Levallymore

Also within

Armagh County Ring of Gullion Scenic Area

Habitats

Lowland meadow and pasture

Description

Levallymore Lowland meadow This area is of special scientific interest because of its species-rich dry grassland communities. Species-rich grassland tends to occur only where land management is not intensive, in particular where traditional farming practices have been maintained. As a result, it is not a widespread habitat in Northern Ireland and is often fragmented, consisting of individual fields, part of fields or banks. Species-rich dry grasslands, like those found at Levallymore, are a particularly scarce resource even in south Armagh, where there is known to be a greater proportion of this habitat type. Levallymore is situated on the north-western side of Slieve Gullion, about 6 km south of Camlough. Soils are shallow brown rankers and are well drained over much of the area. The grassland communities at Levallymore are of a species-rich dry type except for localised patches of wet, rush Juncus spp. dominated grassland. They range from moderately species-rich swards in some field units to areas with abundant orchids and herbs reflecting a long history of traditional management. The moderately species-rich swards tend to be grass dominated with frequent common bent Agrostis capillaris, crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus and sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum. Associated meadow species include herbs such as eyebright Euphrasia officinalis and common birdsfoot trefoil Lotus corniculatus. Although many of the fields at Levallymore are described as herb-rich, they also tend to be grass dominated with common bent Agrostis capillaris, crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus and red fescue Festuca rubra all common with heath grass Danthonia decumbens also notably constant in the sward. However, there is a much richer herb component including many meadow indicators such as yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor, eyebright Euphrasia officinalis, common knapweed Centaurea nigra, pill sedge Carex pilulifera and greater birdsfoot trefoil Lotus pedunculatus. In some fields, areas of outcropping rock occur locally. Here very thin soils support a quite species-rich acidic flora. Fine-leaved grasses tend to dominate here with red fescue Festuca rubra, sheep's fescue Festuca ovina, common bent Agrostis capillaris and silver hair grass Aira cmyophyllea all frequent. Species suggestive of the more acid and drought conditions present include mouse_ear hawkweed Pilosella officinarum, heath speedwell Veronica officinalis, dog lichen Peltigera canina and the moss Campylopus introflexus. In addition, Levallymore is notable for the collection and relative abundance of the hemi-parasitic species eyebright Euphrasia officinalis, yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor and lousewort Pedicularis sylvatica. The orchids greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha and spotted-orchids Dactylorhiza spp. are abundant in places. Several other species are worthy of note. Field scabious Knautia arvensis is present in several fields. This is a species of scattered distribution in Northern Ireland, more often observed along verges than in meadows. Field gentian Gentianella campestris was also recorded from one of the acid outcrops-this is the first record of this species in County Armagh. The notable grassland fungus Hygrocybe intermedia has also been found, a species reflecting the low nutrient status of the soils. Levallymore represents a large area of semi-natural grassland and associated habitat managed in a traditional way. As such, it provides valuable feeding and roosting sites for a range of animals, including birds and invertebrates. A variety of butterflies have been recorded in the area including meadow brown Maniola jurtina and common blue Polyommatus icarus. https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/levallymore-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