Corbylin Wood

Also within

Tyrone County Sperrin Scenic Area

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Description

Corbylin Wood oakwood The area is of special scientific interest because of its woodland flora and fauna. Corbylin Wood is an extensive semi-natural woodland. Because of the variety of environmental conditions, there are several distinctive woodland plant communities. As a result, the area is one of the richest for woodland plants in Northern Ireland. There are a number of notable plants and animals. The wood extends along a steep ridge to the north of Dunnamanagh, associated with part of the Burn Dennet river valley and its tributary, the Corbylin Burn. The composition of the woodland reflects both management and local environmental edaphic factors, particularly soil conditions. Although the bulk of the wood occurs on acidic soils, there are also places where the soils are richer, base-rich, and wetter, flushed. This edaphic variation influences the composition of the woodland, resulting in a very rich assemblage of woodland plant species. Downy birch Betula pubescens and mature oak Quercus spp. generally dominate the canopy. Other tree species such as ash Fraxinus excelsior and alder Alnus glutinosa are more localised, with the former being characteristic of soils that are base-rich, and the latter typical of wet, waterlogged ground along the base of the ridge. The shrub layer is dominated by hazel Corylus avellana. Other shrub species present include holly Ilex aquifolium, rowan Sorbus aucuparia, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and in wetter conditions, willow Salix spp. Where it is present, the field layer consists of a mixture of ferns, thickets of bramble Rubus fruticosus and locally in the most acidic conditions, the dwarf-shrub bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus. The herb layer reflects the acidic nature of the majority of the wood and is dominated by great wood rush Luzula sylvatica, with bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta locally prominent in damper conditions. On base-rich soils, there is a notable increase in species richness. Plants present include primrose Primula vulgaris, wood avens Geum urbanum, sanicle Sanicula europaea, lesser celandine Ranunculus ficaria and wood sedge Carex sylvatica, while wood anemone Anemone nemorosa, opposite-leaved golden-saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium and remote sedge Carex remota are characteristic of the wettest soils. In addition to its overall species diversity, the woodland supports a number of rare woodland plants including bird cherry Prunus padus and wood fescue Festuca altissima. Corbylin Wood also provides an important habitat for animals, including mammals and breeding birds. Mammals recorded in the wood include otter Lutra lutra, badger Meles meles and red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris. https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/corbylin-wood-assi

Species mentioned

Plant communities