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Protected Areas

Copeland Reservoir ASSI

Last updated: 22 April 2010

picture of Copeland Reservoir ASSI

Site Number ASSI 345
Area 10.32h.
Date Declared 30/03/2010
Date Confirmed  
County Antrim
Council(s) Carrickfergus
Borough Council
Keywords Bryophytes

Situated in the hills above Carrickfergus, the fluctuating water levels of Copeland reservoir provides habitat for a group of specialist mosses, some of which are rare.
These mosses grow on exposed mud in the draw-down zone around the edge of the reservoir. They tend to be short lived, appearing in early winter or spring following a lowering of the water-levels.

There are two rare mosses found in Copland Reservoir ASSI. The first is dwarf bladder-mossOpens in New window which is only found on one other reservoir in County Antrim and there are no other populations in Ireland.
The second rare moss is beaked beardless-moss (.PDF 1.0Mb)Opens in New window which has recently been recorded in Northern Ireland on three other County Antrim reservoirs.

Fluctuating water levels and good water quality are important to ensure the survival of the mosses.

Site Related Documents

Site map (.PDF 1.5Mb)Opens in New window, Copy of Citation and Views about Management document (.PDF 282Kb)Opens in New window and Colour Leaflet (.PDF 241Kb)Opens in New window.