North Woodburn Glen

Also within

Antrim County

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Description

North Woodburn Glen Mixed ashwoods The area is of special scientific interest becguse of the variety of woodland plants found there and the undisturbed nature of the vegetation. The site comprises an area of semi-natural woodland on the northern tributary of the Woodburn River. There is a wide range of 'typical' woodland plant species: the forest canopy contains many mature ash Fraxinus excelsior and regeneration is widespread. hazel Corylus avellana is abundant throughout the site, with willows, mainly Salix cinerea, common alongside the river. The ground flora communities are very varied. Upstream the slopes are rocky and rich in bryophytes and acidophilous plant species, e.g. wood rush Luzula sylvatica. On lower slopes where the soils are deeper, moister and more base-rich, the ground flora is diverse and includes communities dominated by such species as wood anemone Anemone nemorosa, ramsons Allium ursinum, opposite-leaved golden-saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium and meadow sweet Filipendula ulmaria. In places Anemone nemorosa is co-dominant with red campion Silene dioica, an uncommon association in this type of woodland in Northern Ireland. Several local vascular plant species occur, including toothwort Lathraea squamaria and wood vetch Vicia sylvatica. https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/north-woodburn-glen-assi

Species mentioned

Insects to look out for

These moths, butterflies and beetles are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.

Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

Plant communities