Kingdom Of Mourne Biodiversity Profile

In the following account of this LCA it should be notedthat 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 account for around 6% of the LCA, about one-third is broadleaf and most of that is in Mourne Park
• Mourne Park one of the prime examples in NI of estate woodland and contains 'long-established' woods and possibly elements that are 'ancient'
• few other areas of broadleaf woodland
• coniferous forests significant on Knockchree and along the foothills in the north, but of limited biodiversity
• to the east of Kilkeel River and intermixed with improved pastures, significant areas of damp unimproved grassland and wet heath of importance to habitat and species diversity
• rare NI littoral habitats along the Mourne Coast

Woodlands

Woodlands account for approximately 6% of the land cover of which a third is broadleaf woodland and most of that is in Mourne Park. This is a major example (over 100ha) of a wooded estate with parkland and plantation (Lowland woodland pasture and parkland). Large wooded areas were established by 1819 and most remain despite later extensions and new plantations; the woodlands are at least 'long-established' and parts may be 'ancient'. Despite its name, Beech Wood has a range of species including oaks, sweet chestnut, ash, Scots pine and grand fir. Threegate Wood has a pre-1834 section of pedunculate oak, sweet chestnut, beech, horse-chestnut and lime whereas sections planted later contain Douglas fir, yew, larch and elm. The eastern banks of the White Water as it flows through the Park are steep and some of the trees here may be successors of 'ancient' woodland, but most of Tullyframe Wood is planted and has a similar composition to the pre-1834 part of Threegate Wood, as does Greengate Wood. The later Veetchill and Standing Stone plantations are pure oak. Although the woodlands are generally in good condition at present, there is some concern for the future; in many parts there is an absence of regeneration of the canopy trees whereas saplings of sycamore, ash and grand fir are common. Rhododendron also forms a dense understorey in parts preventing regeneration of canopy trees and the development of ground flora.

Smaller parks and large gardens in the LCA show a dominance of beech with other broadleaves or of Scots pine and other conifers, largely depending on the date of planting.

The Kilkeel River has several patches of woodland; none are large but together form a significant ribbon of woodland in an area otherwise devoid of woodland. Alder and hazel are the most common species but sycamore, ash and oak are frequent. In parts there is a rich ground flora, especially of spring flowering plants. There are flushed areas also where willow dominates. Generally, wet woodland is scarce in the LCA.

There are four areas of coniferous forest (two-thirds of the woodland), at Mourne Wood on the northern side of Mourne Park, Crocknafeola, Silent Valley and Annalong Wood. Mourne Wood has a very complex pattern of planting, but the main species are Scots pine, Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, larch and Norway spruce; there are also some mixed hardwoods. Similar species are found at the other forests, but generally in less complex planting and with greater amounts of Sitka spruce.

Grassland and Arable

Grassland forms around 70% of the land cover of the LCA of which almost half is in improved pastures. East of the Kilkeel River, less improved grassland is more common than to the west where it is largely confined to the foothills of the mountains. In part this division represents the physical environment; to the east of the river the Mourne Plain is strewn with large boulders and fields in productive pasture have been reclaimed, some to a greater degree than others. Non-reclaimed fields are often in wet acid grassland with abundant rushes or in wet heathland where plants may include cotton sedge, deer sedge, pill sedge, green-ribbed sedge, cross-leaved heather, sweet gale and purple moor grass.

Improved pastures have generally low biodiversity as a result of relatively intensive management. Some of the pastures 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. Arable land is scattered through the LCA, but is nowhere extensive.

In areas of improved pasture and arable, biodiversity is often centred in the hedgerows, but in this LCA most fields arebounded by walls constructed from the cleared boulders. Where found hedges are commonly of whin or hawthorn, but are generally poorly managed.

Heaths and Bogs

Apart from patches of heath on the Mourne Plain (see above), heathland is restricted to the foothills of the mountains, mainly on the western border of the LCA. Here heather heath - both common heather and bell heather - is mixed with upland grassland often on rocky slopes that also have whin. (See also LCA 75)

Wetlands and Lakes

There are no significant wetlands or lakes in the LCA. Several almost parallel rivers and streams cross the LCA from NW to SE; many have records of the otter and the White Water has river water-crowfoot.

Coastal

The extreme northeast of the LCA contains the southern tip of an important coastal vegetated shingle site (see LCA 75). Most of the coast is maritime cliff and slopes with boulder and bedrock shores below which have good faunal diversity. Of note are the Sabellaria alveolata reefs (honeycomb worm) that are restricted in Northern Ireland to the Mournes coast and are particularly evident at Glasdrumman Port.

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 by encouraging planting of saplings of the standard trees; by limiting more invasive tree species such as ash and sycamore; by preventing further loss of parkland; by retention of fallen and veteran trees (particularly for bryophytes, ferns, fungi and fauna); by reduction of rhododendron;
• further study of the history of demesne and other broadleaved woodlands particularly any ancient and long-established, as a key to future management
• encourage control of grazing in broadleaved woodlands along streams to foster regeneration and if necessary, encourage replanting of canopy species; also to encourage ground flora
• encourage new woodland planting through appropriate grant schemes, preferably of native broadleaves

GRASSLAND AND ARABLE

Issue: poor biodiversity of farmland

Actions:

• maintain and improve hedgerows where presently common . 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 (e.g. ESA Scheme), adoption of less intensive management of pastures to allow reversion to more species-rich grassland and protect unsown areas of species-rich grassland
• leave stubble over winter, rather than autumn ploughing, to increase food resources for farmland birds; spring sown cereals are also valuable for breeding birds

HEATH AND BOGS

Issue: loss of lowland heathland and decline in its biodiversity

Actions:

• promote membership of ESA and other environmental schemes through consultation with farmers and thereby
• control grazing intensity on existing heathland to encourage development of heathland and of heather of different ages (i.e. in foothills)
• discourage 'reclamation' to pasture fields on the Mourne Plain

WETLANDS

Issue: maintain water quality in rivers

Actions:

• rivers and streams in this area flow through agricultural land including that in improved pastures; promote and encourage existing good farming practices so that streams are not polluted by run-off from agricultural land or seepage from silage pits
• monitor streams in relation to expansion of rural housing and associated septic tanks

COASTAL

Issue: Sabellaria alveolata reefs restricted in NI to Mournes Coast

Action:

trampling damage by beach users and extraction of the worms for angling bait can occur, but on a limited and local scale. The former probably has the greater potential for damage, particularly as leisure use of beaches increases. Need for monitoring and possible need for ASSI designation

Click here to return to the Northern Ireland LCA Map