Mappp.co - Ballynanaghten

Also within

Habitats

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Basalt

Landscape processes: Glacial, Volcanic / Igneous

Description

Ballynanaghten Lowland meadow This area is of special scientific interest because of its species-rich dry grassland. This type of 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, parts of fields or banks. It is a similar grassland community to that which is considered to be the natural grassland type of traditionally managed pastures on neutral soils throughout the British Isles. Ballynanaghten is situated alongside the Broad Water, 3km north of Moira. Soils are fairly free draining, derived from basalt till parent material. The area is made up of two fields that slope from north-east to south-west. The steep topography, rendering access for agricultural machinery difficult, combined with the more traditional, rather than intensive, management practices have resulted in the species-rich grassland sward now present. The two fields are typically grass dominated with a wide range of associated herbs. The grasses crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus, red fescue Festuca rubra common bent Agrostis capillaris and sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum are constant in the sward together with a range of grasses typical of low intensity managed grasslands e.g. heath grass Danthonia decumbens and quaking grass Briza media. Herbs typical of traditionally managed grasslands are frequent throughout the sward and include oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare, meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis, yarrow Achillea millefolium, common knapweed Centaurea nigra, common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii and meadow buttercup Ranunculus acris. glaucous sedge Carex flacca is also very common. In addition the notable grass species yellow oat grass Trisetum flavescens and rare fern adder's-tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum have also been recorded, although occasional in distribution. Ballynanaghten is an area of semi-natural grassland managed in a traditional way. As such, it provides valuable feeding and roosting sites for a range of animals, including birds and invertebrates. https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/ballynanaghten-assi

Species mentioned

Show the 15 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status

English name search for this in other sites	Latin name search with Google	IUCN / Red List	Type	Family
adders-tongue fern	Ophioglossum vulgatum	LC	fern	ophioglossaceae
common bent	Agrostis capillaris	LC	grass	poaceae
sweet vernal grass	Anthoxanthum odoratum	LC	grass	poaceae
quaking grass	Briza media	VU	grass	poaceae
crested dog's tail	Cynosurus cristatus	LC	grass	poaceae
heath grass	Danthonia decumbens	NT	grass	poaceae
red fescue	Festuca rubra	LC	grass	poaceae
yellow oat grass	Trisetum flavescens	LC	grass	poaceae
yarrow	Achillea millefolium	LC	herb	asteraceae
black knapweed	Centaurea nigra	LC	herb	asteraceae
spotted orchids	Dactylorhiza fuchsii	LC	herb	orchidaceae
meadow vetchling	Lathyrus pratensis	LC	herb	fabaceae
oxeye daisy	Leucanthemum vulgare	LC	herb	asteraceae
meadow buttercup	Ranunculus acris	DD	herb	ranunculaceae
glaucus sedge	Carex flacca	LC	sedge	cyperaceae

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.

Species	Status	Via host-plant
Black-veined moth Siona lineata	Critically Endangered	Centaurea nigra
New forest Zygaena viciae	Critically Endangered	Lathyrus pratensis
Straw belle Aspitates gilvaria	Endangered	Achillea millefolium
Wood white Leptidea sinapis	Endangered	Lathyrus pratensis
Heath fritillary Melitaea athalia	Endangered	Achillea millefolium
Least minor Photedes captiuncula	Endangered	Carex flacca
Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata	Vulnerable	Centaurea spp.
Grayling Hipparchia semele	Vulnerable	Festuca rubra
Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis	Near Threatened	Ranunculus spp.
Latticed heath Chiasmia clathrata	Near Threatened	Lathyrus pratensis
No common name Chrysolina marginata	Near Threatened	Achillea millefolium
Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus	Near Threatened	Agrostis spp., Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca spp.
Tawny speckled Eupithecia icterata	Near Threatened	Achillea millefolium
Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata	Near Threatened	Achillea millefolium, Centaurea spp.
Bordered pug Eupithecia succenturiata	Near Threatened	Achillea millefolium
Scarce forester Jordanita globulariae	Near Threatened	Centaurea nigra
Wall Lasiommata megera	Near Threatened	Agrostis spp.
Rosy minor Litoligia literosa	Near Threatened	Carex flacca

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

MG5 — Lowland meadow and pasture, Traditional orchard

Cynosurus cristatus-Centaurea nigra grassland

Matches 14 species from the description above: Achillea millefolium, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Briza media, Carex flacca, Centaurea nigra, Cynosurus cristatus, Danthonia decumbens, Festuca rubra, Lathyrus pratensis, Leucanthemum vulgare, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Ranunculus acris, Trisetum flavescens

Show 81 indicator species

Carex caryophyllea, Carex flacca, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus inflexus, Luzula campestris, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Pimpinella saxifraga, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Crepis capillaris, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Knautia arvensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Colchicum autumnale, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago media, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Agrimonia eupatoria, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla vestita, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla reptans, Poterium sanguisorba, Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Avenula pubescens, Briza media, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Koeleria macrantha, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Chara curta

MG4 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadow and pasture

Alopecurus pratensis-Sanguisorba officinalis grassland

Matches 11 species from the description above: Achillea millefolium, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Briza media, Centaurea nigra, Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca rubra, Lathyrus pratensis, Leucanthemum vulgare, Ranunculus acris, Trisetum flavescens

Show 71 indicator species

Carex acutiformis, Carex hirta, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus inflexus, Luzula campestris, Plagiomnium elatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Heracleum sphondylium, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Caltha palustris, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium palustre, Hypochaeris radicata, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Serratula tinctoria, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Equisetum arvense, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Vicia sepium, Fritillaria meleagris, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica serpyllifolia, Rumex acetosa, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Thalictrum flavum, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla anglica, Sanguisorba officinalis, Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Briza media, Bromopsis erecta, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens, Chara curta

MG8 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadow and pasture

Cynosurus cristatus-Caltha palustris grassland

Matches 9 species from the description above: Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Briza media, Carex flacca, Centaurea nigra, Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca rubra, Leucanthemum vulgare, Ranunculus acris

Show 70 indicator species

Carex demissa, Carex distans, Carex flacca, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eleocharis palustris, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Luzula campestris, Plagiomnium rostratum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Achillea ptarmica, Bellis perennis, Caltha palustris, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium palustre, Crepis paludosa, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Senecio aquaticus, Taraxacum officianalis, Myosotis scorpioides, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana dioica, Cerastium fontanum, Silene flos-cuculi, Equisetum arvense, Equisetum palustre, Lotus corniculatus, Lotus pedunculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Mentha aquatica, Euphrasia nemorosa, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Trollius europaeus, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Sanguisorba officinalis, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Avenula pubescens, Briza media, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Glyceria declinata, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus pratensis, Dryopteris expansa