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 CharacteristicsWoodlands occupy just under 4% of the LCA. Semi-natural woodlands are small and restricted to steeper slopes and river valleys or are wet woodlands on poorly drained lower ground. In many parts of the LCA, planted woodlands in demesnes, around farms and in field corners are the only form of woodland cover; the small size of these woodlands, outside demesnes, makes them vulnerable to tree felling, grazing and changes in land management. Wet woodlands, dominated by willows, alder and downy birch are associated with inter-drumlin areas and low-lying land alongside the River Quoile. The best example in the LCA is the alder and willow woodland at Hollymount ASSI. Wet woodlands often form part of a mosaic of habitats with fen, swamp and open water that contributes considerably to the biodiversity of the LCA. Wet woodland has increased over the last century, often replacing natural bog or fen vegetation as a result of past peat cutting, drainage and nutrient-enrichment.
Planted estate woodlands, small farm woodlands and parklands (Lowland woodland pasture and parkland) form the main areas of woodland in the LCA e.g. Mount Panther, Rademon and Seaford Estate. Often containing specimen exotic trees, they also have plantations of oak, beech, sycamore and some conifers. Rocky knolls and river banks have also been planted with these trees as part of the 'landscaping' of the estates. Elsewhere, trees are confined to hedgerows although there are examples of recent planting to create future woodlands, and thereby add to local biodiversity, at Glasswater near Crossgar, Tenement Hill near Seaforde and Windmill Hill at Ballynahinch.
The total area of woodlands in the LCA is not large, but they are frequent, of varied composition, and include several of the Northern Ireland Priority Habitats.
Grassland and ArableGrassland is the dominant land cover in the Quoile Valley Lowlands occupying nearly 75% of the land area; the majority is improved pasture which is particularly concentrated in the northeast, southeast and in the south around Lagamaddy. The biodiversity is relatively low and generally confined to the boundary hedgerows. Permanent pasture, of lower productivity but with greater species diversity, is found throughout, but concentrated in the area from the south and east of Drumaness through to Listooder. Semi-natural grassland is rare in the LCA.
Arable fields are scattered throughout the LCA, but more extensive areas occur to the east of Seaforde and southwest of Downpatrick. This habitat is important for decreasing farmland birds such as the yellowhammer and tree sparrow.
Heath and BogsAs a result of past peat cutting, only small patches remain of the once extensive inter-drumlin lowland raised bogs. Fens, acidic marshy grassland and wet woodlands now form mosaics of habitats in many former bog sites whilst others have been drained and converted to improved pasture.
Wetlands and LakesSmall, inter-drumlin wetlands are characteristic of the LCA; they consist of loughs, fens, and wet woodlands - often intermixed at one site and some containing remnant patches of bog. These wetlands form some of the most important nature conservation sites in the LCA and in Northern Ireland and are extremely significant in the biodiversity of the LCA.
The loughs are mainly eutrophic (eutrophic standing waters) and usually have well-developed swamp and fen. Some contain rare plant species, such as the eight-stamened waterwort (at Loughinisland) but all have been affected by eutrophication as nutrient-rich surface waters have entered the lakes from surrounding farmland.
Fens, exceptionally well represented in this LCA, have developed mainly through past peat cutting and although small, are often part of a rich mosaic of habitats - bog, fen, swamp, open water and wet woodland. Many are enclosed in inter-drumlin hollows, but in the south of the LCA are in more extensive open areas and there they often include expanses of reed beds. Characteristic fen species include bottle-sedge, lesser tussock sedge and pale sedge and the fens are particularly important for invertebrate species including the marsh fritillary butterfly. Fens are vulnerable because of their small size; in the past many have been drained to produce improved pastures, others have been used as landfill sites or for building sites and many have been affected by nutrient enrichment through water flow from surrounding lands. Natural succession to wet woodlands also reduces the area of fen. Rivers in the LCA are generally small and floristically poor. However, the Quoile itself is a good example of a lowland river with well-developed associated habitats alongside, including marsh and wet woodlands. Otters have been recorded in most of the larger rivers and the curlew recorded along the Blackstaff.
Key IssuesGeneral actions for UK and NI Priority Habitats and Priority Species are detailed in the Habitat Action Plans and Species Action Plans.
WOODLANDSIssue: low semi-natural woodland cover of variable biodiversity value, but including examples of the NI Priority Habitats wet woodlands and Lowland woodland pasture and parkland.
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Issue: improved pastures and arable of relatively low biodiversity value dominate the land cover in the Quoile Valley Lowlands
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Issue: very limited patches of the NI Priority Habitat lowland raised bogs remain, the majority having been cut, drained or reclaimed for pasture
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Issue: NI Priority Habitat fens and eutrophic standing waters represent some of the most important nature conservation sites in Northern Ireland
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