Kilkeel Coast 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

• woodland scarce, less than 2% of the land cover, and three-quarters in parklands
• grassland accounts for over 70% of the land cover, most in improved pastures
• no heaths or bogs and few wetlands
• coastal communities of major biodiversity value, in particular the mudflats and saltmarshes; internationally and nationally important bird populations in these coastal areas

Woodlands

Woodlands account for less than 2% of the land cover of the LCA. There are no coniferous forests and three-quarters of the woodland is in parklands; the remainder is mainly along the White Water.

Ballyedmond represents the most extensive example of parkland (Lowland woodland pasture and parkland) and is divisible into distinct areas. The earlier eastern part of the park has mainly broadleaves scattered through it; these trees remain - particularly elm, beech and ash - together with an avenue of ash and sycamore. By the beginning of the twentieth century, the park had extended westward, but planting was mainly of conifers - principally Scots pine, larch, silver fir and Austrian pine. In recent years the house and parkland have been restored and broadleaved trees planted along the northern edge. The diversity of the site is also increased by specimen trees around the house. Mourne Grange includes a mixture of nineteenth century planting that provides the core around the main house and boundary, recent planting within the extended grounds and semi-natural carr woodland. The core planting is a mix of broadleaves - that includes oak, beech, sycamore and elm - and conifers including Scots pine, Monterey cypress, Italian cypress, larch and western red cedar. Recent planting includes willow, alder and mixed plantations as well as individual trees. The carr woodland (wet woodland) is predominantly of willow with some birch, but on drier islands Scots pine, oak, ash and beech occur. Smaller parklands are located at Mount Loftus/Lisnacree House, Packolet and the present St Louis Convent; beech and Scots pine are most frequent.

Woodland along the White Water generally shows evidence of having been 'landscaped' - oak, elm, beech and sweet chestnut are found among the hazel, alder, ash and willow.

An extensive (8ha) area of wet woodland occurs at Maghery that is dominated by willows (grey sallow and goat willow) with birch. These form trees in the west, but thin to scrub eastward.

Grassland and Arable

Grassland accounts for over 70% of the land cover of the LCA, the majority of which is in improved pastures. These have generally low biodiversity as a result of relatively intensive management. Some of the pastures are sown grasslands dominated by ryegrass and few other species - low biodiversity is in-built. Other grasslands have been converted to improved pastures through management. High levels of grazing or repeated cutting for silage, high inputs of fertilizers and slurry, and selective herbicides serve to reduce diversity of both flora and fauna. Arable land is scattered through the LCA, but is nowhere extensive.

Biodiversity in areas of improved pastures and arable is often concentrated in hedgerows. Indeed, they may be the most significant wildlife habitat over much of lowland Northern Ireland, especially where, as in this LCA, there are few wetland or woodland habitats. Hedgerows are a refuge for many woodland and farmland plants and animals. In this LCA hedges form the most common field boundary, although they are almost always reinforced with wire because they are for the most part unmanaged and gappy. Common hawthorn and whin are the most frequent species, but the number of woody species varies; many have only two shrub species whereas others may have four or five - perhaps indicating two periods of establishment - so that there is variation in biodiversity. The number of treed hedges is relatively low, except near to the parklands (including Mourne Park in the adjacent LCA 74); ash, sycamore and alder are the most frequent species. There are some relatively recently created fields, some as a result of the former airfield being returned to farming and others created following levelling of former sand pits. There is also evidence of recent field amalgamation.

Rough grassland is scattered through the LCA, but particularly in the south and to the east of Kilkeel. Much of this is associated with past history as airfield or sand pit, although to the east of Kilkeel some is 'urban blight' (i.e. stranded between urban/industrial development). One area of species-rich dry maritime grassland occurs at Greencastle Point. There are also patches of wet grassland that occur in low-lying land and generally associated with small fens or carr woodlands.

Heaths and Bogs

There are no areas of heath or bog in this LCA.

Wetlands and Lakes

Wetlands are scarce in this LCA; apart from the carr woodland at Maghery and at Mourne Grange, there is a small fen-carr at Lisnacree and a fen at Drummanmore. There are also some small patches of reeds and wet grasslands alongside the lower White Water. However, these wetlands are of limited significance to biodiversity. The White Water has records for the otter, river water-crowfoot and salmon.

Coastal

In the west, this LCA overlooks Carlingford Lough in which several NI Priority Habitats are included - mud habitats in deep waters, mudflats, saltmarsh and fen around the mouth of the White Water as well as several sections of boulder coasts. The saltmarsh is of particular importance as Mill Bay supports the largest intact block of this rare habitat in Northern Ireland. Much of the lough therefore has conservation designations - Carlingford Lough ASSI, SPA and Ramsar site - reflecting this habitat diversity, but also the rich bird life; several small islands are listed as Important Bird Areas or are part of an RSPB Reserve. Internationally important numbers of wildfowl and waders overwinter on the site, including pale-bellied Brent geese, great crested grebes, shelduck, scaup, redshank and oystercatchers. Nationally important numbers of ringed plover, grey plover and dunlin have also been recorded. The lough is also important for terns, especially breeding roseate tern and internationally important breeding populations of Sandwich tern. Curlew have been recorded on Green Island, part of a National Trust property.

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: maintenance and improvement of woodland diversity

Actions:

• because most of the woodland is in parkland, enhance the biodiversity value of demesne/parkland woodland through control of grazing and felling; by encouraging planting of saplings of the standard trees; by preventing further loss of parkland; by retention of fallen and veteran trees (particularly for bryophytes, ferns, fungi and fauna)
• further study of the history of demesne and other broadleaved woodlands particularly any ancient and long-established, as a key to future management
• encourage control of grazing in broadleaved woodlands (along streams) to foster regeneration and if necessary, encourage replanting of canopy species
• encourage new woodland planting (native broadleaves) through appropriate grant schemes, e.g. in field corners, areas reclaimed from sand pits
• ensure that the few examples of wet woodland are retained and not lost through drainage or landfill

GRASSLAND AND ARABLE

Issue: dominance of improved pastures of low biodiversity

Actions:

• maintain and improve field boundaries especially hedgerows. This may be achieved through adoption of correct cutting cycles; hedge laying and replanting where necessary; leaving saplings uncut to develop into hedgerow trees; avoidance of spraying with fertilizers, slurry, herbicides; provision of wildlife strips and conservation headlands around fields; and limitation of field amalgamation
• encourage adoption of less intensive management of pastures to allow reversion to more species-rich grassland and protect unsown areas of species-rich grassland
• leave stubble over winter, rather than autumn ploughing, to increase food resources for farmland birds; spring sown cereals also encourage breeding birds.

WETLANDS

Issue: maintenance of water quality of rivers

Actions:

• rivers and streams in this area flow through land predominantly in improved pastures; promote and encourage existing good farming practices so that streams are not polluted by run-off from agricultural land or seepage from silage pits
• continued monitoring of streams below industrial plants, including sand pits
• monitor streams in relation to expansion of rural/urban housing and associated septic tanks/sewage treatment plants

COASTAL

Issue: LCA includes important coastal communities with national and internationally significant bird populations

Action:

• ensure that recreational activities, including those associated with extensive caravan parks, do not lead to disturbance of coastal communities and bird life

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