The Garrison Lowlands Landscape

Key Characteristics

• Long rounded ridges of glacial deposits with small rivers between them.
• Patchwork of small enclosed fields, rushy pastures and herb-rich hay meadows, with evidence of declining agricultural activity.
• Widespread turbary (peat which can be cut for fuel use only, not for sale) on lowland bogs.
• Fields separated by overgrown hedgerows, or earth hedge banks with low trees and shrubs.
• Low native tree cover, except around farms, river valleys and on shores of Lough Melvin; conifers in shelterbelts, hedgerow planting and small woodland blocks.
• Small scale settlement of old, unmodernised cottages away from roads and new bungalows along roads or clustered at junctions.
• Numerous good examples of raths and listed vernacular (constructions which use locally available resources) farmhouses.

Landscape Description

The Garrison Lowlands,in the far west of Fermanagh, are bounded by Lough Melvin and the County River. The land rises to the east, and a mixed geology has resulted in poorly drained lowland soils, with exposed sandstone on ridges. Long rounded ridges of glacial deposits, becoming flatter further west, are separated by small rivers which head west in narrow wooded gorges, through circular lakes, bogs and wet meadows. Land use is dominated by small, enclosed rush-infested pastures. Herb-rich hay meadows are common, due to traditional, low intensity farming methods.
Fields are separated by overgrown hedgerows or, higher up, by earth hedge banks with low trees and shrubs and some post and wire fencing. Earth banks on higher ground are bare except where forestry trees along field boundaries form conifer hedges and shelter belts. There are modest scale blocks of coniferous planting, but only low native tree cover which is seen around farms and along river valleys. Small scale settlement, a mixture of modern bungalows and old thatched cottages, is dispersed along roads or clustered at junctions. The ruins of scattered housing sites are marked by groups of trees. The village of Garrison, a focus of recreational activity, lies in a picturesque setting at the head of Lough Melvin, where views southwards are dominated by distinctive 'ladder farms' on pronounced slopes. Numerous raths are scattered throughout the area.

Landscape Condition and Sensitivity to Change

There is evidence of a decline in farming activity leading to dereliction, abandoned units and rough grazing. The loss of fields and boundaries to rush and scrub gives the area a forgotten and isolated character. However, the survival of traditional farming methods has resulted in the conservation of distinctive herb rich hay meadows which are a special feature of this area. Recent forestry plantation is beginning to mask the former field boundaries and will lead to a sterile landscape if it becomes widespread. Post and wire fences replacing hedgerows and earth banks give the area a degraded character. Extensive damage to lowland bogs is a result of turbary. However, the piles of peat left to dry are a distinctive feature. Many of the older houses remain unmodernised and basic. New bungalows along roads and at junctions are very mixed in style. The north shores of Lough Melvin are low-lying and exposed with boulder and shingle beaches fringed by thickets and reed beds; low ridges project into the lough forming points and islands. This edge landscape is highly sensitive to change. The lough itself has unusually clean water.

Principles for Landscape Management

• It would be beneficial to retain the existing fine grain of the landscape, with its patchwork of hay meadows, bog, forestry and broad leaved woodland. Management of abandoned flower rich hay meadows through grazing and cutting would prevent their reversion to rush and scrub. The use of herbicides in the area would be damaging to meadows and water quality.
• Forestry plantations would have less impact if they were planted in smaller irregular patches within established field boundaries and vegetation. Smaller blocks would not mask distinctive views to Lough Melvin.
• The repair or replanting of traditional field boundaries, either earth banks or hedgerows, would be preferable to the use of wire fencing.
• Turbary in small scattered patches is less damaging than it would be if it were concentrated in large areas.

Principles for Accommodating New Development

• Development could be accommodated within groups of trees at former housing sites. New buildings would be more in keeping with the landscape if they used traditional materials and styles, were sited back from the roads, were associated with native rather than exotic planting and were bounded by hedgerows or earth banks.
• The restoration of traditional whitewashed stone and thatch cottages, and red painted barns would be beneficial in landscape and historical terms.
• Careful management of tourism development near Garrison and on lough shores would prevent damage to settlement character and water quality.