AN enthusiastic group of people recently enjoyed walking the wildflower meadows of Shane's Castle Estate, discovering on the way the beautiful Common Twayblade and Common Spotted Orchid.
The group was accompanied by Lord O'Neill and David McNeill of the Botanical Survey of the British Isles (BSBI) who identified and pointed out some of the more unusual plants around the estate.
Ruth Wilson, Biodiversity Officer with Antrim Boroug
h Council, explained the importance of these natural wildflower areas, known as lowland meadows.
She said: “With careful grassland management in Shane's Castle Estate by the O'Neill family, some beautiful areas of species-rich grassland have developed. At one site on the Lough Neagh shoreline, we saw Common Twayblade, a stunning orchid, with flowers that are green or brownish-green with very obvious forked lower lip hanging down from the flower. It grows mostly on grassland and open wood. At another site, we discovered Common Spotted Orchid. These are often found growing in large groups.
“Orchids are elegant and beautiful flowering plants. The petals form amazing shapes and colours. The survival of most orchids depends upon a close relationship with underground fungi. This important relationship is known as a mycorrhizal association.”
Unimproved grasslands and meadows tend to be rich in wildflowers, attracting many different insects. Many of our unimproved grasslands have been lost because of agriculture improvement and urban development.
Lowland Meadow has been identified as an important habitat in the Borough of Antrim.
A Lowland Meadow Habitat Action Plan (HAP) has been written as part of the Antrim Borough Biodiversity Action Plan (ABBA) Plan.
If you would like further information on the ABBA Plan, please contact Ruth Wilson 9446 3113 ext 1371 or email ruth.wilson@antrim.gov.uk
The full article contains 295 words and appears in Antrim Times newspaper.
