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Special Areas of Conservation

Main Valley Bogs

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country Northern Ireland
Unitary Authority Northern Ireland
Centroid* D034195
Latitude 55.0122
Longitude -6.3833
SAC EU Code UK0030199
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 186.35
* This is the approximate central point of the SAC. In the case of large, linear or composite sites, this may not represent the location where a feature occurs within the SAC.
Location of Main Valley Bogs SAC

General site character

  • Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (97%)
  • Dry grassland, Steppes (2%)
  • Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (1%)

Download the Standard Data Form for this site (PDF <100kb)

Note When undertaking an appropriate assessment of impacts at a site, all features of European importance (both primary and non-primary) need to be considered.

Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • 7110 Active raised bogs  * Priority feature

    The Main Valley Bogs include three active raised bogs that occur as part of a complex along the valley of the River Main in the north-east of Northern Ireland. Although pool development on each of the component bogs is limited, they all display the classic dome formation with hummocks and hollows. The hummock-forming bog-mosses Sphagnum fuscum and S. imbricatum occur on each of the bogs and the nationally rare S. pulchrum is abundant in places. One of the most important features of the central bog is the unbroken bog-to-lagg transition, which is the most extensive and least-disturbed in Northern Ireland.

Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site

  • Not Applicable

Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • Not Applicable

Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection

  • Not Applicable

Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of a site in these pages does not imply any right of public access.