The flora and fauna within all of the lands of the Celtic nations is something to be celebrated and cherished. Our environment is an important part of us as a people and needs to be as protected as equally as our language and culture. Our landscape and geographic location has played a pivotal role in our history, beliefs and recognition of ourselves. For our culture tells us that we are part of and completely tied to the lands in which we live or from whence we came.
The ancient Standing Stones, Circles and Cairns within the Celtic nations pay homage to our environment in one form or another. We Celts cannot but be responsible for the protection of nature and the environment. Our ancestors demand it of us and if you delve into your Celtic soul you will hear that deep voice that says ‘Protect the Environment’. Wherever it is in the world in which you live or work. Listen to that voice within yourself because it, as much as anything, ‘Makes you Celtic.’
The Celtic lands of north Western Europe have given rise to exceptional opportunities for rare species to evolve and to act as sanctuaries for bird and marine life to flourish. This is particularly so on more remote islands within our Celtic sphere. In addition to Isle of Man, one of the six Celtic Nations, there are also many islands of various sizes around the coasts of Brittany, Cornwall, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. On some of these islands relative isolation over many centuries resulted in animals unique to these islands developing and being bred as livestock; although in many cases breeding programmes now exist in other parts of the world. Here are just a few examples of those distinct and unique animals native to some of the islands off our Celtic coasts.
