Slievenacloy Nature Reserve
An extensive area of upland grassland, heath and bogland bordering the cities of Belfast and Lisburn.
This iconic landscape had previously been inaccessible to the public and had been misused and inappropriately developed.
The Ulster Wildlife is a partner in a landscape-scale project led by the Belfast Hills Partnership which is working with a range of stakeholders to enhance the biodiversity of this area by linking up protected sites and allowing greater public access.
Virtual tour by Mike McFarlane
What's happening?
The Wildlife Trusts acquired Slievenacloy reserve in 2000, undertook invaluable infrastructure improvements from 2002-2006 and are now seeking to extend the current reserve through management agreements and the acquisition of adjoining land.
Such improvements will bring huge benefits to the wide range of flora and fauna associated with the unimproved grassland, such as orchids, skylarks and the internationally important waxcap fungi.
It is hoped that the marsh fritillary butterfly, an internationally threatened species which disappeared from this site 10 years ago, will return.
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Started in 2000
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Scheme area: 735 hectares
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Trust reserves within the scheme: Slievenacloy
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This scheme is helping species including Irish hare, marsh fritillary, pink meadow waxcap (internationally important), greater & lesser butterfly orchid, curlew, snipe, lapwing, skylark, reed bunting
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Current threats to the landscape include fly-tipping and inappropriate grazing.
- This scheme is also reducing flood risk, storing carbon, improving access for people, encouraging green tourism and providing employment opportunities
Partners
Northern Ireland Environment Agency,local authorities, local farmers and landowners, community groups.
More information
Email info@ulsterwildlife.org | phone 028 4483 0282 | visit Belfast Hills Partnership and Ulster Wildlife
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 Adam Cormack.JPG)
