North Lough Neagh Shores 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

• woodlands occupy around 10% of the land cover (compared with under 6% for Northern Ireland as a whole), almost three-quarters in broadleaved or mixed woodland
• extensive and excellent examples of wet woodland; such extent is rare in the east of Northern Ireland
• large parkland woodland that is at least 'long-established', i.e. pre-dates 1830s
• Lough Neagh and its environs of national and international significance for wetland birds, both breeding and migratory

Woodlands

Woodlands occupy around 10% of the land cover (compared with under 6% for Northern Ireland as a whole), almost three-quarters in broadleaved or mixed woodland. Although there are small conifer plantations, for example within the grounds of the Shane's Castle estate, Randalstown Forest accounts for most of the coniferous woodland; Norway and Sitka spruce are dominant. A part of Muckamore Forest at Rea's Wood is also Norway spruce. Generally the forests are of low biodiversity interest; the small herd of fallow deer at Randalstown Forest is of public interest.

Broadleaved and mixed woodland comprises parts of Randalstown Forest, where there are compartments of oak, oak and ash, and mixed hardwoods; woodland associated with Shane's Castle estate; and woodland on the shores of Lough Neagh, particularly east of the R. Main.

Woodland at Shane's Castle (lowland woodland pasture and parkland) is dominated by oak, beech, ash, sycamore and Scots pine as well as some specimen trees in the former park. Birch and alder dominate in wetter parts along the lough shore. There are some conifer plantations and recently planted mixed areas. Rhododendron forms the understorey in parts.

Almost all the present woodland at Shane's Castle was there in the 1830s and some was known to be old at that time, the demesne originating in the seventeenth century. Elm, sycamore, beech and horse chestnut were reported to be the older trees with more modern planting of fir, larch, beech and alder; most of the present woodlands are therefore at least 'long-established'. Much of the park west of the R. Main is now under Randalstown Forest, although the northern part remains in pastures with occasional parkland trees.

Periodic lowering of Lough Neagh during the latter part of twentieth century has resulted in excellent examples of wet woodland around the shore, but especially east of the River Main where the woodland is wider. Examples may be seen at Rea's Wood NNR, Randalstown NNR and Farr's Bay NNR; alder, willow and birch are dominant. The herb layer is luxuriant and includes rare plants such as large bitter cress, lanceolate water plantain, and elongated sedge in the wetter parts. There are also marshy areas within the woods in which there are sedges, marsh marigold, yellow flags and the rare summer snowflake. The Priority Species narrow small-reed and Irish lady's tresses are also recorded at sites near to the shore. Progressing inland to higher levels, the woods become drier with ash, hawthorn and blackthorn. The woodlands provide habitats for several rare invertebrates.

Grassland and Arable

Grassland forms about 53% of the land cover, a low percentage compared with the Northern Ireland average (71%); the difference is accounted for mainly by arable land (although that includes grass re-seeding) which occupies 22% of the land (Northern Ireland average c.6.5%). Almost all of the grassland is improved pasture, although there are some damp grasslands alongside streams and the lough shore. Improved pastures generally have low biodiversity as a result of relatively intensive management. Some are sown grasslands dominated by ryegrass and few other species - low biodiversity is in-built. Other grasslands have been converted to improved pastures through management. High levels of grazing or repeated cutting for silage, high inputs of fertilizers and slurry, and selective herbicides serve to reduce diversity of both flora and fauna.

Hedges are generally poorly managed, overgrown and gappy and indeed larger pasture and arable fields tend to be surrounded by fences. Hedgerows therefore make a limited enhancement to the biodiversity of farmland in this LCA. Nevertheless, the mix of improved grasslands, arable and some woodland and damp pastures provides habitats for farmland birds - song thrush, linnet, tree sparrow, bullfinch, spotted flycatcher and reed bunting have been recorded in the LCA. In the damp grasslands, breeding waders have also been recorded - lapwing, curlew, redshank and snipe.

Heaths and Bogs

There are no heaths or bogs in the LCA.

Wetlands and Lakes

Lough Neagh ASSI (Eutrophic standing waters) is also part of a proposed SPA (along with Lough Beg ASSI and Portmore Lough ASSI) and of a Ramsar listed site. The site designations - of national and international status - are merited because it regularly supports internationally important numbers of wintering Bewick's swan and whooper swan and nationally important numbers of breeding common tern. The site regularly supports over 20,000 waterfowl in winter. Lough Neagh is also notable for supporting an assemblage of breeding birds that occur in nationally important numbers: great-crested grebe, gadwall, pochard, tufted duck, snipe, redshank, common gull, lesser black-backed gull and black-headed gull. Other important breeding wetland species include shelduck, teal, shoveler, lapwing and curlew. (See also LCA 52).

The lough also hosts a declining population of pollan, one of the few locations in Ireland and one of the two known locations in the UK (the other is Lower Lough Erne). The decline of this fish perhaps associated with inflow of nutrients to the lough or over-fishing.

In addition to important wet woodlands along the shore and small patches of fen within them (see above), there is some narrow reedbed, for example in the lagoons at Randalstown NNR.

The Main and the Six Mile Water are the major rivers entering Lough Neagh in this LCA. Both are salmonid rivers and both have river water-crowfoot.

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: relatively high broadleaved woodland cover and significant area of wet woodland.

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
• encourage planting of native broadleaved plantations, through appropriate grant schemes, rather than the small conifer plantations which are of poor biodiversity and landscape value
• pay particular attention to the retention of wet woodland around the lough shore

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; particularly related to damp grasslands
• maintain and enhance damp grassland by restricting field or arterial drainage
• in view of the international importance of Lough Neagh and its environs for wetland birds, encourage farmers to participate in schemes to protect and maintain bird populations
• leave stubble over winter, rather than autumn ploughing, to increase food resources for farmland birds; spring sown cereals are beneficial to breeding farmland birds.

WETLANDS

Issue: Lough Neagh of national and international importance for wetland birds; nationally important for other Priority Species

Actions:

• improve water quality of the lough, thus attempt to lower the trophic level of the lough
• promote and encourage existing good farming practices so that streams and the lough 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 and urban housing and associated septic tanks/sewage treatment plants
• monitor the effects of recreational activities on habitats and species, in particular on bird populations

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