Black Burn

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 55.0220, -5.9900

Open in the interactive map →

Also within

Antrim County Antrim Coast and Glens Scenic Area

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Coastal

Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Cave / Cavern, Karst · Geological Period: Cretaceous · Rock Type: Basalt, Limestone

Landscape processes: Coastal, Fluvial, Karst, Volcanic / Igneous

Description

Black Burn Cave Black Burn Cave is the only known extensive, active cave system developed in the Cretaceous age Ulster White Limestones in Northern Ireland. It is probably the most extensive karst drainage system that includes open passage developed within Cretaceous limestone in the British Isles. This active river cave system was discovered in 1984 and, to date, nearly 400m of passage has been explored. A number of entrances have been identified. The cave system is associated with the Black Burn which drains offthe east facing scarp of the Garron plateau. In normal conditions the stream sinks at the base of a 25m high waterfall, the contact between the Antrim Basalts and limestone. The entrance to Black Burn cave lies to the east of the waterfall and is active only in high water conditions. During floods the cave system is too immature to allow all the water to sink at this site and Black Burn carries a stream to the coast. The passage is controlled by the major joint sets within the limestone and alternates between sections of vadose partly water filled and sections of perched phreatic totally flooded passage. In addition to the entrance series, there are a number of avens which lie on the controlling joints and a series of shafts. The significant floor notch development is a result of increased solution of the limestone above the less soluble basalt cobble covered flooring, a feature termed guarding. https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/black-burn-assi

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