Pettigoe Plateau SPA

The Pettigoe Plateau is situated in Fermanagh in the west of Northern Ireland to the north of Lower Lough Erne. It abuts the international border with the Irish Republic. It is one of the largest expanses of blanket bog in Northern Ireland.

It has been formed on a relatively low elevation rolling landscape interspersed with hills with mineral soil and depressions containing several small lakes. The extensive blanket bog, which covers most of the site, exhibits the full range of characteristic vegetation and structural features associated with this type of habitat.

The site qualifies under Article 4.1 of EC Directive 79/409 on the Conservation of Wild Birds by regularly supporting nationally important numbers of breeding golden plover. It also forms part of an extended cross-border site which occasionally supports nationally important numbers of wintering Greenland white-fronted goose, an Annex 1 species. The Special Protection Area is used for both feeding and roosting.

The Pettigoe Plateau also supports an important assemblage of breeding birds including four Annex 1 species, hen harrier, merlin, dunlin, and common tern. Other breeding species include lapwing, curlew and snipe.