National Survey of Limestone Pavement and Associated Habitats In

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

National Survey of Limestone Pavement and Associated Habitats In National survey of limestone pavement and associated habitats in Ireland Irish Wildlife Manuals No. 73 National survey of limestone pavement and associated habitats in Ireland Sue Wilson & Fernando Fernández Ecologic Environmental & Ecological Consultants Ltd. Citation: Wilson, S. & Fernández, F. (2013) National survey of limestone pavement and associated habitats in Ireland. Irish Wildlife Manual s, No. 73. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Ireland. Cover photo: Black Head-Poulsallagh Complex SAC © NPWS Keywords: grassland, heath, scrub, conservation status, assessment, invasive species, structure and functions The NPWS Project Officers for this report were: John Cross; [email protected] and Deirdre Lynn, [email protected] Irish Wildlife Manuals Series Editors: F. Marnell & R. Jeffrey © National Parks and Wildlife Service 2013 ISSN 1393 – 6670 Limestone Pavement in Ireland __________________________ Limestone Pavement in Ireland __________________________ Contents Executive Summary....................................................................................................................................... 5 Acknowledgements....................................................................................................................................... 6 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 7 Limestone pavement in Ireland................................................................................................................ 7 Definition of Limestone pavement........................................................................................................... 7 Habitats and species associated with limestone pavement in Ireland................................................... 9 Limestone pavement and associated habitat classification....................................................................10 Conservation of Limestone pavement.....................................................................................................12 Scope of the report....................................................................................................................................14 Summary of the pilot survey................................................................................................................14 Project tasks...........................................................................................................................................15 Methods ........................................................................................................................................................16 Pre-survey .................................................................................................................................................16 Site selection..............................................................................................................................................16 Field survey methods ...............................................................................................................................19 Site surveys and general data recorded...............................................................................................19 Recording of relevés .............................................................................................................................22 Photographs ..........................................................................................................................................23 Data capture ..........................................................................................................................................23 Quality control ......................................................................................................................................23 Habitat mapping.......................................................................................................................................23 National Limestone pavement distribution map................................................................................24 National Limestone pavement maps...................................................................................................25 Mapping of habitats within potential NHA sites................................................................................25 Mapping of habitats within monitoring sites......................................................................................26 Quality control ......................................................................................................................................26 1 Limestone Pavement in Ireland __________________________ Vegetation data analysis ..........................................................................................................................27 Data preparation...................................................................................................................................27 Analysis techniques..............................................................................................................................28 