Brockagh Quarry ASSI

Brockagh Quarry has been declared an ASSI because it supports an important population of the Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly. This damselfly is only found in a few locations in Northern Ireland and populations have declined by 25% in Ireland over the last decade.

At Brockagh Quarry, the shallow pools and the flooded vehicle tracks on the quarry floor provide the specialist habitat conditions that this species requires. Other dragonflies and damselflies associated with the site include Blue-tailed Damselfly and Black Darter. A variety of other invertebrates are associated with the quarry including the Black Backswimmer, an aquatic bug which has a limited distribution in Northern Ireland.

The small, shallow pools on the floor of the basalt quarry support a variety of wetland vegetation communities. These vary from swamp dominated by Water Horsetail, to short, base-rich fen which is characterised by an extensive carpet of mosses under a sparse cover of herbs and sedges including Carnation Sedge, Common Butterwort and Marsh Arrowgrass.

Further diversity is provided through areas of species-rich wet grassland surrounding the quarry. This is dominated by Sharp-flowered Rush with species such as Purple Moor-grass, Carnation Sedge, Meadow Thistle, Heather and Cross-leaved Heath over a carpet of mosses. Of particular note is the presence of the scarce plant Yellow Bartsia.