Cranny Falls
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Geology & landscape
Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine · Geological Period: Cretaceous · Rock Type: Basalt, Chalk
Landscape processes: Fluvial, Volcanic / Igneous
Description
Cranny Falls Wood Barley The area is of special scientific interest for the presence of a rare plant Wood Barley Hordelymus europaeus. Cranny Falls is located 1.5km to the west of Carnlough and is composed of a narrow, steep-sided wooded ravine, through which the Carnlough River flows, headed by a waterfall. Cranny Falls is on the eastern edge of the extensive Antrim Basalt Plateau, falling entirely within an area of the Lower Basalt Formation. The falls themselves appear to have developed at a junction between successive basalt flows. On the northern side of the stream there are exposures of weathered hollows possibly dolines at the top of the underlying Cretaceous chalk, infilled with a combination of clay-with-flints and rubbly basalt. Both of these rock types are largely unconsolidated and prone to failure, contributing to the unstable nature of the slopes at this site. The soils are a mixture of regolith, where rock rubble overlies the rock itself, and shallow brown earths, where soils are somewhat more stable and better developed. The whole area is subject to slippage with mass release of material associated with the infilled dolines especially, while debris flows are associated with flooding from higher ground, washing down loose soil and rock. Wood Barley Hordelymus europaeus is a short-lived perennial grass which is scarce in the British Isles. Cranny Falls is the only known site for this species in Ireland. It was first recorded at Cranny Falls in 1898 and found again in 1949. It was subsequently presumed extinct until it was re-found in 2011. In Britain it is found in shaded habitats such as woods and hedges, usually at the woodland edge or within scrub. At Cranny Falls a small population is found above the waterfall on a steep slope near the woodland edge. The ravine is shaded by surrounding woodland, providing a cool, humid environment; ideal habitat for ferns, mosses and liverworts which often form a luxuriant carpet on the walls of the ravine. The dripping rocks in the ravine are covered with bryophytes such as curled hook moss Palustriella commutatum, Mougeot’s yoke moss Amphidium mougeotii and olive beard moss Didymodon tophaceus. The woodland canopy is dominated by ash Fraxinus excelsior and wych elm Ulmus glabra, with an understorey of hazel Corylus avellana and occasional holly Ilex aquifolium and rowan Sorbus aucuparia. A field layer of bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. and ferns cover the slopes over a luxuriant ground flora of herbs and bryophytes. Ferns are widespread and include soft shield fern Polystichum setiferum, broad buckler fern Dryopteris dilatata, golden-scaled male fern Dryopteris affinis, lady fern Athyrium filix-femina, with hart’s-tongue Asplenium scolopendrium frequent on the rocks around the waterfall. Of particular note is the presence of the scarce beech fern Phegopteris connectilis. The ground flora is dominated by bryophytes typical of damp, base-rich soils on calcareous substrates. These include big shaggy moss Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, fox tail feather moss Thamnobryum alopecurum and common striated feather moss Eurhynchium striatum. Associated herbs include wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella, woodruff Galium odoratum, primrose Primula vulgaris, wood avens Geum urbanum and wood mellick Melica uniflora. Climbers such as ivy Hedera helix and honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum are also present on the trees. Cranny Falls provides an important habitat for a range of plants and animals, including birds, mammals and invertebrates. For example, the shaded woodland environment on a base-rich substrate provides ideal conditions for the point snail Acicula fusca. It is hoped that continued sensitive management of the area will ensure that the assemblage of species is maintained. https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/cranny-falls-assi
Species mentioned
Show the 27 species mentioned in the description, with red-list statusInsects 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina |
Endangered | Primula vulgaris |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Corylus avellana, Rubus fruticosus, Ulmus spp. |
| White-letter hairstreak Satyrium w-album |
Endangered | Ulmus glabra, Ulmus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Ulmus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Rubus fruticosus, Ulmus spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Lonicera periclymenum, Sorbus aucuparia, Ulmus spp. |
| Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia |
Vulnerable | Lonicera periclymenum |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| White admiral Limenitis camilla |
Vulnerable | Lonicera periclymenum |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Rubus fruticosus, Ulmus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Ulmus glabra |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Geum urbanum, Rubus fruticosus |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Rubus fruticosus |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Ulmus spp. |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Sorbus aucuparia |
| Dusky-lemon sallow Cirrhia gilvago |
Near Threatened | Ulmus glabra |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Ulmus glabra |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Corylus avellana, Ulmus spp. |
| Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria |
Near Threatened | Fraxinus excelsior |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Galium spp. |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Ulmus spp. |
| Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata |
Near Threatened | Galium 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.
Plant communities
W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub
Matches 9 species from the description above: Asplenium scolopendrium, Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Geum urbanum, Hedera helix, Ilex aquifolium, Lonicera periclymenum, Rubus fruticosus agg., Ulmus glabra
Show 81 indicator speciesHedera helix, Salix cinerea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Malus sylvestris, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus procera, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Juncus effusus, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhynchostegium confertum, Tamus communis, Heracleum sphondylium, Torilis japonica, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria media agg., Calystegia sepium, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Lamium purpureum, Origanum vulgare, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Poterium sanguisorba, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubia peregrina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis erecta, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris filix-mas
W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub
Matches 8 species from the description above: Asplenium scolopendrium, Corylus avellana, Eurhynchium striatum, Geum urbanum, Hedera helix, Lonicera periclymenum, Oxalis acetosella, Rubus fruticosus agg.
Show 49 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Ulex europaeus, Prunus spinosa, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium striatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Achillea millefolium, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Armeria maritima, Rumex acetosa, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris filix-mas
W20 — Montane scrub
Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub
Matches 5 species from the description above: Dryopteris dilatata, Oxalis acetosella, Palustriella commutatum, Phegopteris connectilis, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus
Show 107 indicator speciesSalix arbuscula, Salix cinerea, Salix lapponum, Salix myrsinites, Salix phylicifolia, Salix reticulata, Empetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Salix lanata, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex atrata, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Philonotis fontana, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum bonjeanii, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens adianthoides, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Palustriella commutatum, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Scorpidium revolvens, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum teres, Barbilophozia barbata, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila porelloides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania undulata, Cladonia squamosa, Peltigera canina, Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Hieraclium spp., Saussurea alpina, Solidago virgaurea, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Rhodiola rosea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Dactylorhiza viridis, Euphrasia officinalis, Rhinanthus minor, Oxalis acetosella, Oxyria digyna, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla glabra, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Dryopteris dilatata, Phegopteris connectilis
A14 — Fast flowing river and stream
Myriophyllum alterniflorum community
Show 15 indicator speciesIsolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina
A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream
Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community
Show 11 indicator speciesBerula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans
A18 — Fast flowing river and stream
Ranunculus fluitans community
Show 12 indicator speciesFontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea
A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream
Potamogeton natans community
Show 20 indicator speciesSchoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa