Slieve Beagh - Mullaghfad - Lisnaskea Special Protection Area

Area: 8936.11ha.
Grid reference: H5244
Date classified: 20/06/2003

The Slieve Beagh – Mullaghfad - Lisnaskea SPA will comprise a single land unit extending between Slatbeg in the north-east and Coolnasillagh in the south-west and incorporating the Slieve Beagh massif, Mullaghfad Forest and Lisnaskea Forest.

Slightly more than half the eastern boundary is formed by the border with the Republic of Ireland.
The site is delimited principally by physical boundaries closest to merged radii extending 2.5km from nest sites used by hen harriers between 1997 and 2004.

The site encompasses all lands within these boundaries, excluding wholly-improved pasture, arable land, buildings and associated lands.
It includes coniferous plantations, blanket bog, wet and dry heath, grass moor, scrub and limited semi-improved agricultural grassland.
The principal interest is the breeding population of hen harrier.

The site qualifies under Article 4.1 of the Directive (79/409/EEC) by supporting internationally important populations of hen harrier.

It should be noted that the site adjoins a proposed SPA for hen harrier in the Republic of Ireland.

Citation document (.PDF 71Kb) and JNCC data form (.PDF 22Kb).