Lower Bann Floodplain Geodiversity 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

• low woodland cover (c2%) compared with the Northern Ireland average (c.6%)only a few small State Forests along the Lower Banne
• state woodlands are a significant proportion of the woodland
• remaining woodlands, almost all of the semi-natural broadleaved woodland, are mainly developed on cut-over bog; some of these woods are large
• grassland accounts for 76% of the land cover, almost all in improved pastures
• patches of damp grasslands, important for flora and fauna, especially waders
• no significant area of intact lowland raised bog
• rivers of importance for plant and animal life, including salmonid fish

Woodlands

Woodland accounts for around 2% of the land cover, only about a third of the Northern Ireland percentage. There are few State Forests and all are small and located along the R. Bann. In the north, a portion of Gills Upper Forest extends into the LCA; this is predominantly of Sitka spruce and alder. Gills Lower Forest is largely of ash and alder and some Sitka spruce. Drumaheglis South is predominantly of Sitka spruce, but with a margin of mixed hardwoods, and Eden Forest is Sitka spruce with lodgepole pine in the centre.

Estate woodlands and parklands (Lowland woodland pasture and parkland) are significant in the LCA and include in the north those of Ballynacree House, where trees include ash, elm and oak. At Moorefort, oak is dominant in the narrow plantations edging fields and drives, and the nearby marina and caravan park is set in a mixed conifer and broadleaved woodland. In the centre of the LCA, conifers dominate woodland at the Brown Trout Inn, whereas Agivey House has sycamore, beech, oak, ash and lime. Along the Aghadowey River, downstream of the village, there are a number of small estates including Ballydevitt House; the woodlands are largely unmanaged with beech, ash, spruce, Scots pine and specimen firs. Lizard Manor has extensive woodlands with a range of species, including beech, ash, elm, horse chestnut, sycamore, Scots pine and specimen conifers. Some parts have an understorey dominated by cherry laurel, but elsewhere there is a varied ground flora with many ferns. Bovagh House on the southern edge of the LCA, has a similar range of species.

Elsewhere, quite large woodlands are found on former cut-over bogs. Particularly noteworthy are those at Ballygawley, Drumeil, those opposite Agivey House, near Cabragh House and at Curragh. Birch forms dense woodland at these sites, sometimes intermixed with willows and almost always with a fringe of willows. Very little remains of the former bog, although there are a few sites of active hand-cutting.

Grassland and Arable

Grassland occupies around 76% of the land cover, almost all of which is in improved pasture. Less-improved pasture, usually associated with damp sites, is most common in the southeast of the LCA around Bovagh, to the north of the Ballygawley bogs and along the Aghadowey River downstream of the village. Pockets of damp grasslands are common along the eastern side of the Bann. Although some damp grasslands are dominated by rushes, others are more species rich, particularly where they are managed for hay or summer grazing (Lowland meadows). Although these less-improved grasslands are scattered and of limited area, they are valuable not only for their plant species diversity but also for wading birds such as snipe. Lowland meadows in particular are relatively rare in the UK; Northern Ireland has a significant proportion of this resource, though it is most extensive in the western counties.

Arable land, which includes grass re-seeding, covers 15% of the LCA, more than double the figure for Northern Ireland.

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. Hedgerows are a refuge for many woodland and farmland plants and animals. In this LCA hedgerows are generally well maintained, dense and principally of hawthorn with ash trees, but on poorer land, for example in damp grasslands, they tend to be overgrown and gappy although often with mature trees of alder and willows. The density of hedges, together with the mix of less-improved and damp grasslands, may explain the relative richness of bird life in this LCA - despite the dominance of improved pastures. Priority species recorded for this LCA in areas where farmland is dominant include reed bunting, song thrush, spotted flycatcher, tree sparrow, bullfinch and linnet.

Heaths and Bogs

Lowland raised bog was once common in the LCA, but today most former bogs are cut-over and subsequently colonized by trees (see above), or afforested, or converted to pastures. Only isolated small patches of intact bog remain.

Wetlands and Lakes

There are no significant wetlands in the LCA. The Lower Bann, Agivey River, Aghadowey River and Macosquin River all have river water-crowfoot and the otter has been recorded in the Macosquin. Several of the rivers are salmonid and important for angling.

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: low woodland cover of variable biodiversity value

Actions:

• 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
• allow further development of woodland on former cut-over bog; protect against drainage, removal and rubbish tipping
• encourage new woodland planting, especially of native broadleaves, through appropriate grant schemes

GRASSLAND AND ARABLE

Issue: poor biodiversity of farmland

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 (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 species-rich grassland
• maintain and enhance damp grassland/meadows in the Bann floodplain by restricting field or arterial drainage
• leave stubble over winter, rather than autumn ploughing, to increase food resources for farmland birds; spring sown cereals are beneficial to farmland birds

HEATH AND BOGS

Issue: future of cut-over bogs

Actions:

• maintain the cut-over lowland raised bogs by for example, preventing infilling, fly-tipping, fires, new drainage and new peat cutting. (Note that these are now important woodland areas)
• prevent new forest planting

WETLANDS

Issue: important rivers for river water-crowfoot and salmonid fish

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
• monitor development of recreational activities, particularly along the Lower Bann (marinas, speedboats etc) in relation to plant and animal life.

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