Ballykilbeg ASSI

Ballykilbeg is a large wetland site with a complex mosaic of habitats ranging from swamp, fen and wet grassland, to woodland and scrub.

The swamp vegetation is dominated by common reed. In contrast, the plant communities of the fen are particularly variable with bottle sedge, bogbean and marsh cinquefoil interspersed by areas of rich fen with lesser tussock-sedge and brown sedge. Wet grassland, scrub and woodland are scattered over the area adding to the overall diversity of the site.

The fen contains a number of scarce plants including greater tussock-sedge, blunt-flowered rush and a number of notable bryophytes. Ballykilbeg also provides valuable habitat for a number of wetland birds and invertebrates including a well-established colony of the marsh fritillary butterfly.