coast, with a lagoon system and sand bar at its southern end.
The site began as a narrow sand spit protecting the entrance to Wexford Harbour. In the late 1800s, when the North Slob was created nearby, the sand spit became landlocked and the landscape shifted to its current form as part of a larger dune system.
The name comes from the Irish word Rabhainn, meaning a spade-shaped piece of land. Today, the mix of dunes, forests, and wetlands creates a landscape that shapes how birds and other wildlife use the space throughout the year.
A looped walking trail of about 6.5 kilometers circles the reserve on compacted stone paths that are nearly flat and easy to walk. Parking is available at the entrance and a nearby public car park, though spaces may fill up during busy times.
About one-third of the world's Greenland and White-fronted Geese spend winters here, feeding in nearby areas during the day and returning to sleep on the sand bar each evening. The reserve also holds the Round-leaved Wintergreen, a plant found nowhere else in Ireland.
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