This project area is situated in the Ox Mountains, some 10 kilometres northwest
of Tubercurry, Co. Sligo. The site lies within the Ox Mountains Special Area
of Conservation and occupies an area of 23.6 hectares.
The project site comprises a range of habitats including mature conifer
plantation, young conifer plantation, blanket bog and wet heath. The
unplanted area of this site is dominated by wet heath vegetation on thin,
sloping peat. The main plant species in this vegetation is purple moor-grass
(Molinia caerulea) with ling (Calluna vulgaris) prominent
around the numerous areas of outcropping rock.
In general this wet heath
vegetation is subject to a degree of flushing by flowing water on these
slopes and, as a result, species such as Sphagnum auriculatum,
S. recurvum, soft rush (Juncus effusus) and marsh violet
(Viola palustris) occur frequently. On the summit of the hill,
deeper, less flushed blanket peat is present and species such as ling
(Calluna vulgaris), deer grass (Trichophorum cespitosum)
and bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) are generally dominant. Whilst
the removal of trees from the project site will not have a direct impact
on the core areas of interest within the SAC, it is nonetheless important
in that it will provide information regarding the rehabilitation of blanket
bog and wet heath habitats in the Ox Mountains.
The main restoration measures at this site involves the felling of tall
conifers and the blocking of drains.