Knocknacloy

Also within

Tyrone County

Habitats

Lowland meadow and pasture

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Drumlin · Geological Period: Triassic · Rock Type: Sandstone

Landscape processes: Glacial

Description

Knocknacloy Lowland meadow This area is of special scientific interest because of its species-rich dry grassland. 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, parts of fields or banks. Species-rich grasslands, like those found at Knocknacloy, are a particularly scarce resource in Northern Ireland. Knocknacloy is located within a landscape ofrolling drumlin hills approximately 3.5km west of Benburb. It is situated in a lowland setting on the westem slope of the hill east of Tullygiven Lough. The variation in topography and related soil hydrology, and the effects of past and present management have resulted in the presence of a wide range of plant species in a relatively small area. The site is underlain by Triassic age rocks, dominated by sandstones belonging to the Sherwood Sandstone Group. These rocks formed in shallow water within a desert enviromnent. The soils at Knocknacloy are derived from the parent rock and are known as brown earths. They are characterised by being fairly well-drained, reflecting the same property as the underlying rock. The parent rock and the soil are typically base poor and result in neutral to acid soils depending on drainage conditions. The area is composed of one field which slopes from east to west from a height of approximately 60m to 30m. The steep topography makes access for agricultural machinery difficult. This, combined with traditional management practices, has produced lowland meadow grassland that is very species-rich. The vegetation at Knocknacloy is typically grass-dominated with a wide range of associated herbs. The grasses red fescue Festuca rubra, crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus, 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, such as heath grass Danthonia decumbens and quaking grass Briza media. Herbs typical of traditionally managed grasslands are frequent throughout the sward and include bulbous buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus, common knapweed Centaurea nigra, devils-bit scabious Succisa pratensis, yarrow Achillea millefolium, meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis and common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii. The herb common vetch Vicia sativa ssp. nigra, which is not locally common, occurs on the upper slopes of the site where soils are thinner. The following sedges are common in the grassland; glaucous sedge Carex flacca, carnation sedge Carex panicea, flea sedge Carex pulicaris, pale sedge Carex pallescens, pill sedge Carex pilulifera and yellow sedge Carex viridula ssp. brachyrrhyncha. In addition to the vegetation communities described above the following species of note were recorded-common twayblade Listera ovata, frog orchid Coeloglossum viride and greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha. Knocknacloy 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/knocknacloy-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