Portmore Lough Fringe Landscape

Key Characteristics

• Flat fenland landscape on the fringes of Portmore Lough.
• Gradual transition from pastures to patches of scrubby fen and carr on the margins of the Lough.
• Scattered small-holdings and small houses along narrow, straight tracks which usually lead to dead-ends on the edge of the fen.
• Mature, prominent hedgerow oak trees along roads.
• Numerous straight drainage channels.
• Straight, narrow roads, often raised on steep embankments across marshy areas.
• Extensive areas of rushes, willow and marsh.

Landscape Description

An area of pasture and fen on the low-lying flat landscape on the shores of Portmore Lough. The area is underlain by Lough Neagh Clay and becomes increasingly waterlogged towards the margins of the lough. The larger pastures on higher land towards the edges of the Lough Neagh Shores are enclosed by overgrown hedgerows, but the fields become progressively overgrown by regenerating scrub and fen carr on the margins of Portmore Lough.

There are numerous drainage channels and many of the straight, narrow roads are raised on embankments and bordered by ditches. The geometric farmed pattern of the landscape breaks down progressively towards the scrubby fenland on the lough margins and the land here is inaccessible. There are few views to Portmore Lough, as it is screened by dense fen carr. The traditional settlement pattern is of tiny houses many of which were thatched scattered along narrow roads, and small farmsteads at the end of narrow, straight tracks.

There has been some recent ribbon development but this is limited and the landscape retains a rather wild, remote character. The ancient moated churchyard to the west of the village of Lower Ballinderry has a special, remote character; it is on an island virtually surrounded by fen carr.

Landscape Condition and Sensitivity to Change

This is a relatively remote area, characterised by marginal, partially waterlogged farmland and fen. The land has always been of poor condition, but the area is important for nature conservation and falls within the 'Portmore Lough and Derrymore Point Area of Scenic Quality'. It is of particular value for birds and is sensitive to changes such as drainage and agricultural improvements which may lead to a reduction in the area of fen. The remote character of the roads and tracks on the outer margins of the fen is also sensitive to change, since further built development could lead to a more homogeneous, suburban character and the loss of the gradual transition to an unusual and increasingly rare wild landscape.

Principles for Landscape Management

• In conserving fenland and wet meadow areas, priority should be given to management to meet nature conservation objectives, rather than for agriculture. Management should follow the specific guidelines set out in the Draft Management Plan for the Lough Neagh/Lough Beg SPA and in the ASSI schedules.
• Planting individual specimen oak trees along the roads will restore these prominent local landscape features; they may be sited at corners and junctions and occasionally in short lines at entrances to linear settlements.

Principles for Accommodating New Development

• The restriction of further linear built development along roads will conserve their characteristic remoteness and the gradual transition to the wild fen.
• The wider landscape setting of the ancient moated churchyard at Lower Ballinderry merits particular conservation.