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 cover just under 3% of the LCA with a large proportion in estates (Lowland woodland pasture and parkland), including Narrow Water, Dromantine House and Rostrevor House. Beech is often the dominant tree but oak, sycamore and ash are common. In some of the wooded estates conifers may be intermixed, as at Dromantine, but even where the planting is essentially broadleaf, exotic conifers occur and include monkey puzzle, giant redwood and coastal redwood. Denser woodlands can have a heavy cover of rhododendron and cherry laurel that reduces the plant diversity of understrorey and ground layers. In other parts of the parklands, as at Narrow Water, heavy grazing has resulted in a lack of understorey or ground flora species. Several of the woodlands show little sign of regeneration with many mature and post-mature trees. In contrast, recent planting of larch, Austrian pine and birch at Warrenpoint Golf Course is out of keeping with the mature oaks that dominate the former parkland.
In this LCA exotic species of trees, particularly conifers, and small arboreta are common to large houses, as for example at Glenview, Dromantine House and notably at Rostrevor House. Along the lower Moygannon valley and the coast between Warrenpoint and Rostrevor, there are a number of large houses with impressive stands of trees that include both common broadleaves (particularly beech, lime, oak and sycamore), evergreen oaks from the Mediterranean and many conifer species. However, several of these larger houses and grounds are under threat from expansion and urban in-fill, particularly along the coast.
Upland mixed ashwood may be found at Fathom where ash comprises over half of the canopy trees, with beech, sycamore and wych elm also present. The understorey is of hazel, hawthorn and some willow. Nearby is a mixed woodland of beech, ash, Scots pine, Norway spruce, European larch, wych elm and oak
Carrickbawn Wood is a considerable area of oak/birch/beech woodland adjacent to the coniferous plantations of Ballymoney Wood. It has a poor understorey, including rhododendron that has extended out from the adjacent Rostrevor House, and a considerable amount of recent piecemeal felling. Nevertheless, saplings of the canopy species are common. This woodland has either a planted origin or has been 'landscaped' by the addition of beech and oak; this has almost certainly occurred in the lower Moygannon valley where hazel woodland on the steep stream-side slopes also contains beech and oaks. A relatively rare, for this LCA, patch of almost pure hazel coppice is alongside. One of the best examples of base-rich woodland in Co. Down is Derryleckagh Wood, occupying steep slopes on the west of Derryleckagh Bog. Hazel is dominant with occasional oaks; there is a rich ground flora and the parasitic toothwort has also been recorded. A rich moss and lichen community is found on rock faces. Greenan Wood occupies a similar site; it has some oak with birch and hazel. The understorey is comprised of bramble, honeysuckle and bracken and there is a good moss cover on rocks. However, the site is heavily grazed.
Wet woodland is scattered throughout the LCA and usually associated with small pockets of fen; willow and alder dominate. Some of these woodlands are under threat from infill of wetland for urban and industrial expansion, particularly in the south of the LCA.
Grassland and ArableGrassland occupies approximately 75% of the LCA and whereas most of this is in improved pastures, there are significant areas of rough grazing and wet grassland. The latter is particularly concentrated in two areas - one on an extensive, rocky area between Derryleckagh Lake and Cabragh. There, in the linear hollows between the rocky outcrops, which have some heather and gorse heath, are small patches of bog, fen and fen meadows. The second area lies north of Newry, centred on Damolly; this has a similar topography with fen meadows in hollows. Some of these are species-rich with a variety of sedges, including white sedge, brown sedge and long-stalked yellow sedge; small pools also contain bog bean. Elsewhere in the LCA, wet meadows may be found alongside fens that are scattered in inter-drumlin hollows, as at Castle Enigan ASSI. Other areas of dry rough grazing are associated with steep slopes that have thin soils and the rocky areas. One area of these grasslands is south and east of Newry, but although they are species-rich, they are often heavily grazed and under threat from urban expansion. Nevertheless there are a few sites worthy of retaining - some managed as hay meadows and others around old quarries.
