Ballybannan
Ballybannan includes a wide range of wetland communities and
plants, including several rare species. The area forms part
of a shallow basin that is bisected by a road.
To the west of the road is a small area of fen in which Bottle
Sedge, Sharp-flowered Rush, Yorkshire-fog, Marsh
Bedstraw and Water Mint are co-dominant, over the brown moss.
To the east of the road there is a mosaic of fen with shallow
pools and scattered Gorse scrub. Although small, these pools
are very species-rich and are fringed by a diverse range of
brown mosses. Other plants such as Bottle Sedge, Sharp-flowered
Rush and Water Mint are abundant here. Species which occur throughout
the wetland area include Bogbean, Hoary Willowherb and Common
Butterwort, in addition to Creeping Bent, Meadowsweet
, Water Horsetail and Marsh Cinquefoil. The remainder of the
area is occupied by tall Gorse scrub with frequent Rowan
and Bramble.
In addition to some of those listed above, the fen contains
a number of vascular plants with a restricted distribution in
the British Isles, including Bog Pimpernel, Dioecious Sedge,
Lesser Clubmoss and Black Bog-rush.
Ballybannan also provides valuable habitat for a range of wetland
animals, including birds and invertebrates.
There is no public access to the site.
Ballycam
This shallow inter-drumlin hollow contains varied wetland communities
including some interesting plants. Although small, Ballycam
contains a number of fen communities, including the only known
example in Northern Ireland of one that is generally only found
locally in lowland England and Wales. It is characterised by
the dominance of Black Bog-rush and Blunt-flowered Rush . Other
vegetation-types include swamp dominated by Common Reed , and
fen dominated by Bottle Sedge; and Marsh Cinquefoil. These communities
grade into mesotrophic grassland (often containing fen species)
around the edge of the site.
There is no public access to this site.
Ballykilbeg
Ballykilbeg is a large wetland site with a complex mosaic of
habitats ranging from swamp, fen and wet grassland, to woodland
and scrub. The swamp vegetation is dominated by Common Reed.
In contrast, the plant communities of the fen are particularly
variable with Bottle Sedge , Bogbean; and Marsh Cinquefoil;
interspersed by areas of rich fen with Lesser Tussock-sedge
and Brown Sedge .Wet grassland, scrub and woodland are scattered
over the area adding to the overall diversity of the site.
The fen contains a number of scarce plants including Greater
Tussock-sedge , Blunt-flowered Rush and a number of notable
bryophytes. Ballykilbeg also provides valuable habitat for a
number of wetland birds and invertebrates including a well-established
colony of the Marsh Fritillary butterfly.
No public access to the site.
Black Lough
Black Lough is a large, complex site. Wetland plant communities
are diverse and include several rare species. The site also
includes areas of lowland heath and species-rich grasslands.
The fen has developed in an elongated valley and consists of
areas of open water connected by Bottle Sedge swamp and are
surrounded by a floating poor-fen dominated by Bogbean. Other
areas of fen are more diverse supporting rare vegetation communities.
Notable plants include Lesser Tussock-sedge, Marsh St-John’s-wort,
Western Gorse and the mosses Calliergon cordifolium and
Sphagnum squarrosum. The site is also important for invertebrates
with ten species of Dragonfly and 39 species of aquatic beatle.
Notable species include the rare Irish Damselfly a number of
water beetles and the water bug Notonecta obliqua.
No public access to the site.
Corbally
Corbally is an inter-drumlin wetland. The area is particularly
diverse, with open water, swamp and fen plant communities. Pools
and drains support a variable open water flora and the swamp
vegetation is dominated by Common Reed . The fen communities
are more diverse and include a stand of fen meadow, a rare plant
community in Northern Ireland. This is dominated by Lesser tussock-sedge,
Blunt-flowered Rush and the brown moss Calliergon cuspidatum.
Scarce plants include Lesser Tussock-sedge, Slender Sedge, Blunt-flowered
Rush, Knotted Pearlwort, Least Bur-reed and the mosses Calliergon
giganteum and Scorpidium scorpioides. Corbally also
provides valuable habitat for wetland birds and invertebrates
including a number of notable water beetles.
There is no public access to this site.
