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Protected Areas

Brookend ASSI

Last updated: 13 April 2010

picture of the old dam at Brookend ASSI

Site No. ASSI 334
Area 1.49h.
Declared Date 11/03/2010
Confirmed Date  
County Tyrone
Council(s) Cookstown District Council
Keywords Grey Heron

 

Brookend Old Dam has been declared as an ASSI because of its breeding colony of grey heron.

Heronries are usually located in areas of undisturbed mature woodland close to wetlands which provide a reliable supply of their preferred food: fish and frogs.
Once a heronry has been established, nest sites can be reused for many years. Nests are built in the highest trees with alder and scots pine usually preferred.

picture of nesting grey heronsThe mixed deciduous woodland is dominated by mature ash and beech and includes significant amounts of sycamore.
Mature trees within the woodland provide suitable nest sites for grey heron.

This site is one of the most important heronries in Northern Ireland.

Correct management is essential for special places like Brookend Old Dam since nesting grey heron are very sensitive to disturbance. Sensitive management of the woodland will safeguard the survival of the heronry at Brookend Old Dam.

 
Site Related Documents

Site map (.PDF 1.72Mb)Opens in New window, Citation and Views about Management document (.PDF 197Kb)Opens in New window and Colour leaflet (.PDF 204Kb)Opens in New window.