Crossbane Lough
Crossbane Lough is a large, diverse site with a variety of
plant communities. There is a gradual transition from the open
waters of the lough, through a range of fen communities, to
heath. The fen vegetation occurs in small stands amongst rocky
outcrops and in shallow basins. Species include Bottle Sedge,
Common Cottongrass, Devil’s-bit Scabious and Marsh Violet growing
over layers of Sphagnum moss and brown mosses. By the
lake shore, floating mats of fen vegetation occur with the uncommon
Bog-sedge locally frequent. The open waters of the lough hold
a range of aquatic plants, whilst a variable swamp fringe can
be found surrounding the lough. Scrub, acid grassland and small
pools derived from past peat cutting provide additional habitat
diversity. Notable plants include Least Bur-reed, Yellow-sedge
and a number of rare mosses.
The site also supports a diverse invertebrate community with
several notable species present, such as Velia saulii, a water
cricket found on the edges of lakes.
There is no public access to this site.
Drumcarn
Drumcarn is a large site with a wide range of habitats and
vegetation communities. It has developed in a series of old
peat cuttings between heath covered rocky outcrops. The diversity
provided by open water, swamp and fen provides valuable habitat
for wetland invertebrates, and several rare species of plants
and animals have been recorded. Wet grassland, heath and scrub
add further diversity to the site.
Drumcarn is one of the best sites in Northern Ireland for Dragonflies
and damselflies with 14 species recorded, including the rare
Irish Damselfly.
In addition, a large colony of the Marsh Fritillary butterfly
is found. A number of other notable invertebrates were recorded
for the site including the Whirligig Beetle Gyrinus natator.
There is no public access to this site.
Kiltubbrid Loughs
Kiltubbrid Loughs are two adjoining inter-drumlin Loughs, which
have developed over the underlying Carboniferous Lower Limestone
rock. They contain a wide variety of habitats and exhibit natural
transitions from open water to carr woodland.
Swamp communities are dominated by an extensive stand of Common
Reed, with occasional patches of Bottle Sedge. On slightly higher
ground, this gives way to tall fen and fen-meadow vegetation.
Sedges are common here, along with an abundance of herbs
such as Marsh Marigold and Yellow Loosestrife.
Woodland areas are dominated by Alder and Willows, with an
understorey of Greater Tussock Sedge. A small calcareous spring
adds to the interest of the site, and contains local plant species,
including Fragrant Orchid.
Kiltubbrid Loughs is the only known site in Northern Ireland
for the Fen Bedstraw . In addition, the site also supports two
vascular plants which are rare in the British Isles - Cowbane
and Marsh Fern.
There is no public access to this site.
Tullybrick Lough
Tullybrick Lough is a small inter-drumlin wetland, situated
in western side of Co. Armagh, close to the Co. Monaghan border.
The lake appears to be fed mainly by calcareous springs, and
as a result, has the typical characteristics of a marl lough,
with very clear water and extensive growth of Stoneworts.
Although small in extent, a wide range of wetland plant communities
occurs, from open waters, through swamp and fen, to species-rich
fen meadow and carr woodland.
The area of sedge-rich fen is dominated by Lesser Tussock-sedge,
Bottle Sedge and Common Sedge, growing over Bogbean. Brown Sedge
is dominant in places, and forms a more species-rich community
in the north, where it occurs with Greater Tussock-sedge, Tufted-sedge
and Carnation Sedge and more notably Quaking-grass and
Grass-of-Parnassus (at its only known County Armagh site).
The fen meadow communities include such scarce species as Cowbane,
in addition to more common plants like Marsh Pennywort, Water
Mint, Ragged-Robin, Marsh Cinquefoil, Marsh-marigold and Marsh
Bedstraw. The moss layer is variable, with the brown moss the
most prominent species.
There is no public access to this site.
