One of Ireland's best known oak woodlands will increase in size by 68% after the State bought 100 acres (40.46 hectares) of land beside the Glen of the Downs nature reserve in Co Wicklow.
The area, most of which is covered by a commercial conifer plantation, is beside the 150 acre (60 hectare) sessile oak dominated woodland in the Glen of the Downs nature reserve.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service says the plan is to replace the Sitka spruce in the conifer plantation with native trees, including oak.
This will be done over time and the conversion of the newly acquired area to native woodland is a project that is expected to take up to a century, though the changes to the landscape will start very soon.
Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O'Sullivan said it is part of the programme of nature restoration and "presents an amazing opportunity to set the national standard for the conversion of commercial conifer forests and re-establishment of high priority native woodland habitats in complex, sensitive environments.
"It will be a slow process, but we're in it for the long haul with a new woodland management plan for the site that is looking ahead to the end of the century. It's a really exciting project and I can't wait to see how it develops over time."
Glen of the Downs is ranked amongst the top five oak woodlands in Ireland in best condition.
The expansion will boost biodiversity in the area as oak woodlands support hundreds of different species.
Glen of the Downs supports rare species of fungi, bryophytes and invertebrates, such as the liverwort Turner’s Threadwort, a rare plant species known in only five sites in Ireland.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service said the presence of these species indicates the importance and condition of the habitat.
Tánaiste Simon Harris, whose constituency includes the Glen of the Downs, said: "This acquisition is fantastic news for nature and for the people of Wicklow.
"Expanding the Glen of the Downs Nature Reserve will support the restoration of native woodlands and increase the extent of recreational trails managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service."
Minister for Housing James Browne said the purchase shows the commitment of his department to nature restoration.
"We are making a significant contribution towards our Programme for Government commitment to expand our National Parks and Nature Reserves while also leading from the front on public land to achieve Ireland’s obligations under the Nature Restoration Law," he said.
There had been calls for the Government to acquire all of the 200 acres of the Bellevue lands, which were put on sale for an asking price of €6.5m.
Minister O'Sullivan said: "There was another 100 acres that was for sale ... we have to ensure that we get value for money. And if an acquisition doesn't represent value for money, then we can't proceed with that unfortunately.
"That other land was significantly, significantly more expensive than the 100 acres we purchased here, which really does represent good value for money. So my focus now is on this acquisition, getting on with the job in hand, restoring nature, seeing this beautiful oak woodland expand into a greater area,"
The Glen of the Downs woodland saw prolonged and passionate protests in the late 1990s and early 2000s by people opposed to the widening of the N11 Dublin to Wexford road, which cuts through the nature reserve.
Some protesters camped in tents perched in the trees until they were removed after legal challenges to the road project failed.
