Montane Heath
Northern Ireland is at the southern edge of the natural range for the Montane heath(.PDF 75.03Kb)
habitat. It occurs widely in the Highlands of Scotland and is only found above the natural tree line, on the highest mountains. The vegetation is influenced by a cold and wet climate, thin soils and steep rocky ground.
Unlike the uplands of Scotland, which are largely undisturbed, montane heath in Northern Ireland is impacted by sheep grazing and hill walking.
Plants that can tolerate this harsh environment include dwarf shrubs, sedges, mosses, lichens and alpine fungi. Characteristic shrub species are the familiar heather, bilberry, crowberry and cowberry.
Due to the strong winds at high altitudes, these shrubs are wind pruned and can only grow 5-10cm in height, so you will need to get down on your hands and knees to see them!
Montane heath is home to several arctic species which are adapted to harsh climatic conditions such as stiff sedge, dwarf willow and a number of clubmosses such as wooly and stag's horn.
Cold loving invertebrates such as beetles can be found here, especially of the Carabus genus which are rare in the rest of Europe.
Distribution is limited to the highest summits of the Mourne Mountains in County Down, Dart and Sawel Mountains in the Sperrin Mountains and the summit of Cuilcagh Mountain in west Fermanagh.
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