Glen Burn

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 54.8969, -6.0733

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Also within

Antrim County Antrim Coast and Glens Scenic Area

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Description

Glen Burn Mixed ashwoods The area is of special scientific interest because of the richness and diversity of its woodland vegetation. Glen Burn is an area of semi-natural woodland on the slopes of the Glen Burn River. Over the extent of the site, the river flows in a north-westerly direction, within a narrow, steep-sided gorge-like valley. The tree canopy is dense and very varied in its composition, ranging from areas of almost pure hazel Corylus avellana to much more mature stands of ash Fraxinus excelsior. There are several oak Quercus spp. standards. Regeneration of tree seedlings, mainly ash, is taking place. Although a comparatively small site, it is notable for the diversity of its ground flora communities. The majority of the woodland is situated on steep slopes, but flat areas also occur, and a range of communities from acid to base-rich are found. Slope and soil moisture variations account for the distribution of the dominant species, e.g. bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, on the freely-draining upper slopes gives way to ramsons Allium ursinum or wood anemone Anemone nemorosa on the more waterlogged lower slopes. The site contains the scarce plants rough equisetum Equisetum hyemale and toothwort Lathraea squamaria. https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/glen-burn-assi

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
ramson Allium ursinum LC herb liliaceae
wood anemone Anemone nemorosa LC herb ranunculaceae
rough equisetum Equisetum hyemale LC herb equisetaceae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
toothwort Lathraea squamaria LC herb orobanchaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae

Plant communities

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa

A14 — Fast flowing river and stream

Myriophyllum alterniflorum community

Isolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina

A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community

Berula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans

A18 — Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus fluitans community

Fontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea