Drumbegger ASSI

Drumbegger has been declared as an ASSI because of its species-rich wet grassland. Species-rich grassland tends to occur only where traditional farming practices have been maintained. Such species-rich grassland is now a rare habitat in Northern Ireland.

The ASSI is situated 5 kilometers south of Derrygonnelly. Variations in soils and topography have resulted in subtle differences in grassland type, with species denoting both the wet and dry conditions occurring.

A special type of species-rich wet grassland known as purple moor-grass and rush pasture occurs over much of the site. Fen meadow, a particular type of purple moor-grass and rush pasture, occurs on the slopes where there is a steady hydrological influence flowing through the soil. This results in the occurrence of species adapted to both water movement and wetter conditions.
Plants characteristic of this community include sharp-flowered rush, meadow thistle, lesser spearwort, Devil’s-bit scabious and the mosses glittering wood-moss and neat feather-moss.

In addition to the grassland itself, Drumbegger is also an important site for two protected species, blue-eyed-grass and the marsh fritillary butterfly. Both blue-eyed-grass and Devil’s-bit scabious, the foodplant of the marsh fritillary caterpillars, thrive on the wet grasslands at Drumbegger.

Site Related Documents

Site Map (.PDF 1.55Mb), Copy of Citation and Views about Management document (.PDF 286Kb) and Colour Leaflet (.PDF 152Kb).