Garron Plateau

This is the largest area of intact blanket bog in NI. The peatland complex comprises a series of raised and flushed units exhibiting well developed hummock and lawn; pool; eroding lagg complexes in addition to quaking bogs and saddle mires, and a number of oligotrophic water bodies within a peat mantle which supports an array of associated floral and faunal communities, including a number of rare and notable plant and animal species, and a diverse upland breeding bird population.

The peatland complex comprises a series of raised and flushed units exhibiting well developed hummock and lawn; pool; eroding lagg complexes in addition to quaking bogs and saddle mires, and a number of oligotrophic water bodies within a peat mantle which supports an array of associated floral and faunal communities, including a number of rare and notable plant and animal species, and a diverse upland breeding bird population.

Where the peats are thinner, localised flushing by mineral-enriched water results in the formation of alkaline fen vegetation. Although there are many such flushes, their total area is relatively small, since the flushes are generally very small in extent. Nevertheless a combination of good quality and geographical position make this habitat very important here. This is generally very species-rich, with a range of small sedges including dioecious sedge, flea sedge, tawny sedge and yellow-sedge. Herbs such as eyebright , marsh lousewort, common butterwort, lesser clubmoss, devil’s-bit scabious and marsh arrowgrass

A large breeding population of Red Grouse is found on the plateau, along with a few pairs of Golden Plover and Dunlin, while Common Sandpiper are a frequent summer resident. The plateau also provides a good hunting ground for Merlin, Peregrine Falcon and to a lesser degree Buzzard and Hen Harrier, while Ravens are frequently found scavenging on carrion.

There is no public access to the site.