Heathland and Bogs

Antrim Plateau

The Upland landscape of the Antrim Plateau is a unique wilderness area and contains the largest area of blanket bog in Northern Ireland, the Garron Plateau. Several rare species of plant grow here including bog orchid and marsh saxifrage. Blanket bogs are so called because they cover upland areas in a peaty blanket of grasses sedges, rushes and heather. They are often home to special kinds of bog moss and invertebrates. Many species of bird, such as the golden plover, dunlin, hen harrier and merlin can only breed in this habitat and are dependant on it's special management. The Garron plateau is also home to the Irish hare which has become increasingly endangered over recent years.

Cottongrass

Lowland raised bogs are rare in Northern Ireland. They form in natural depressions in the lowland areas and have been cut for centuries to provide fuel, traditionally by hand but more recently by machine. Many of these areas have been damaged by this process. They are also vulnerable to changing water level which again has often resulted from man's activities. Raised bogs provide a habitat for many rare and interesting species of insects including dragonflies, butterflies and water beetles.

Dry lowland heath is one of Northern Ireland's special habitats. Formed in dry shallow soil this landscape comes to life in spring and summer with colourful heather, bell heather and western gorse. Rathlin Island has extensive areas of dry heathland and there are other good examples along the Causeway Coast.