Assessment of EU Annex I habitat conservation status.........................................................................30 Overview...............................................................................................................................................30 Conservation status assessment at site level.......................................................................................31 Conservation status assessment at national level...............................................................................41 Ranking of potential NHA sites using conservation and threat scores ................................................43 Results ..........................................................................................................................................................47 General survey results..............................................................................................................................47 General site surveys..............................................................................................................................47 Habitat mapping.......................................................................................................................................52 National Limestone pavement distribution map................................................................................52 National Limestone pavement distribution, range and favourable reference range maps .............56 Mapping of habitats within potential NHA sites ...............................................................................56 Mapping of habitats within monitoring sites .....................................................................................57 Vegetation data analysis ..........................................................................................................................58 Cluster Analysis and Indicator Species Analysis ...............................................................................58 Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling................................................................................................60 Habitat classification ................................................................................................................................64 Group 1 Exposed Limestone pavement ..............................................................................................67 Group 2 Wooded Limestone pavement ..............................................................................................79 Group 3 Holcus lanatus-Trifolium repens Grassland Group ............................................................83 Group 4 Festuca ovina/rubra - Succisa pratensis Grassland Group..................................................94 Group 5 Dryas octopetala Heath Group ...........................................................................................102 Group 6 Sesleria caerulea - Thymus polytrichus Grassland Group................................................106 Group 7 Calluna vulgaris Heath Group............................................................................................116 Assessment of EU Annex I habitat conservation status.......................................................................123 2 Limestone Pavement in Ireland __________________________ Conservation status assessment at site level .....................................................................................123 Conservation status assessment at national level .............................................................................132 Ranking of potential NHA sites using conservation and threat scores...............................................148 Discussion ..................................................................................................................................................150 Habitat mapping.....................................................................................................................................150 Recommendations...............................................................................................................................150 Vegetation analysis
Recommended publications
  • Blue Flags for Lough Derg and Burren Passport
    Blue Flags for Lough Derg and Burren Passport Monday, 9 June 08 An Taisce has awarded the prestigious International Blue Flag to eight of County Clare’s beaches. Mountshannon and Ballycuggeran on Lough Derg retained the Blue Flag status they lost in 2006 due to the presence of algal bloom in the lake while Cappa, Kilkee, White Strand (Miltown Malbay), Lahinch and Fanore have also held on to their Blue Flags. Meanwhile, Clare County Council has expressed its delight that White Strand (Doonbeg) regained its Blue Flag for 2008. Deputy Mayor of Clare, Councillor Brian Meaney, today collected all eight flags at a ceremony in County Louth. Speaking following today's awards ceremony, Cllr Tommy Brennan,Chairof Clare County Council's Environment, Emergency Services and Consumer Protection Strategic Policy Committee said, 'I am delighted that Clare has secured eight Blue Flags this year. I especially welcome the fact that White Strand, Doonbeg regained its Blue Flag Status. This loss in 2007 was not because of inadequate bathing water quality but due to necessary access works at the beach, which Clare County Council has since successfully completed.' Cllr. Brennan indicated that the awarding of Blue Flags to eight Clare beaches was achieved through the hard work of local communities and Local Authority staff. 