Craigantlet Woods

Also within

Down County

Description

Craigantlet Woods Mixed ashwoods The area is of special scientific interest because of the woodland flora and fauna. Craigantlet Woods consist of three small, calcicolous base-rich valley-woods on the southern flank of the Craigantlet Hills. Although separate, the three woods occur in close proximity. Together they represent the largest block of semi-natural woodland remaining in the north Down region. Each individual wood is rich in both plant communities and species, and several rare species occur. Associated streams and rock faces enhance the variety by providing additional microhabitats. The woods have retained a well-developed structure and a high degree of naturalness because of their inaccessibility. The woods are composed of a mature ash Fraxinus excelsior canopy with frequent wild cherry Prunus avium. The dense understorey is formed predominantly by hazel Corylus avellana with rowan Sorbus aucuparia and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna the most frequent associates. The ground flora is typical of flushed, base-rich woods and is characterised by the lush growth of a rich variety of herbs and ferns with frequent, extensive carpets of bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta and wood anemone Anemone nemorosa. Other common species include opposite-leaved golden-saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium, wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella and the ferns broad buckler fern Dryopteris dilatata, scaly male fern Dryopteris affinis and soft shield fern Polystichum setiferum. The moss layer is generally rather sparse, with the most abundant species being Thuidium tamariscinum. Mnium hornum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Eurhynchium striatum, Eurhynchium praelongum and Hookeria lucens are also frequent. Other species, notably woodruff Galium odoratum and meadow sweet Filipendula ulmaria, become more dominant on slopes with more pronounced flushing. The wet valley floor tends to support a taller vegetation, with such species as hogweed Heracleum sphondylium, cow parsley Anthriscus sylvestris and creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens. Wet rock faces are frequent along the rivers and streams. Here, the humid microclimate results in a rich growth of bryophytes mosses and liverworts and ferns. Additional species present include hart's-tongue Phyllitis scolopendrium and hard shield-fern Polystichum aculeatum, and the bryophytes Thamnobryum alopecurum, Palustriella commutata, Plagiochila porelloides and Pellia spp. The woodland flora includes a number of rare plants such as wood millet Milium effusum, wood fescue Festuca altissima and toothwort Lathraea squamaria. In addition, Craigantlet Woods provide an extensive area of semi-natural habitat for woodland animals, including badger Meles meles and a range of breeding birds. https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/craigantlet-woods-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.