Hazel Woodland in Winter

This picture was taken in late February 2005, as the catkins were appearing on the hazel trees and before the first leaves. This is the valley North of the Perfumery, with its dense covering of hazel scrub. Hazel covers much of the Burren and is gradually claiming back fields and farms where cattle and goats no longer graze to keep it in check. It has a wonderful soft appearance in winter, that I never tire of photographing. Here also a solitary ash tree stands, sentinel like, above its smaller cousins.

Ralph Doyle