Cuilcagh Mountain
Cuilcagh mountain is one of the most extensive areas of blanket
bog in Northern Ireland and exhibits a wide range of features
including; well-developed pool, hummock and lawn complexes,
acid flushes and bog bursts. Compared with other Northern Ireland
blanket bog sites the area is situated at relatively high altitude
in a high rainfall area. The area also exhibits montane, rock
and lake habitats.
The sites biological interest is largely associated with the
blanket bog which covers the mountain slopes. This exhibits
a wide range of characteristic vegetation and structural features,
with well developed pool, hummock and lawn features, acid flushes
and bog bursts. The summit also supports an area of Racomitrium
heath, a scarce vegetation type in Northern Ireland. Cuilcagh
mountain is also the most important upland breeding site for
Golden Plover in Northern Ireland. Peregrine Falcon regularly
breed along the cliff faces and Merlin are also frequently seen.
The bog is occasionally used for feeding and roosting by Greenland
White-fronted Geese, and Ring Ouzel have been recorded for the
area.
For information on public access contact Mr Richard Watson
+44 (0)28 6634 8855
richard.watson@fermanagh.gov.uk
Inishroosk
This is an area of special scientific interest because of the
breeding waders and for the quality of the wetland vegetation,
which includes a number of uncommon plant species. The site
boundary extends into the lake which is one of the finest large,
shallow eutrophic lakes in Northern Ireland.
The site has been identified as the best lowland breeding wader
site in the Erne basin, and the second most important site in
Northern Ireland, with 1% of breeding snipe, and nearly 2% of
breeding redshank. Other regular breeding birds include lapwing,
curlew and shoveler.
Wintering birds include large flocks of whooper swans, wigeon
and curlew.
The lough shore vegetation is dominated by Common Reed and
Bulrush. Behind the swamp is a broad band of tall fen, in which
Bottle Sedge and Bladder Sedge predominate, with a wide range
of associated species including Cowbane, Flowering Rush, Greater
Spearwort and Water Dock.
The current land management of low intensity grazing and hay-making
has resulted in the retention of species rich marsh and fen
meadow grassland over most of the site. The species-rich marsh
is characterised by the predominance of Creeping Bent and Soft
Rush over a brown moss carpet. The fen meadow consists mostly
of tall sedges such as Common Sedge and Bottle Sedge.
A number of scarce plant species occur including Greater Water-parsnip,
Marsh Stitchwort, Needle Spike Rush, Buckthorn, Wood Club-rush
and Marsh Pea.
Largalinny
Mature semi-natural woodland, typically calcifugous, with localised
base-rich flushing along the gentler south-facing slopes and
along the narrow valley of the Sillees River. The structure,
plant community diversity and the rich flora collectively make
Largalinny one of the most important woodlands in Northern Ireland.
It supports a number of rare plant species including notable
bryophytes and lichens. The site displays a natural transition
from woodland to heath . Heathland on the gentler dip slopes
support additional plant and animal communities, and two small
waterbodies add further diversity to the site. These rich and
variable habitats give rise to notable populations of both dragonflies
and moths. The geological interest of the site is centred on
the silicified fossil fauna from the Glencar Limestone Formations
at Carrick Lough, which are of international importance. The
scarp and dip slope topography displayed by the Glenade Sandstones
are of physiological interest and provide the underlying growing
conditions for the diversity of plants and habitats throughout
the site.
There is no public access to this site.
Moninea Bog
A largely unmodified, inter-drumlin lowland raised bog. Extensive
Sphagnum cover includes the nationally rare S. pulchrum.
Other notable specices include sundews.
There is no public access to this site.
Tattenamona
Relatively intact lowland raised bog with all peat cutting
confined to the perimeter.
