Rathsherry ASSI

This area is of special scientific interest because of its species rich grassland. Species rich grassland tends to occur only where land management is not intensive, in particular where traditional farming practices have been maintained. As a result, it is not a widespread habitat in Northern Ireland and is often fragmented, consisting of individual fields or parts of fields or banks. Species rich grasslands, like those found at Rathsherry, are a particularly scarce resource in Northern Ireland.

The variation in hydrology and related topography, and past and present management has resulted in a considerable range of species present in a relatively small area.