Fairy Water Bogs ASSI

The area is of special scientific interest because it is considered to comprise one of the most important concentration of lowland raised bogs in Northern Ireland. Despite a long history of turf cutting in the district, extensive areas of intact raised bog remain. As other bog complexes in Northern Ireland have suffered much more severe exploitation, the overall extent of intact bog makes this complex unique. The bogs which are included in this composite site are: Kilmore Robinson; North Drumnafallow; Bomackatall; and Claragh.

Each bog has a classic dome structure, which in some cases, is partly obscured by glacial features. At Kilmore Robinson, the bog is bisected by a high ridge, and at Bomackatall, a low drumlin has been almost engulfed by the bog. Hummocks and hollows are generally well developed on three of the bogs, with significant pool complexes at Claragh and Bomackatall. At Drumnafallow Bog, the hummocks and hollows structure is obscured by turf cutting and reclamation, although the relief suggests that two domes exist, enclosing a very small basin mire marked by an old pond which is covered by Sphagnum.

Sphagnum imbricatum and Sphagnum fuscum are widespread, with the latter being especially abundant on Kilmore Robinson. Bryophytes typically associated with western blanket bog are well represented, with Pleurozia purpurea being prominent in bog pools on Kilmore Robinson and Claragh.

The uncut bog surface of Claragh Bog displays a typical raised bog flora dominated by heather, cross - leaved heath, deergrass, and underlain by a high moss cover of Sphagnum species. Where burning is prevalent, bog myrtle and bilberry are well established. The cut-over areas contain a similar species assemblage to the intact parts but have been invaded by downy birch, willow species and oak species which, along the eastern side of the site, has developed into woodland.
Claragh Bog still has 60% of its original surface relatively undisturbed and it displays good hummock-hollow and pool complexes. It has a typical lowland raised bog flora and 3 rare Sphagnum mosses. Claragh Bog is reported to be the least disturbed bog in the valley of the Fairy Water.

Bomackatall is the largest remaining partially intact bog in the Fairy Water Valley complex. It displays many of the typical characteristic features of bogs in the area with several plant species of local occurrence, and transitional elements e.g. liverworts such as Pleurozia purpurea, a moss Racomitrium langinosum and red grouse. Over the greater part of Bomackatall Bog's intact bog surface there is a typical hummock/hollow vegetation. Sphagnum fuscum hummocks are present, and heather and cross - leaved heath are common. Annaghs Lough at the margin of Bomackatall Bog shows various stages in the vegetation succession from open water to peaty swamp and fen.

At North Drumnafallow, the succession from open water to peaty swamp is well advanced, with the development of a schwingmoor (an advancing floating raft of the bog-moss Sphagnum over the site of an old pool).

The raised bogs provide suitable sites for breeding birds such as snipe, curlew and lapwing.

Site Related Documents

Site map (.PDF 256Kb), Citation document (.PDF 58Kb) and Views about Management document (.PDF 93Kb).