Derrykillultagh Landscape

Key Characteristics

• Rolling, slightly acidic farmland on the margins of the Basalt Summits.
• Rounded hills, with fairly shallow slopes, but with a steeper escarpment to the south.
• Varied farmland pattern, with small paddocks on valley sides and a more open character on summits.
• Patches of gorse, scrub and marsh on areas of waste or marginal farmland.
• Straight roads and tracks with numerous scattered houses, small-holdings and farms.
• Numerous hedgerow trees and lines of trees along roads and tracks.
• Conical gate posts.

Landscape Description

Rolling, relatively elevated farmland landscape on the margins of the Antrim basalt plateau. The area is characterised by rounded hills and shallow slopes, although there are some gullies and the southern boundary of the landscape character area is marked by a steeper escarpment slope. Many slopes are divided by straight, narrow glens which form a ladder pattern in views from below. The plateau descends gently to the west, where there is a gradual transition to the claylands on the edge of Lough Neagh. The farmland landscape often has a relatively untidy character, with patches of gorse and scrub and a rather disconnected hedgerow network.

The shallow valleys often contain areas of marsh and many fields are partially infested with rushes. Gorse and holly are typical hedgerow species and often mark the transition to marginal farmland. There are typically small farms and small-holdings which are surrounded by paddocks and scattered barns, although there is a gradual transition to a landscape of larger fields, hedgerow trees and more prosperous farmsteads on the western margins of the plateau. Most farmsteads consist of small, white rendered buildings sited on the mid-slopes or local ridges and connected to roads by straight, right-angled tracks. There are numerous small houses along the roads, although the majority of traditional dwellings are derelict or replaced by modern bungalows, which generally have an abrupt relationship with the surrounding landscape. The older farmsteads are often focal points in the landscape, particularly where they are associated with lines and stands of mature trees. A network of straight roads follow the ridges and connect linear villages; most junctions are staggered cross-roads.

Landscape Condition and Sensitivity to Change

Some parts of the landscape have many derelict buildings and patches of waste ground, while others have a prosperous character. The latter are usually on the lower slopes, where the farms are generally larger, while the condition of the farmland generally worsens towards the east where the plateau becomes increasingly more elevated and the soils are of poorer quality. There is evidence of hedgerow removal, which has resulted in unusually large fields and a disconnected field pattern.

The landscape is more sensitive in the more open, elevated parts of the plateau, and on the steeper slopes to the south, where small-scale landscape features, such as the deep wooded valley at Lagmore and the small valley by Duncan's Park, form part of the wider landscape setting for Lisburn. However, pressures of new built development on the fringes of linear villages have a detrimental effect on landscape character in many parts of the plateau.

Principles for Landscape Management

• Minor road improvements often result in the loss of hedgerows at widened junctions; replanting of hedgerows and hedgerow trees at junctions of roads and at the entrances to farmsteads will ensure that the landscape pattern is strengthened at these key focal points.
• The conservation of existing hedgerows and encouragement of hedgerow tree regeneration throughout the landscape will conserve the characteristic landscape pattern, which is prominent over wide areas.
• Tree planting along roads, farm tracks and beside farmsteads would provide shelter and attractive landscape features which are in keeping with traditional landscape patterns in this area.
• There are opportunities to plant small woodlands and copses on areas of marginal farmland and waste.

Principles for Accommodating New Development

• Ribbon development already forms a continuous line of buildings along some local roads, blocking views from the roads and introducing a suburban character to extensive areas of countryside. Additional linear development will have a detrimental effect.
• Special landscape features such as the valleys at Lagmore and Duncan's Park, merit careful protection and are unsuitable for new development.