Outer Ards 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

• narrow coastal strip predominantly in agricultural land
• improved pasture dominant, but significantly high proportion in arable
• notable large estates associated with arable farming and large fields of improved pastures
• woodland also associated with the large estates
• important coastal communities of flora and fauna, especially birds, including islands

Woodlands

Woodlands occupy approximately 5% of the LCA; this is almost entirely in large estates (Lowland woodland pasture and parkland) including Portavo House, Ballyrolly House and Ballywalter Park. Planting in these estates was extensive and although much of it dates from the middle and late nineteenth century, a considerable amount was already there at the time of the first edition of the 6" Ordnance Survey maps (1830s), notably at Portavo. Today, large, mature beech trees remain the dominant species in these estates, with oak, elm, sycamore and mixed conifers also present. Specimen conifers, such as the Monterey pine at Ballywalter, also survive. In some parts, the large mature trees are absent and have been replaced by mixed stands of beech, sycamore and alder that show signs of piecemeal coppicing; in other areas there are recent plantings of pine and poplars.

There are some records of Priority Species from these woodlands, including red squirrel and barn owl, and clearly there is a diversity of woodland habitats and tree species.

Grassland and Arable

Grassland covers about 51% of the LCA, the vast majority in improved pastures. These have limited biodiversity because of their generally intensive management. Arable land covers 22%, a relatively high percentage for Northern Ireland; it is particularly evident between Donaghadee and Ballywalter and associated with large farms and estates. Many arable fields are in cereals and field boundaries are predominantly in well-maintained hedgerows.

Wetlands

The only area of standing water in the LCA is Portavo reservoir; this has little biodiversity interest although in the woods and grasslands that surround it, tree sparrow, bullfinch and barn owl have been recorded.

Coastal

The coast is of major significance in the biodiversity of the LCA and much of it is under conservation designations. The intertidal zone of the Outer Ards Coast ASSI exhibits a classic algal zonation; the lower shore is particularly rich in red algae that form a dense understorey beneath wracks and kelps. The ASSI has several notable maritime vegetation communities and seventeen rare plant species have been recorded. In addition, there are internationally significant populations of light-bellied Brent geese and ringed plover, and nationally important populations of 11 other species of bird. The invertebrate shore fauna is rich for an open coast area. Ballymacormick Point ASSI is also important for birds, including the tern colony on Cockle Island. Golden Plover has also been recorded. The vegetation at Ballymacormick point is dominated by maritime grassland and heathland occurs on the shallow soils and more exposed areas around the coastal rim of the site. Coastal saltmarsh and strandline communities occur extensively around the length of its shoreline.

Orlock Point is a National Trust property with an impressive range of habitats - heath, unimproved neutral grassland, tall herb marsh, saltmarsh, maritime grassland, rock crevice communities and strand line vegetation. However, a lack of stock grazing has resulted in the spread of dense scrub or bracken over much of the site. A good range of common and widespread land birds breed on the property. Of particular interest are the sedge warbler and reed bunting. Other species recorded here include tree sparrow, yellowhammer and curlew.

Islands are a major feature of the coast and particularly important for birds; indeed, some have been given conservation designation - Copeland Island ASI with its breeding sea birds and migrating passerines; Burial Island ASI, an important ternery. In addition Brigg's Rocks, Cockle Island and Lighthouse-Johns Island are important for several Priority Species, not only bird species but also the otter and wall brown butterfly.

There are several areas along the shoreline of this LCA that are dominated by coarse gravel, sandy sediment and muddy sediment such as areas of Wallaces Rocks, Robins Rock, Cloughy and Sandy Bay. These areas are dominated by lugworms, sand masons and other polychaetes.

Coastal sand dunes are relatively rare in Northern Ireland but are a feature of the south of the LCA around Cloughy Bay. At the northern end of the bay the dunes have been built over and used for caravan parks, but in the centre remain open although under pressure from recreational use.

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: woodlands on the Outer Ards Coast are almost entirely NI Priority Habitat Lowland woodland pasture and parkland; records from Portavo House, Ballyrolly House and Ballywalter Park contain include NI Priority Species.

Actions:

• enhance the biodiversity value of demesne woodlands 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 not cleared
• encourage control of grazing in broadleaved woodlands to foster herb layer and regeneration and if necessary, encourage replanting of canopy species
• 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

GRASSLAND AND ARABLE

Issue: intensively managed pastures and a relatively high percentage of arable land cover between Donaghadee and Ballywalter; these are of 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 and protect unsown areas of grassland
• maintain and enhance damp grassland by where, possible, restricting field or arterial drainage
• 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; 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

WETLANDS AND LAKES

Issue: Portavo reservoir is the only area of standing water in this LCA

Actions:

• promote and encourage adoption of Countryside Management guidelines so that rivers are not polluted by releases from silage effluent, herbicides, pesticides, fertilisers or sheep dip; 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

COASTAL

Issue: the coast of this LCA is of high biodiversity value and includes the NI Priority Habitats coastal sand dunes and coastal saltmarsh, in addition to many NI Priority Species

Actions:

• management of coastal sand dunes around Cloughy Bay should be directed toward protection from recreational pressures; restrict access from the road; provide boardwalks to prevent erosion of vegetation cover; exercise continued vigilance regarding the effects of trampling, erosion and expansion of facilities
• further research into the history and ecology of dune system communities, as a key to future management
• protect maritime heathland from becoming rank and invaded through controlled grazing, including the use of ponies; reduce the extent of sea buckhorn
• protect rare coastal saltmarsh communities around Ballymacormick Point ASSI from sources of pollution and waste tipping, in addition to damaging activities such as land-fill and construction
• protect sub-littoral sands and gravel from potential impacts of aggregate extraction, fisheries and physical disturbance
• ensure that NI Priority Species, rare plants and RSPB Red List Species are protected from factors such as new development, erosion, waste tipping and pollution

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