Lough Beg ASSI

Lough Beg and its associated aquatic vegetation form part of the internationally important Lough Neagh Ramsar site for wintering wildfowl.

Breeding populations of snipe, redshank and curlew are among the highest in Northern Ireland. Associated wet grasslands, including lake inundation and rush pasture types contains rare vascular plant assemblage including the Biodiversity Action Plan Species Irish ladies tresses.

Swamp vegetation forms an extensive band in shallow water along the east shore, with stands of horse tail and spike rush.

The western shore consists of some of the most extensive areas of unimproved meadows in Northern Ireland. The sward is rich with herbs and sedges. A large number of rare or local vascular plants occur including Northern small reed, water wort, pennyroyal, Irish Ladies tresses orchid, Awlwort and slender-leaved pondweed.

The internationally important populations of wintering wildfowl is comprised chiefly of pochard, teal, shoveler and whooper swan. It is also a passage site for significant numbers of waders- black-tailed godwit and Ruff, plus the occasional rarity that this site seem to present annually.