Grassland
Grassland Habitats
Grassland in Northern Ireland is habitat dominated by grasses, and often sedges and rushes. There are several different types of grasslands, classified according to features such as soil pH and altitude. They are mainly reliant on some form of management, either grazing, cutting (e.g. for hay) or a combination of these.
Some grasslands are particularly species-rich, harbouring a range of wildflowers, and considered Northern Ireland Priority habitats. They are often called “semi-improved” grasslands. “Improved grassland” which is associated with the use of fertilisers, is often species-poor, and dominated by a small number of competitive species, mainly grasses.
Of particular note in the Belfast Hills is Purple Moor Grass and Rush Pasture, which is a type of grassland on poorly-drained ground and has a range of wildflowers which like wet conditions, including orchids. It is habitat for many other species, including pollinators such as butterflies and bees, ground-nesting birds such as Snipe, and Irish Hares. Slievenacloy Nature Reserve (Ulster Wildlife) is a good example of a site with purple moor grass and rush pasture.
Threats to semi-improved grasslands include agricultural improvement eg over- or under-management; drainage; encroachment by scrub; pollution, and the impact of climate change.