'Again, it is further proof of what the county can achieve when Clare Local Authorities and members of the public work together', he added. According to Sean Ward, Senior Engineer, Environment & Emergency Services Directorate, "Clare County Council is extremely happy with the eight blue flags achieved, especially the re-awarding of White Strand, Doonbeg, which is a reflection of the positive actions taken by Clare County Council at this beach to improve access." The Blue Flag award is an exclusive eco-label awarded to more than 3,000 beaches and marinas in 28 countries in the Northern Hemisphere each year.
    [Show full text]
  • County Clare Rural House Design Guide, Second Edition
    Tithe Faoin Tuath, Contae An Chláir County Clare Rural House Design Guide The essential guide for anybody planning, designing or building a house in rural County Clare Settlement and Building Design Materials and Building Tradition Landscape Second Edition 1 Tithe Faoin Tuath, Contae An Chláir Second Edition Published by Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis County Clare. ISBN 0-9551436-0-8 Clare County Council Design Guide Team Liam Conneally, Senior Planner. Ruth Hurley, Architect. Siobhan Mulcahy, Architect, Agents Liaison Group Risteard UaCroínín, Conservation Officer. Illustrations & Graphics: Ruth Hurley Photography: Gerry Leddin, Ruth Hurley & Siobán Mulcahy Design: Optic Nerve Design Group, Limerick. Clare County Council would like to express a special thanks to the Councillors, local practitioners and members of the public who participated in the making of this document. Printed in Ireland Copyright © 2005 Clare County Council. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, or stored in any retrieval system or any nature without prior permission of the authors and publishers 2 County Clare Rural House Design Guide Contents Foreword 5 Introduction 7 1 Landscape Character 9 Coastal Region 13 North Clare 15 Lough Derg Region 17 The Shannon Estuary, Fergus Floodplain and Lowland Farmland 19 2 Vernacular Elements 21 Siting 24 Shape/Form 25 Proportions 26 Boundaries 27 Materials 29 Evolution of House Types in Clare 30 3 Location And Siting 33 Location 35 Siting 37 Landscape
    [Show full text]
  • The Analysis of the Flora of the Po@Ega Valley and the Surrounding Mountains
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE NAT. CROAT. VOL. 7 No 3 227¿274 ZAGREB September 30, 1998 ISSN 1330¿0520 UDK 581.93(497.5/1–18) THE ANALYSIS OF THE FLORA OF THE PO@EGA VALLEY AND THE SURROUNDING MOUNTAINS MIRKO TOMA[EVI] Dr. Vlatka Ma~eka 9, 34000 Po`ega, Croatia Toma{evi} M.: The analysis of the flora of the Po`ega Valley and the surrounding moun- tains, Nat. Croat., Vol. 7, No. 3., 227¿274, 1998, Zagreb Researching the vascular flora of the Po`ega Valley and the surrounding mountains, alto- gether 1467 plant taxa were recorded. An analysis was made of which floral elements particular plant taxa belonged to, as well as an analysis of the life forms. In the vegetation cover of this area plants of the Eurasian floral element as well as European plants represent the major propor- tion. This shows that in the phytogeographical aspect this area belongs to the Eurosiberian- Northamerican region. According to life forms, vascular plants are distributed in the following numbers: H=650, T=355, G=148, P=209, Ch=70, Hy=33. Key words: analysis of flora, floral elements, life forms, the Po`ega Valley, Croatia Toma{evi} M.: Analiza flore Po`e{ke kotline i okolnoga gorja, Nat. Croat., Vol. 7, No. 3., 227¿274, 1998, Zagreb Istra`ivanjem vaskularne flore Po`e{ke kotline i okolnoga gorja ukupno je zabilje`eno i utvr|eno 1467 biljnih svojti. Izvr{ena je analiza pripadnosti pojedinih biljnih svojti odre|enim flornim elementima, te analiza `ivotnih oblika.
    [Show full text]
  • NPWS Regional Contacts
    National Parks & Wildlife Service LoCall 1890 383 000 90 King Street North Website www.npws.ie Smithfield Email [email protected] Dublin 7 D07 N7CV Contact Information National Parks and Nature Reserves Ballycroy National Park, [email protected] (098) 49 996 Lagduff More, Ballycroy, Westport, Co. Mayo Burren National Park, [email protected] (065) 682 7693 NEPS Building, St. Francis Street, Ennis, Co. Clare Connemara National Park, [email protected] (095) 41 054 Letterfrack, Co. Galway Coole Park Nature Reserve, [email protected] (091) 631 804 Gort, Co. Galway Glenveagh National Park, [email protected] (076) 100 2537 Church Hill, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal Killarney National Park, [email protected] (065) 663 1440 Muckross House, Killarney, Co. Kerry Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, [email protected] (076) 100 2660 North Slob, Wexford Wicklow Mountains National Park, [email protected] (0404) 45 425 Kilafin, Laragh, Co. Wicklow Last updated 11 May 2020 Page 1 Regional Offices Eastern Division Divisional Manager (076) 100 2654 Divisional Ecologist (076) 100 2622 North Eastern Region Areas covered Regional Manager (076) 100 2591 Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Louth, District Conservation Officer (Kildare, Laois, Offaly) (076) 100 2594 Meath, Offaly District Conservation Officer (Dublin, Louth, Meath) (076) 100 2593 South Eastern Region Areas covered Regional Office (076) 100 2667 Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Regional Manager (076) 100 2671 Wicklow (including Wicklow
