Lemnalary
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Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.
Geology & landscape
Landscape processes: Coastal
Description
Lemnalary Greater Burnet This area is of special scientific interest as it contains a good population of great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis, representing the most significant locality for this species in Northern Ireland. This Red Data Book species occurs in only two locations in Northern Ireland. Historically more widespread along the County Antrim coast, it is now confined to Lemnalary which is found approximately 1.5km north of Carnlough. At Lemnalary great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis is found within a fairly productive agricultural sward that is dominated by perennial ryegrass Lolium perenne with Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus and couch grass Elytrigia repens. Associated herbs include white clover Trifolium repens and broadleaved dock Rumex obtusifolius. https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/lemnalary-assi
Species mentioned
Show the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| couch | Elytrigia repens | Not listed in GB list | grass | poaceae |
| Yorkshire fog | Holcus lanatus | LC | grass | poaceae |
| perennial rye-grass | Lolium perenne | LC | grass | poaceae |
| broadleaved dock | Rumex obtusifolius | LC | herb | polygonaceae |
| great burnet | Sanguisorba officinalis | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| white clover | Trifolium repens | LC | herb | fabaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pale shining brown Polia bombycina |
Endangered | Rumex obtusifolius |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Rumex spp. |
| Garden dart Euxoa nigricans |
Vulnerable | Rumex spp., Trifolium spp. |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Rumex spp., Trifolium spp. |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Rumex spp. |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Rumex spp. |
| Latticed heath Chiasmia clathrata |
Near Threatened | Trifolium repens, Trifolium spp. |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Rumex spp. |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Rumex spp. |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Rumex obtusifolius |
| Wall Lasiommata megera |
Near Threatened | Holcus lanatus |
| Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata |
Near Threatened | Rumex spp. |
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.