Glen East ASSI

Glen East has been declared as an ASSI because of its species-rich wet grassland. Species-rich grassland tends to occur only where traditional farming practices have been maintained. Such species-rich grassland is now a rare habitat in Northern Ireland.

Glen East is situated to the west of the West Fermanagh Scarplands within a landscape of rolling hills near the village of Garrison. The site is on the edge of the uplands with an altitude of approximately 150m above sea level and includes the southern slopes of Derrynacarbit hill, sloping quite steeply in places.

The diverse topography and soil hydrology at Glen East have enabled a range of species-rich wet grasslands to develop. These include species-rich rush pasture, fen meadow, wet heath and where drier conditions exist, wet lowland meadow.

Species such as meadow thistle and sharp-flowered rush are constant in the fen meadows. Other distinctive species associated with fen meadow vegetation at Glen East include purple moor-grass, tormentil, Devil’s-bit scabious, heather, lesser spearwort, selfheal, carnation sedge, tawny sedge and Glaucous sedge.