    [Show full text]
  • Pages 121-166
    Cost Analysis Figure 21. Estimated Unit Costs for Installation and Maintenance Procedures (2004) Costs are based on average conditions calculated from research plot applications. Costs can vary considerably depending on specific site conditions. These examples are intended for comparison purposes and should not be used as bid prices. Note: Estimated costs do not include bark mulch applied as a continuous bed. If that is the desired treatment, an additional mulch materials and application cost would apply. Estimated costs do not include plant or installation warranties. Enhancing Delaware Highways Cost Analysis 122 Figure 21. Estimated Costs for Installation and Maintenance, for comparison (2004) Drilling holes prior to planting quart containers. Note: Estimated costs do not include bark mulch applied as a continuous bed. If that is the desired treatment, an additional mulch materials and application cost would apply. Estimated costs do not include plant or installation warranties. Enhancing Delaware Highways Cost Analysis 124 Appendix A: Checklists–Inventory of Site Conditions 2. Roadway Limitations Checklist Check the roadside zone(s) included in the location to be landscaped: J Back slope or cut slope J Swale or ditch zone 1. Climate and Growth Conditions Checklist J Approach or shoulder zone J Edge or border zone J Front or fill slope Check the appropriate clear zone requirement: Check the appropriate cold hardiness zone: J Standard 30 feet J Other ( feet) J Zone 6 or J Zone 7 Presence of guard rail and/or barrier curb: Guard rail
    [Show full text]
  • Burren Insight 2010
    BURRENThe Burrenbeo Trust 2010 IssueINSIGHT 2 Members FREE/Non-members €5.00 MAP OF THE BURREN! with walking trails outlined On the Trail of the Burren Green Sharon Parr Artefacts and Bones from Glencurran cave Marion Dowd My Burren - a priceless treasure Bishop William Walsh Wildlife around Carron - now and then Gordon D’Arcy The Burren - A new dawn? Michael Starrett The Underworld - caves in the Burren David Drew A year of Spotting Burren Butterflies Jesmond Harding A Day in the Forge PJ Curtis walks & talks programme quiz & competition book reviews and much more... 2010 International Year of Biodiversity CONTENTS My Burren - a priceless treasure Features Bishop William Walsh The late and much loved John O’Donaghue was a Burren man My Burren – a priceless treasure Bishop William Walsh 3 Burrenbeo Trust Patron to the core. His best known works, Anam Cara and Benedictus, The Burren – a new dawn? Michael Starrett 4 inspired people worldwide. I found perhaps greater inspiration in The Burren – a personal question Shane Casey 6 When I was growing up my father used to his lesser known “Tabernacle of Stone”. For me he gave life to the Artefacts and Bones from Glencurran Cave Marion Dowd 10 A Year of Spotting Butterflies in the Burren Jesmond Harding 13 go to Lisdoonvarna for a week with some Burren stone. What my Dad saw as barren rock John saw as a On the Trail of the Burren Green Sharon Parr 17 farming friends after the harvesting was living record of human, animal and plant life still speaking to us Wildlife Around Carron – now and then Gordon D’Arcy 19 completed.
    [Show full text]
  • Designing W Grasses Complete Notes
    DESIGNING W/ GRASSES: SLIDESHOW NAMES TONY SPENCER Google search botanical plant names or visit Missouri Botanical Garden site for more info: 1. Pennisetum alopecuroides + Sanguisorba + Molinia arundinacea ‘Transparent’ 2. Pennisetum alopecuroides + Aster + Molinia arundinacea ‘Transparent’ 3. Calamagrostis x. acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ + Panicum ‘Shenandoah’ 4. Helianthus pauciflorus – Photo Credit: Chris Helzer 5. Nassella tenuissima + Echinacea simulata + Monarda bradburiana 6. Hordeum jubatum + Astilbe 7. Deschampsia cespitosa + Helenium autumnale 8. Calamagrostis brachytricha + Miscanthus sinensis + Cimicifuga atropurpurea 9. Sporobolus heterlolepis + Echinacea pallida 10. Panicum virgatum + Echinacea pallida + Monarda + Veronica 11. Molinia arundinacea ‘Transparent + Sanguisorba officinalis 12. Bouteloua gracilis 13. Calamagrostis brachytricha + Helenium autumnale 14. Peucedanum verticillare 15. Anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’ 2016 Perennial Plant of the Year 16. Miscanthus sinsensis 17. Calamagrostis brachytricha 18. Molinia caerulea + Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ 19. Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ + Lythrum alatum + Parthenium integrafolium 20. Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’ 21. Bouteloua gracilis + Echinacea ‘Kim’s Knee High’ + Salvia nemorosa 22. Baptisia alba 23. Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ in Hummelo meadow planting 24. Panicum amarum ‘Dewey Blue’ + Helenium autumnale 25. Deschampsia cespitosa 26. Echinacea purpurea seedheads 27. Calamagrostis brachytricha + Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ + Echinacea + Veronicastrum + Eupatorium
