24 March 2000

ENVIRONMENT AND HERITAGE SERVICE GRANTS AND HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND HELP SECURE THE PURCHASE OF SPECIAL SITES

Environment and Heritage Service, an Agency within the Department of the Environment, welcomes yesterday’s (23/3/00) announcement of substantial grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the acquisition for nature conservation of two important sites in Northern Ireland.

 

Belfast Hills Grassland

An HLF grant of £218,400 was made to the Ulster Wildlife Trust for the purchase of 125 hectares of species-rich grassland at Slievenacloy. The site, on the southern fringes of the Belfast Hills, has been designated as an Area of Special Scientific Interest for its assemblage of grassland plant species. These include several rarities such as frog orchid, butterfly orchids and certain sedges. This purchase was also supported with a grant of £72,810 from Environment and Heritage Service itself. EHS looks forward to developing with UWT a management plan for the site that will combine the conservation of the flora and fauna with sustainable farming practice and controlled public access.

 

Sperrin Woodland

HLF also made a grant of £55,700 to the Woodland Trust for the purchase of 18 hectares of native woodland at Drumlamph near Maghera. The site, which is dominated by hazel scrub with some birch and oak, has clearly been woodland for a

protracted period. Environment and Heritage Service has provided a grant of £60,000 for the purchase of an adjoining 13 hectares of woodland, scrub and pasture to be developed as native woodland with public access. EHS particularly welcomes the involvement of the local community in pointing out the Drumlamph woodlands to the Woodland Trust and in promoting their acquisition and management for nature conservation and public use.