Greenan Lough ASSI

Protected area type: Areas of Special Scientific Interest
Feature type: 
  • Habitat
County: 
  • Down
Council: Newry, Mourne and Down
Guidance and literature: Greenan Lough ASSI

Greenan Lough includes open water, reedbeds and a range of associated vegetation types, including notable fen communities and species. Adjoining areas of grassland and scrub woodland provide additional habitat diversity. 

The open waters of the lough contain a variety of aquatic plant species. Typical shoreline species include shoreweed and water Lobelia. The swamp vegetation is dominated by bottle sedge with associated herbs and grasses. In addition, localised stands of common club-rush and common reed have developed along the shore.

In places, the swamp merges into a sparse carr woodland of alder and grey willow. Notable fen species include many-stalked spike-rush, blunt-flowered rush, floating club-rush, fen bedstraw and marsh St Johns-wort.

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