    [Show full text]
  • Polling Scheme 2016
    COMHAIRLE CONTAE AN CHLÁIR CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL POLLING SCHEME SCÉIM VÓTÁLA Acht Toghcháin 1992 Acht Toghcháin (Leasú) 2001 Na Rialachàin (Scéimeanna Vótàla) 2005 Electoral Act 1992 Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001 Electoral (Polling Schemes) Regulations 2005 th 12 September 2016 THIS POLLING SCHEME WILL APPLY TO DÁIL, PRESIDENTIAL, EUROPEAN, LOCAL ELECTIONS AND ALSO TO REFERENDA All Electoral Areas in County Clare included in this document: Ennis Killaloe Shannon West Clare Constituency of Clare Constituency of Limerick City (Part of) ********************************** 2 Clare County Council Polling Scheme Electoral Act 1992 and Polling Scheme Regulations 2005 Introduction A Polling Scheme divides a County into Electoral Areas and these are further broken down in to Polling Districts, Electoral Divisions, and Townlands. The Scheme sets out a Polling Place or Polling Station for the townlands for electoral purposes. The Register of Electors is then produced in accordance with the districts defined within the Scheme. The making of a Polling Scheme is a reserved function of the Elected Members of the Council. County Clare consists of Two Dàil Constituencies, which are where the voters in County Clare democratically elect members to Dáil Éireann : 1. Constituency of Clare and the 2. Part of the Constituency of Limerick City County Clare now consists of four Electoral Areas which were set up under the Local Electoral areas and Municipal Districts Order 2014 Ennis Killaloe Shannon West Clare. 3 INDEX FOR POLLING SCHEME Constituencies Pages Constituency
    [Show full text]
  • Be Careful What You Wish for When Tourism Growth Exceeds Capacity
    Be Careful What You Wish For When Tourism Growth Exceeds Capacity Katherine Webster – Kittiwake Solutions Introduction I spent the last 12 years leading the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience From construction stage through to opening in 2007 & for 10 years of operation up to end of September 2017 Tripled turnover and grew spend per head by 61% Over 150 direct jobs in August 2017 with significant local economic impact Multi-award winning operation with consistently high visitor satisfaction ratings Over 1.4m visitors in 2016 with 2017 expected to exceed 1.5m Over 36% of Cliffs visitors overnighting in Clare & over 52% visiting other attractions Introduction I spent the last 12 years leading the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience From construction stage through opening in 2007 up to September 2017 Tripled turnover and grew spend per head by 61% Over 150 direct jobs in August 2017 with significant local economic impact Multi-award winning operation with consistently high visitor satisfaction ratings Over 1.4m visitors in 2016 with 2017 expected to exceed 1.5m Over 36% of Cliffs visitors overnighting in Clare & over 52% visiting other attractions Over 20 years leadership experience in tourism & travel sector Currently setting up Kittiwake Solutions Visitor management and attraction development for the visitor attraction sector Specialising in solving the operational challenges facing visitor attractions Focussing on sustainability, quality & delivery of a world class visitor experience Launching in January 2018 Y, ‘Overtourism’
    [Show full text]
  • Buses in the Burren 2014 a Study of the Impacts and Issues
    Buses in the Burren 2014 A Study of the Impacts and Issues January 2015 Funded by 1 Introduction This study on bus and coach tourism has been commissioned by the Burren & Cliffs of Moher Geopark and has been funded jointly under TransTourism, the Northern Periphery Interreg IVB Programme and the EU LIFE + GeoparkLIFE Programme. The Burren is one of Europe’s most unique landscapes whose landscape and culture attracts increasing visitor numbers each year. The astonishing character of this karst region has evolved through a powerful combination of geology, ecology, archaeology, agriculture, history, heritage, commerce, creativity and community. These rich and diverse influences infuse the area with a haunting, spectacular and world-unique beauty. Tourism is a valuable source of income for many businesses and families in the region. The quality of the tourism product and the care with which it is offered are crucial attractions for visitors. It’s clear to all that tourism brings challenges as well as opportunities and that the unique natural assets of the region need to be protected and cared for. To ensure the protection and sustainable use of this natural resource, a co-ordinated approach to visitor management and environmental protection has been underway for over a decade implementing the principle of ecotourism in the area and linking environmental, community and tourism interests with statutory agencies and business operators. These efforts have been accelerate since the award of UNESCO recognised Global Geopark status in 2011. In order to plan more effectively for sustainable tourism practices in the area, the Burren & Cliffs of Moher Geopark have commissioned this study to establish baseline information on the extent and impacts of coach tourism in the area.
