Lough Foyle Alluvial Plain Biodiversity Profile

In the following account 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

• woodlands occupy an insignificant area of the LCA
• arable and improved pastures dominate the land cover, generally of low biodiversity but farmland birds are recorded
• damp coastal pastures of importance to breeding waders, especially lapwing
• rivers of importance to salmon and trout
• Lough Foyle of international and national importance for wetland birds and Atlantic salmon

Woodlands

Woodlands occupy an insignificant area of this LCA. A portion of Ballykelly Forest has been clipped by the boundary; this contains some oak, Sitka spruce and western hemlock with several small compartments of other species. Other conifer plantations in the LCA are generally small and of little biodiversity interest. Broadleaved woodland is scarce; only scattered patches of trees remain around Willsborough estate and most of the other broadleaves form part of modern planting around the industrial estates.

Grassland and Arable

Arable land dominates the reclaimed polders whereas on the slightly higher ground of the southern border of the LCA arable fields are mixed with improved pasture. Rough grasslands are associated with the airfields and abandoned farmland around the industrial estates, but there are also damp grasslands along the coast. These are important for breeding waders; breeding lapwing are particularly noteworthy in this LCA. Hedgerows are infrequent, but more common on the slightly higher ground. Despite the intensive agriculture, a number of Priority Species of birds are recorded; these include bullfinch, linnet, song thrush, yellowhammer, reed bunting, spotted flycatcher and skylark.

Heaths and Bogs

There are no heaths or bogs in the LCA.

Wetlands and Lakes

Several lakes were surveyed by the Northern Ireland Lake Survey, but none are listed as of biodiversity interest. The Faughan and Roe rivers are important for salmon and trout.

Coastal

The coast has been modified for much of its length by the construction of sea defences for the reclaimed agricultural land. Nevertheless, there are extensive mudflats and some small areas of coastal saltmarsh, notably at the Roe Estuary NNR.

Lough Foyle is internationally important for birds. The Lough Foyle SPA (also the Lough Foyle Ramsar site) supports internationally important numbers of the whooper swan, light-bellied Brent goose and bar-tailed godwit. It also supports large numbers of nationally important species, that is, in an all-Ireland context. These include Priority Species - golden plover and curlew - among many others.

The lough also has importance in Ireland for a number of Irish Red Data Book fish species and is internationally important for Atlantic salmon.

Key Issues

General actions for UK and NI Priority Habitats and Priority Species are detailed in the Habitat Action Plans and Species Action Plans.

GRASSLAND AND ARABLE

Issue: poor biodiversity of farmland

Actions:

• maintain and improve field boundaries especially hedgerows (where they are traditional in the landscape). 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 (through participation in Environmental Schemes) adoption of less intensive management of pastures to allow reversion to more species-rich grassland and protect unsown areas of damp grassland
• leave stubble over winter, rather than autumn ploughing, to increase food resources for farmland birds; spring sown cereals are beneficial to breeding farmland birds
• maintain and enhance damp coastal grassland by restricting field or arterial drainage
• encourage farmers to join schemes to promote maintenance and enhancement of populations of breeding waders

WETLANDS

Issue: important rivers for salmonid fish, particularly Atlantic salmon numbers of

which are declining

Actions:

• protect water quality of rivers through nutrient management, thus
• 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
• monitor streams in relation to expansion of rural/urban housing and associated septic tanks/sewage treatment plants
• support work of Agencies in promoting the maintenance and enhancement of Atlantic salmon

COASTAL

Issue: Lough Foyle of international importance for wetland birds; international importance for Atlantic salmon

Actions:

• ensure that recreational (including shooting) and other activities do not damage bird populations
• continued monitoring and control of activities both in the lough and in the river catchments that might affect salmon population.

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