Tardee Upland Pastures Landscape

Key Characteristics

• Extensive upland plateau of marginal pastures, rising to 353m at Big Collin.
• Poorly drained grassland has extensive, rushy wet flushes and encroaching heather.
• Field boundaries of well maintained stone walls or simple, unobtrusive post and wire fencing.
• Straight roads and electricity pylons cross the landscape, cutting straight paths at an angle to the grain of the landscape.
• Scattered dwellings on lower ground, with some concentrated development in the Glenwhirry Valley.
• Small scale peat cutting.

Landscape Description

The Tardree Upland Pastures are found on the broad, rounded summits of upper basalt to the south-west of the Larne Basalt Moorland. This is a transitional landscape, with characteristics of both upland moorland and lowland farmland; the pronounced open valley of the Glenwhirry River is an important local landscape feature. The area includes the southern fringes of the Antrim uplands on the northern slopes of the Six Mile Water Valley. The summits and south facing slopes of Tobernaveen Hill, Donegore Hill and Drumdarragh Hill are prominent in views from the town of Antrim and the valley.

The topography of the area is undulating, rising to 353m at Big Collin. Sheep grazing dominates as the major land use within this highly textured landscape and the marginal rough pasture land is divided by stone walls. The landscape is relatively open, although the conifer plantation of Tardree Forest extends high onto the slopes of Tobernaveen Hill. There are no distinct settlements, but built development is scattered across the countryside and small stone farm houses provide shelter within the exposed landscape. Settlement is concentrated in the Glenwhirry Valley where a more sheltered aspect provides a setting for infrastructure, including roads, pylons and a disused railway.

The windfarm on the slopes of Big Collin is a local landmark, visible for miles around and there are a number of quarries close to the foot of the hills which are prominent in some valley views.

Landscape Condition and Sensitivity to Change

The condition of the landscape varies; in some areas there are intact stone walls and well maintained fencing, but elsewhere it is degraded due to the presence of quarries, electricity pylons and prominent development. Relatively low grazing pressures ensure that a variety of habitat types are supported. The landscape is fairly sensitive to change due to its relatively elevated position and the long, open views from surrounding ridges. The summits are most sensitive to built development and it would be particularly conspicuous on the slopes of Big Collin, Donegore Hill and Drumdarragh Hill, which form a prominent ridgeline in the landscape. The south-facing slopes of these hills form part of the landscape setting to the town of Antrim and the field patterns are a distinctive component of views from the M2.

Principles for Landscape Management

• Changes in grazing pressure may alter the texture and land-cover of the landscape; retention of correct stock densities and grazing pressure will ensure that the diverse texture of this marginal landscape is maintained.
• Coniferous forestry should be sensitively sited to ensure that it does not change the character of the landscape or block important views across the ridges.
• Re-instatement and maintenance of field boundaries will retain the robust landscape structure.
• Restoration and enhancement of old quarries will ensure they do not permanently scar the landscape and improve their nature conservation potential.

Principles for Accommodating New Development

• Restoration of traditional small stone cottages will maintain landscape condition and highlight these built landscape features which are of considerable heritage interest.
• Roads which fit with topography, winding around prominent landforms will enhance experience of the landscape and prevent erosion of the grain of the landscape.
• The small upland valleys and lower hill sides may create settings for new built development.
• Development which is set back from the roadside and is concentrated in small areas will ensure that ribbon development does not dominate and that scattered housing does not erode the rural character of the landscape.