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Special Areas of Conservation

Slieve Gullion

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country Northern Ireland
Unitary Authority Northern Ireland
Centroid* J023210
Latitude 54.1278
Longitude -6.435
SAC EU Code UK0030277
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 612.7
* 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 Slieve Gullion SAC

General site character

  • Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (1%)
  • Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (9%)
  • Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (85%)
  • Humid grassland, Mesophile grassland (5%)

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

  • 4030 European dry heaths

    Slieve Gullion is one of the largest expanses of European dry heath in Northern Ireland. The site contains a number of dry heath communities, reflecting the wide range of environmental conditions. The most extensive community is dominated by heather Calluna vulgaris and has affinities to both H10 Calluna vulgaris – Erica cinerea heath and H12 Calluna vulgaris – Vaccinium myrtillus heath. On the lower slopes, there is a natural transition from upland communities to a mosaic of lowland grassland and heath, in which Calluna is associated with western gorse Ulex gallii and bell heather Erica cinerea. This community is equivalent to H8 Calluna vulgaris – Ulex gallii heath. A number of plants that are scarce in Northern Ireland have been recorded. These include cowberry Vaccinium vitis-idaea on the upper slopes, and U. gallii, which is associated with the lowland heath.

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.