At a deep fold in the Copper Coast, that 25km ancient stretch of the Waterford coastline between Tramore and Dungarvan formed 460 million years ago, the land yields to the sea, forming a sheltered deep inlet known as Stradbally Cove. Growing on the cliff edge is one of Ireland’s rarest native tree species: an aspen. Of all his field discoveries, Dr Daniel Buckley favours this specimen the most.
Buckley is a conservationist who spends his spare hours saving rare and threatened trees. He spent years searching for and testing the genetic diversity of black poplars across Ireland. More recently, he has focused his attention on the aspen, Populus tremula. This overlooked native tree rarely receives the attention and reverence accorded oak hazel, or hawthorn.
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