Download Nature and Wildlife in Roscommon - The Heritage Council
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Buttercup Meadow. Photo by John Earley<br />
Ox-eye daisy. Photo by John Earley<br />
Pyramidal orchid. Photo by John Earley<br />
27<br />
GrasslaNd<br />
Some types of grassl<strong>and</strong> are particularly good for wildlife<br />
<strong>and</strong> can have a wealth of species present (i.e. not just one<br />
or two types of grasses!). <strong>The</strong>se grassl<strong>and</strong>s tend to be those<br />
that are either on wet soils or <strong>in</strong> floodpla<strong>in</strong>s (wet grassl<strong>and</strong>s<br />
<strong>and</strong> callows), or are dry grassl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>in</strong> areas that are <strong>in</strong> areas<br />
that are too difficult to plough <strong>and</strong> therefore have never<br />
been re-seeded, <strong>and</strong>/or where there hasn’t been much use<br />
of fertilisers e.g. steep esker slopes, upl<strong>and</strong>s.<br />
<strong>The</strong> grassl<strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong> Killeglan along the road from<br />
Ball<strong>in</strong>asloe to <strong>Roscommon</strong> is a f<strong>in</strong>e example of dry speciesrich<br />
grassl<strong>and</strong> on limey soils <strong>and</strong> has been designated<br />
as a Special Area of Conservation due to its high nature<br />
conservation value. <strong>The</strong>se areas of species-rich grassl<strong>and</strong><br />
are relatively rare now due to the widespread <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>tensive<br />
use of fertilisers <strong>and</strong> agricultural improvement. Killeglan<br />
grassl<strong>and</strong> has an abundance of beautiful orchids that love<br />
the short grass <strong>and</strong> limey soils, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g early-purple<br />
orchid, green-w<strong>in</strong>ged orchid, blue fleabane <strong>and</strong> fairy flax.<br />
Other types of grassl<strong>and</strong>s of high biodiversity value<br />
<strong>in</strong>clude wet grassl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> callows (a type of wet grassl<strong>and</strong><br />
or meadow that occurs <strong>in</strong> floodpla<strong>in</strong>s), <strong>and</strong> meadows (areas<br />
of grassl<strong>and</strong> that are <strong>in</strong>frequently cut that now ma<strong>in</strong>ly occur<br />
along roadside verges). <strong>The</strong>se grassl<strong>and</strong>s are dom<strong>in</strong>ated by<br />
tall grasses <strong>and</strong> wildflowers, can be rich <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>vertebrates <strong>and</strong><br />
important forag<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> nest<strong>in</strong>g habitats for birds.<br />
Species Rich Grassl<strong>and</strong>. Photo by Giorria Environmental<br />
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