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 CharacteristicsWoodlands account for 2% of the land cover of the LCA, with almost all in broadleaved or mixed woodland. Much is in large estates (Lowland woodland pastures and parkland) including Scarva House, Gilford Castle and various houses and former mill grounds between Gilford and Banbridge and upstream of Banbridge. Beech and oak are common constituents of these woodlands, with sycamore and ash; alder is frequent alongside the rivers. In almost all of these estate woodlands, occasional conifers were inter-planted - often Scots pine and larch - and also specimen trees nearer the house. Some estate woodland may have been planted in existing woodland and scrub; patches of hazel, rowan and ash can be found within the woods and these tend to have a more diverse ground flora. Elsewhere, estate woodlands are grazed and the ground flora is poor.
Even outside of the present estates, woodlands in valleys have been 'landscaped' by the addition of beech and occasional conifers. A particular example is Clare Glen, which displays a variety of semi-natural woodland types. Mixed woodland dominates with ash, sessile oak and wych elm (many dead) all widespread, with a number of alien species notably beech and sycamore. Shrub layer species include hazel, hawthorn, blackthorn, holly and various willows, but alien species are widespread, particularly rhododendron and laurel. Wetter areas support alder. The ground flora has extensive tracts of bluebell, lesser celandine, meadowsweet and wood speedwell. Although substantially affected by alien species, the area does hold good examples of typical native woodland communities, including oak-hazel and ash-hazel woodlands.
Semi-natural oakwood is also found at Ballyskeil Moor; this is mature to the north and scrubby to the south. The canopy of is of sessile oak, birch and ash, with an understorey of hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, gorse and regenerating ash. Ground flora is poor and very extensively grazed.
Wet woodland, as alder and willow carr, is quite common in the LCA although in small patches, usually associated with cut-over bogs and with fens in inter-drumlin hollows where they help form a diversity of wetland habitats.
Grassland and ArableGrassland accounts for around 76% of the land cover, the majority in improved pastures. These fields are intensively managed; they are often sown pastures and receive heavy inputs of fertilizer and slurry. Biodiversity is usually poor and related to the boundary hedgerows.
Arable land (which includes land under grass re-seeding) covers about 15% of the land area. Although fields in grass reseeding are scattered through the LCA, there are areas of concentrated arable land - for example, between Loughbrickland and Banbridge; between Tullylish and Seapatrick; and Cappagh to Tullintanvally - where soils tend to be better drained than in the remainder of the LCA. These areas also have most of their biodiversity in the hedgerows.
To the east of the Newry canal there are significant areas of rough grassland; most of these are damp areas in inter-drumlin hollows where fields are rushy. These sites, together with fens and cut-over bogs to which they are often adjacent, are important for waders, including lapwing, for dragonflies and butterflies - including the marsh fritillary. Occasionally, on the tops or very steep sides of drumlins, rough grassland is associated with gorse; some of these sites have species rich dry grassland. Rough grasslands are also important for the Irish Hare, whose range has been limited by the extension of improved, intensively managed grassland.
Wetlands and LakesThere are no peatlands left in the LCA, all have been cut-over and converted into fen or have been drained for farmland. Most of these are small, but Glebe Bog (c. 11 ha) and Meenan Moss at about 6.6 ha, are relatively large exceptions. Meenan Moss is a basin fen with rank eutrophic vegetation covering most of the site surrounded by a fringe of willow and alder. The fen vegetation comprises mostly of bulrush (reedmace) swamp or rank creeping bent with sparse fen species. Areas of past peat cutting provide the main interest with open water with floating pondweed, bottle sedge and cowbane.
There are several lakes in the LCA that have associated fen communities -Drummiller Lough, Kernan Lake, Lough Brickland, Drumaran Lake and Corbet Lough. The latter two also have associated reedbed communities. Lough Shark ASI is important for wintering wildfowl and rare passage species. The Lough is popular for coarse fishing with perch, pike, rudd and bream present. Both the Upper Bann and Cusher River have river water crowfoot. The rivers and streams in the LCA flow predominantly through improved grasslands and arable; it is essential for water quality of streams and lakes that Countryside Management guidelines are followed to avoid pollution incidents (avoidance of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, slurry and silage effluent getting into waters).
Key IssuesGeneral actions for UK and NI Priority Habitats and Priority Species are detailed in the Habitat Action Plans and Species Action Plans.
WOODLANDSIssue: low woodland cover of variable biodiversity value, but including the NI Priority Habitats Lowland Woodland Pastures and Parkland and Wet Woodland
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Issue: intensively managed grasslands and arable land of low biodiversity value
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Issue: peatlands have converted to fen, now a NI Priority Habitat, as a result of drainage and extraction; this LCA also contains several lakes with reedbed communities and NI Priority Species
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