Carn/Glenshane Pass
Carn/Glenshane Pass represents a very large area of upland
blanket bog, much of which remains intact. Located within the
Sperrin Mountains, it is one of the few remaining areas of extensive
intact blanket bog within this region of Northern Ireland.
The area is characterised by undulating topography and exhibits
a number of notable structural features. These include a large,
well-developed hummock and pool system and extensive eroding
hagg complexes within a thick mantle of blanket peat. Ericoid
dwarf- shrubs and sedges dominate the blanket bog vegetation
over a carpet of Sphagnum bog mosses.The site includes rare
and unusual plant species.
On steeper slopes, where peat deposits are thinner, blanket
bog forms a mosaic with wet heath. These slopes frequently give
way to flushed grassland with poor-fen vegetation developing
at their base. Bog-sedge Carex limosa and the notable Dioecious
Sedge is found in the most species rich flushes. Dry heath dominated
by Bell Heather occurs on the driest slopes forming a mosaic
with scattered stands of upland grassland.
These habitats add diversity to this large, upland area which
supports an array of associated plant and animal communities
including Breeding Red Grouse.
There is no public access to this site.