Binnian Lough and Binnian Lamagan Col (Healthy Heathland Project)

Description

Binnian Lough has a 10 ha plateaux of eroding blanket bog with a network of 1-2 m deep gullies. 

Project Aims

Rebuild heathland habitats and vegetation communities, and minimise peatland erosion.

Restoration Delivered

On Binnian Lough peat hags have been reprofiled and bare peat covered with geojute where necessary to allow the colonisation of vegetation. The gullies here have been blocked with coir rolls and stone dams to raise the water level and reactivate the degrading peat, retaining the silt and seed to revegetate the channels.

Similar materials and techniques have been deployed at Binnian Lamagan Col, with useful advice passed on from Moors for the Future Partnership, which potentially saved mistakes from being made.

Following the start of practical works in December 2016, revegetation is just starting to show, with an increase in target species including cotton grasses and Sphagnum mosses.

During winter 2017 the area under restoration was expanded to 25Ha by installing an additional 400 coir rolls as well as stone dams. This has significantly slowed the movement of water across the site reducing the erosive force, allowing sediment to be retained.
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Project Name: Binnian Lough and Binnian Lamagan Col (Healthy Heathland Project)

Organisation / Lead partner: Mourne Mountains Landscape Partnership

Location: Binnian, Newry

Approximate area covered: 25 ha

Conservation Status: Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI – NI only)

Predominately: Upland

Peat Habitats: Blanket bog, Upland heath

Project Type: Restoration, Management, Research, Citizen science/ community engagement.

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