Within the pool complex, flat, water-logged 'lawns' alongside
pools are characterised by the prominence of Bog Asphodel and
the locally distributed White Beak-sedge. The three Sundews,
Great Sundew, Round-leaved Sundew and the rare Oblong-leaved
Sundew, are also present around pool margins. The pools are
dominated by Sphagnum cuspidatum, with
Bogbean abundant in a number of them. Other species present
on the hummocks include Heather and Cross-leaved Heath
with a scattered cover of Deergrass, Hare's-tail Cottongrass
and Common Cottongrass.
The lagg surrounding the bog has been cut for turf, creating
a mosaic of habitats. These include grassland, dominated by
Purple Moor-grass and scrubby woodland, in which Downy Birch
is the main species.
There is no public access to this site.
ULE Bellisle
Upper Lough Erne is characterised by the extent of its open
water and swamp communities, by its wooded islands and
for its fen communities. In addition, there are areas of traditionally-managed
grasslands, which are rich in plant species. There is a diverse
range of plant and animal communities, with continuous transitions
from open water to drier ground and important concentrations
of both individual species and groups of species.
Open waters give way to a swamp zone, which is dominated by
the dense growth of tall grass and grass-like species such as
Common Reed and Common Club-rush. This is particularly well-developed
within the sheltered bays and inlets of the area. Exposed shores
tend to have more open swamp communities, with Water Horsetail
and Common Spike-rush prominent.
Behind the swamp zone is an area of fen, where sedges are the
main component of the vegetation, particularly Tufted-sedge
and Bottle Sedge. This zone is frequently species-rich, with
a wide range of associated herbs, including such scarce species
as Cowbane, Greater Water-parsnip and Flowering-rush, in addition
to more common plants like Water-plantain and Purple Loosestrife.
Otters are known to frequent the area.
Upper Lough Erne contains significant numbers of bird species.
In summer, its wet grasslands support numbers of breeding waders,
including Snipe, Lapwing, Redshank and Curlew. The most
notable areas are at Inishcreenry and Lusty Beg. Overwintering
birds include Whooper Swan, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe and
Goldeneye. Greenland White-fronted Geese have recently been
recorded from the area.
There is no public access to this site.
ULE Crom
An integral area in southern Upper Lough Erne which includes
the open waters of the lough, in addition to a range of associated
wetland and other communities especially well characterised
by its extensive woodlands which represent one of the largest
areas of semi-natural woodland in NI. The parkland is notable
for the age of its trees and the communities of woodland lichens
(with a number of rare species) that are associated with them.
The area contains many vascular plants with a restricted distribution
in the British lsles. In addition it is also notable for its
mammals, particularly bats, and the wide variety of habitat
gives rise to a wide range of bird species including Snipe,
Heron and Garden Warbler. The invertebrate fauna is also of
particular importance and the area is known to support many
rare Irish species.
ULE Galloon
This area in southern Upper Lough Erne includes the open waters
of the lough, in addition to extensive, good quality, traditionally
farmed and hence species rich grasslands on base-rich gleyed
soils. There are also wetland and other communities with notable
transitions from open water to drier ground with the concomitant
effect of giving important concentrations of both individual
species and groups of species. This section of the lough is
more sheltered than others such that open waters often give
way to swamp zones. Behind these are areas of sedge dominated
fen which can often be species rich. Wet woodland is also found
with associated ground flora resembling the swamp and fen zones.
The grasslands themselves exhibit variations dependant on the
soils i.e. from strongly flushed to well-drained, more acidic
soils. The nationally rare Frogbit occurs frequently along with
other plants which also have a restricted distribution nationally.
Otters also frequent the area along with wintering wildfowl
and breeding waders.
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ULE Trannish
An integral element of the Upper Lough Erne system which is
particularly well characterised by the extent of its swamp and
fen communities. There is a diverse range of plant and animal
communities, with notable transitions from open water to drier
ground and important concentrations of both individual species
and groups of species. A number of islands are notable for the
extent and quality of species-rich grasslands. The area contains
many vascular plants with a restricted distribution in the British
Isles. The area as a whole is rich and varied for invertebrates.
It is also important for Otters, breeding waders and significant
numbers of wetland bird species.