    [Show full text]
  • The Burren Region”
    Strasbourg, 21 December 2011 [de06e_12.doc] T-PVS/DE (2012) 6 CONVENTION ON THE CONSERVATION OF EUROPEAN WILDLIFE AND NATURAL HABITATS GROUP OF SPECIALISTS -EUROPEAN DIPLOMA OF PROTECTED AREAS 9-10 FEBRUARY 2012, STRASBOURG ROOM 14, PALAIS DE L’EUROPE ---ooOoo--- APPLICATION PRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS, HERITAGE AND THE GAELTACHT, IRELAND “THE BURREN REGION” Document prepared by the Directorate of Culture and Cultural and Natural Heritage This document will not be distributed at the meeting. Please bring this copy. Ce document ne sera plus distribué en réunion. Prière de vous munir de cet exemplaire Information form for new application for the European Diploma of Protected Areas Logo Council of Europe European Diploma European Diploma Information form for Candidate Sites This form is also available on diskette Site code (to be given by the Council of Europe) 1. Site identification 1.1. Site name The Burren Region 1.2. Country Ireland 1.3. Date of application 2 0 1 1 1 2 0 9 1.4. Site information 2 0 1 1 1 1 3 0 compilation date Y Y Y Y M M D D 1.5. Addresses: administrative authorities National authority Regional authority Local authority Name: Andy Bleasdale Name: Enda Mooney Name: Seamus Hassett Address: NPWS, Address: NPWS, Address: NPWS, Department of Arts, Heritage Department of Arts, Heritage Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the Gaeltacht and the Gaeltacht No 7, Ely Place, Floor 3, NEPS Building, Francis St. Dublin 2 Plaza Office, Headford Rd. Ennis, Co. Clare Tel. + 353 – 1888-3217 Galway city Tel.
    [Show full text]
  • Inside Single Pages Fnl 02/06/2011 10:19 Page 1
    A&A Guide cvr 02/06/2011 10:21 Page 2 CLARE LIMERICK NORTH TIPPERARY SOUTH OFFALY Activities & Adventure Guide for Ireland’s Shannon Region A&A Guide cvr 02/06/2011 10:21 Page 3 Inside_single pages fnl 02/06/2011 10:19 Page 1 Contents: Shannon Region Map 2 Introduction 5 Activities: Adventure & Watersports 6 Angling 20 Cycling 30 Equestrian 36 Golf 43 Walking 54 Gardens 62 Special Interest 68 For great activity and adventure breaks visit www.ShortBreaksIreland.ie Shannon Region Tourist Information Offices: • Limerick City Centre Arthur’s Quay t: +353 61 317522 e: [email protected] • Ennis, Co. Clare Arthur’s Row (off O’Connell Street) – in the Clare Museum t: +353 65 6828366 e: [email protected] • Shannon Airport, Co. Clare Arrivals Hall, t: +353 61 471664 e: [email protected] • Adare, Co. Limerick Heritage Centre, Main Street, t: +353 61 396255 e: [email protected] pg: 01 Inside_single pages fnl 02/06/2011 10:19 Page 2 Ireland’s Shannon Region Map & Road Guide The Shannon Region: • Clare • Limerick • North Tipperary • South Offaly See below for a more detailed map of the Shannon Region. pg:02 Inside_single pages fnl 02/06/2011 10:19 Page 3 pg:03 Inside_single pages fnl 02/06/2011 10:19 Page 4 pg:04 Inside_single pages fnl 02/06/2011 10:19 Page 5 Adventure and Activity Holidays in Ireland’s Shannon Region The Shannon Region lies at the heart of the beautiful West of Ireland. This region of many contrasts offers a particularly diverse and exceptional tourism experience, ranging from wild scenic landscapes, unspoilt countryside, a wealth of historic/cultural attractions, to seaside resorts with beautiful sandy beaches, a rugged Atlantic coastline, a floral kingdom, the majestic River Shannon – one of Europe’s great waterways, bustling rural towns and villages, and a variety of culinary experiences.
    [Show full text]