Feystown ASSI

Feystown ASSI is a small area of semi-natural grassland managed in a traditional way. It is important not only for its species-rich grassland, but also because of the presence of wood cranesbill. Wood cranesbill, classified as a rare and threatened species in the UK, is particularly rare in Northern Ireland where it is protected under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife Order and will be the focus of Biodiversity Action as it is a Northern Ireland priority species for conservation. Wood cranesbill is confined to County Antrim, where historically it existed along the coast from Killyglen (near Larne) to Glenarm. Feystown is the most significant remaining population of this species and is located approximately 5km southeast of Glenarm along the Feystown Road.

wood crane's - bill is a downy perennial with attractive purple flowers. The plant occurs in various habitats such as scrub, meadows, damp woodland and mountain rock ledges. At Feystown it occurs in a semi-natural grassland habitat characterised by a variety of grasses such as rough meadow-grass, Yorkshire-fog and red fescue.

Herbs are also abundant in this grassland and along with wood cranesbill include species typical of traditionally managed meadows such as meadowsweet, meadow buttercup, common sorrel, common knapweed and meadow vetchling.

Less frequent species include yellow rattle and bulbous buttercup.