Improved grasslands have low biodiversity, indeed biodiversity is associated with the field boundaries. Most improved pastures are surrounded by hedgerows; these are of variable quality with some being well-maintained - there is even some evidence of hedge laying - but towards the more marginal, rocky areas hedges become scrubby and in the rough grasslands sometimes merge into gorse scrub.
Arable land accounts for about 10% of the LCA mainly in the north with particular concentrations north of Newry and in a belt from the northeast corner to Cargabane.
Heaths and BogsThere are no significant peat bogs remaining in the area, all have been cut-over and reclaimed to pasture or, following cutting, have developed into fen. Small boggy patches remain in hollows in some of the rocky country where there are also small patches of heather heathland.
Wetlands and LakesMany of the small inter-drumlin fens have been lost to agriculture, but significant large examples remain. Foremost among these is Derryleckagh ASSI (and cSAC). This basin fen shows evidence of past peat cutting so that there is a range of conditions from slightly base-rich to markedly acidic, and a corresponding diversity of plant communities. The main community is an open bottle sedge - brown moss association, but other communities include lesser tussock sedge - mixed sedge swards, common reed beds and relict bog vegetation on the islands of peat left from cutting. The site supports a rich invertebrate community, including rare species, and a high density of breeding wetland birds, including the Priority species reed bunting. Greenan ASSI is also a basin fen and although small, has a similar range of vegetation types. Castle Enigan ASSI is an extensive inter-drumlin basin in the north of the LCA, with wetland communities lying between ridges of higher ground. These raised areas support a range of habitats, including wet heath, acid grasslands, scrub and wood, which adds considerable diversity to the site. Much of the fen has developed on cut-over bog and some deep pools still remain. The vegetation is characterised by bottle sedge and water horsetail. The site is also important for wetland birds and invertebrates.
In the south of the LCA, wetlands have come under increasing pressure in recent years; urban and industrial expansion has taken place on in-filled wetlands. It is important that the remaining wetlands, some of the best examples of fen in Northern Ireland, are preserved. It is important also that they are protected from any drainage or other activities that will lower the water table and from inflow of nutrient-rich waters that could affect not only the quality of the water but also the plant species.
There are a number of lakes in the LCA, especially in the south. Greenan Lough ASSI includes open water as well as the reedbeds and associated vegetation types. The open waters of the lough contain a variety of aquatic plant species and shoreline species include shoreweed and water lobelia.
The Newry River has the river water crowfoot but rivers are not otherwise noteworthy for Priority Species. However, it is important that the quality of water is maintained or improved; thus agricultural practices should follow Countryside Management guidelines (with regard to spraying of fertilizers, slurry, herbicides and pesticides and management of silage effluent) so that pollution incidents are avoided. Expanding urban development and building in the countryside also should take water quality into account.
Key IssuesGeneral actions for UK and NI Priority Habitats and Priority Species are detailed in the Habitat Action Plans and Species Action Plans.
WOODLANDSIssue: this LCA contains significant examples of the NI Priority Habitats Lowland woodland pasture and parkland and Upland mixed ashwood of variable biodiversity value
Actions:
GRASSLAND AND ARABLE
Issue: grasslands and arable in this LCA have been intensively managed and are of poor biodiversity value, however, there are good examples of wet and dry species-rich grasslands, which are relatively rare in Northern Ireland.
Actions:
Issue: limited areas of uncut peat-bog remain in hollows
Actions:
·maintain the integrity of those small remaining peat-bogs by for example, preventing infilling, fly-tipping, fires, new drainage and mechanised peat cutting - applies particularly to intact bogs, but cut-over bogs can provide important habitats for birds and invertebrates
·consider restoration of bog habitats through appropriate water level management, removal of individual colonising trees and phasing out peat cutting - applies particularly to any areas of recent mechanical cutting
·prevent new forest planting on remaining patches of bog
Issue: loss of heathland and decline in its biodiversity
Actions:
Issue: loss of some of Northern Ireland's best examples of inter-drumlin fens to agriculture and urban expansion
ActionsIssue: the Newry River and lakes within Greenan Lough ASSI contain a variety of aquatic plant species, including the NI Priority Species river water crowfoot.
Actions: