Holywood Hills Biodiversity Profile

In the following account of this LCA it should be noted that for consistency, the biodiversity section follows the standard order for all LCAs even though some of the communities discussed later may have more importance for biodiversity than those discussed earlier.

Key Characteristics

• undulating upland largely in agricultural land, principally improved pastures
• mixed broadleaved and coniferous forest occupy the central, higher parts
• extensive demesne woodlands occupy most of the northeast of the LCA

Woodlands

Woodlands occupy about 11% of the LCA, which is a high percentage for Northern Ireland. However, much of this comprises estate woodland, including the Clandeboye Estate. The woodland within this estate is predominantly a broadleaf mixture with oak, birch, and beech. There are also areas of coniferous forest composed of Scots pine and Japanese larch and more scrubby woodland towards Conlig. This wooded estate has proved to be a valuable area for bird life; the Priority Species tree sparrow, barn owl, yellowhammer and song thrush have been recorded here. Pipistrelle bat, red squirrel, marsh fritillary, and wall brown butterfly have also been recoded as present on Clandeboye Estate.

Golden Glen has some demesne planting, but it is more significant for its semi-natural oak and hazel woodland. It is largely undisturbed and has a well-developed shrub layer and ground layer. A small section of Craigantlet ASSI falls into this LCA but it is predominantly in LCA 104.

Semi-natural scrub woodland is found at Cairn Wood and is dominated by willow, alder, rowan, downy birch and ash. Broadleaved and mixed plantations also occur here along with conifer plantations in which red squirrel has been recorded. Ballysallagh Forest is mainly composed of Norway spruce and Scots pine, but approximately 12% of this forest is composed of an intimate broadleaved mixture with some oak and beech.

The estate woodland is largely managed well, with evidence of replanting and control of the understorey. However, the continued expansion of Bangor may pose a threat to marginal woodland areas.

Grassland and Arable

Grassland occupies nearly 55% of the LCA, the great majority in improved pastures. Arable land (including land prepared for rotational grass) accounts for a further 20%. These two land cover classes together occupy all but the central higher area (Cairn Wood) and the northeast (Clandeboye Estate). The biodiversity is generally low as a result of reseeded pastures and heavy use of slurry and inorganic fertilizers; the hedgerows that form most of the field boundaries provide habitats for farmland birds. Hedgerows are managed well, but there has been some field amalgamation.

The surroundings of Whitespots ASSI have dry heath and grassland communities of local importance - where they have not been damaged by tipping. The site is also of importance geologically and to the industrial archaeology of Northern Ireland (former lead mines).

Wetlands

The lakes in this LCA are mainly man-made; they and the reservoirs are at least moderately phosphorus enriched, but of little conservation interest. There are no significant watercourses in the LCA.

Key Issues

General actions for UK and NI Priority Habitats and Priority Species are detailed in the Habitat Action Plans and Species Action Plans.

WOODLANDS

Issue: high woodland cover, mostly in estate woodland; the Clandeboye Estate has many NI Priority Species including barn owl, pipistrelle bat and marsh fritillary

Actions:

• enhance the biodiversity value of demesne woodlands such as Clandeboye Estate and Golden Glen by discouraging any further felling or pollarding; by retention of fallen and veteran trees (particularly for bryophytes, ferns, fungi and fauna); ensure that hazel scrub is retained
• encourage control of grazing in broadleaved woodlands to foster herb layer and regeneration and if necessary, encourage replanting of canopy species; removal of dense rhododendron and cherry laurel could increase the diversity of ground flora, especially where the canopy species are not beech
• further study of the history and biodiversity of broadleaved woodlands within the LCA, particularly any ancient and long-established, as a key to future management
• enhance biodiversity through measures to improve and extend woodland cover such as The Woodland Grant Scheme or The Farm Woodland Premium Scheme; management plans for demesne woodland should be directed toward their survival, through natural regrowth or planting of native broadleaf species; farmers and landowners could be encouraged to plant field corners or set-aside fields
• allow areas of scrub around old quarries should be left to develop; use as landfill sites should be prevented

GRASSLAND AND ARABLE

Issue: improved pastures and intensively managed arable land are of relatively low biodiversity value

Actions:

• encourage (through participation in Environmental Schemes) adoption/continuance of less intensive management of pastures to allow reversion to/continuance of more species-rich grassland
• maintain and improve field boundaries, especially hedgerows where they occur through adoption of correct cutting cycles; hedge laying and replanting where necessary; leave saplings uncut to develop into hedgerow trees; avoidance of spraying with fertilisers, slurry, herbicides through a move to organic farming; provision of wildlife strips and conservation headlands around fields; and limitation of field amalgamation
• leave stubble over winter, rather than autumn ploughing to increase food resources for farmland birds; spring-sown cereals are beneficial to farmland birds
• ensure that further clearance of boulders does not occur on pastoral land

WETLANDS AND LAKES

Issue: pollution of streams and lakes within the Holywood Hills LCA

Actions:

• promote and encourage adoption of Countryside Management guidelines so that pollution of rivers and lakes by releases from silage effluent, herbicides, pesticides, fertilisers or sheep dip is reduced; ensure that eutrophication does not occur as a result of nutrient-rich surface waters from surrounding farmland
• monitor streams in relation to expansion of rural/urban housing and associated septic tanks/sewage treatment plants

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