Straduff

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 54.5464, -7.4708

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Tyrone County

Geology & landscape

Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Conglomerate

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Description

Straduff Carboniferous stratigraphy The Drumlish Conglomerate Formation exposed at Straduff, is ofUpper Carboniferous age belonging to the Westphalian B stage, and is some 297 million years old My. It is exceptional in that its closest equivalents occur in north-east Canada and not in the British Isles; this is the only known exposure in these islands. The quarry exposes about 70m of strata in the lower part of the Drumlish Formation comprising conglomerate rocks that were deposited by braided streams in the proximal part of an alluvial fan. The sediments that now form the Drurnlish Conglomerate Formation are the product of an episode of intense and sustained erosion of basement rocks. Rapid uplift of metamorphic basement rocks in Northern Ireland commenced in early Westphalian B times; these were eroded and deposited within an adjoining basin. The area of wet heath adjoining the quarry is dominated by gorse Ulex europaeus, heather Calluna vulgaris and cross leaved heath Erica tetralix. It supports a diverse micro-lepidopteran fauna, small moths, including a number of first records for Co Tyrone. Also notable is the presence of the large heath butterfly Coenonympha tullia, an uncommon species in Northern Ireland. The scarce blue-tailed damselfly Ischnura pumilio has been recorded at this site. This is the rarest species of damselfly in Northern Ireland. https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/straduff-assi

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
large heath Coenonympha tullia EN butterfly nymphalidae
scarce blue-tailed damselfly Ischnura pumilio NT damselflies coenagrionidae
gorse Ulex europaeus LC shrub leguminosae
bell heather or ling Calluna vulgaris NT shrub dwarf ericaceae
cross leaved heath Erica tetralix NT shrub dwarf ericaceae

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.

SpeciesStatusVia host-plant
Shoulder-striped clover
Heliothis maritima
Endangered Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris
Beetle
Cryptocephalus biguttatus
Vulnerable Erica tetralix
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix
True lover's knot
Lycophotia porphyrea
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Ulex spp.
Lead belle
Scotopteryx mucronata
Vulnerable Ulex europaeus
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Calluna vulgaris
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris
Grey scalloped
Dyscia fagaria
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris
Weaver's wave
Idaea contiguaria
Near Threatened Calluna vulgaris

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

H3 — Lowland dry heath, Lowland wet heath

Ulex minor-Agrostis curtisii heath

Matches 3 species from the description above: Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Ulex europaeus

Quercus robur, Calluna vulgaris, Erica ciliaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Ulex europaeus, Ulex minor, Carex pilulifera, Schoenus nigricans, Campylopus brevipilus, Campylopus flexuosus, Leucobryum glaucum, Hypnum jutlandicum, Polytrichum juniperinum, Kurzia spp., Hypogymnia physodes, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia crispata, Cladonia floerkeana, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia pyxidata, Cladonia uncialis, Cuscuta epithymum, Hypericum pulchrum, Polygala serpyllifolia, Potentilla erecta, Viola lactea, Agrostis curtisii, Danthonia decumbens, Molinia caerulea, Pteridium aquilinum, Zygogonium ericetorum

H5 — Lowland wet heath

Erica vagans-Schoenus nigricans heath

Matches 3 species from the description above: Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Ulex europaeus

Salix repens, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Erica vagans, Ulex europaeus, Ulex gallii, Carex flacca, Carex hostiana, Carex panicea, Carex pulicaris, Eriophorum angustifolium, Schoenus nigricans, Eleocharis multicaulis, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus maritimus, Fissidens adianthoides, Kindbergia praelonga, Scorpidium scorpioides, Calypogeia fissa, Riccardia multifida, Angelica sylvestris, Eupatorium cannabinum, Serratula tinctoria, Succisa pratensis, Drosera rotundifolia, Genista anglica, Hypericum pulchrum, Scutellaria minor, Thymus praecox, Pinguicula lusitanica, Linum catharticum, Dactylorhiza incarnata, Dactylorhiza maculata, Gymnadenia conopsea, Platanthera bifolia, Pedicularis sylvatica, Plantago maritima, Polygala vulgaris, Anagallis tenella, Potentilla erecta, Sanguisorba officinalis, Galium uliginosum, Agrostis curtisii, Agrostis vinealis, Danthonia decumbens, Festuca ovina, Molinia caerulea, Phragmites australis, Chara curta

H4 — Lowland dry heath, Lowland wet heath, Upland dry heath

Ulex gallii-Agrostis curtisii heath

Matches 2 species from the description above: Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix

Salix repens, Calluna vulgaris, Erica ciliaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Erica vagans, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ulex gallii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Carex montana, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula multiflora, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Campylopus introflexus, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum juniperinum, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Hypogymnia physodes, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia crispata, Cladonia fimbriata, Cladonia floerkeana, Cladonia furcata, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia subcervicornis, Cladonia uncialis, Cuscuta epithymum, Lotus corniculatus, Thymus praecox, Pedicularis sylvatica, Polygala serpyllifolia, Polygala vulgaris, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Viola lactea, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis curtisii, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Pteridium aquilinum

M14 — Lowland dry heath, Upland wet heath

Schoenus nigricans-Narthecium ossifragum mire

Matches 2 species from the description above: Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix

Pinus sylvestris, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Ulex gallii, Carex panicea, Eriophorum angustifolium, Rhynchospora alba, Schoenus nigricans, Eleocharis multicaulis, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus bulbosus, Ctenidium molluscum, Hypnum jutlandicum, Scorpidium revolvens, Scorpidium scorpioides, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Calypogeia fissa, Kurzia pauciflora, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Aneura pinguis, Riccardia multifida, Drosera intermedia, Drosera rotundifolia, Pinguicula lusitanica, Narthecium ossifragum, Pedicularis sylvatica, Polygala serpyllifolia, Anagallis tenella, Potentilla erecta, Molinia caerulea

M15 — Blanket bog, Raised bog, Upland wet heath

Scirpus cespitosus-Erica tetralix wet heath

Matches 2 species from the description above: Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex binervis, Carex demissa, Carex dioica, Carex echinata, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Carex pulicaris, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Schoenus nigricans, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus bulbosus, Juncus conglomeratus, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula multiflora, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Breutelia chrysocoma, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus atrovirens, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Scorpidium revolvens, Scorpidium scorpioides, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum compactum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophozia ventricosa, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Pleurozia purpurea, Aneura pinguis, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Succisa pratensis, Drosera anglica, Drosera rotundifolia, Hypericum pulchrum, Triglochin palustre, Pinguicula vulgaris, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Dactylorhiza maculata, Euphrasia officinalis, Pedicularis palustris, Pedicularis sylvatica, Polygala serpyllifolia, Trientalis europaea, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Festuca vivipara, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum