Ness Wood ASSI

The majority of the woodland on this site is semi-natural, although some felling of native trees and replanting with non-native species has occurred in the past. The semi-natural wood exhibits a markedly calcifugous character, with a wide diversity in structure and plant communities present.

The site is notable for its rich bryophyte and epiphytic lichen community, and is the only known Northern Ireland location for the moss Fissidens celticus.

The woodland covers both flanks and floor of the deep Burntollet Glen, along a length of nearly 1km. In addition to woodland, the site contains a range of physical features including a high waterfall The Ness, a deep gorge, cliffs, rock faces and scattered boulder scree, all of which contribute to the overall diversity of the site. The canopy on the free-draining slopes is dominated by sessile oak but this is occasionally replaced by planted beech. The understorey is mostly formed by hazel with holly, downy birch and rowan the common associates. 

The calcifugous ground flora is characterised by a mixture of locally dominant greater wood-rush, bilberry and bryophytes.

Localised base enrichment results in the presence of a more calcicolous woodland (requiring soil rich in calcium carbonate for optimum growth) on flushed slopes, characterised by the predominance of ash in the canopy and lesser celandine, bluebell and wood anemone in the ground flora. 
This calcicolous woodland, along with pockets of wet woodland occurring on the waterlogged valley floor, increases the overall diversity of the wood.
The following mammals are known to occur within the woodland; red squirrel, hare, otter, badger and Pygmy shrew.