Lough Boora Parklands

Rushes are often the first species to colonise bare peat and, as a result, is one of the commonest plants found in the Parklands. However, in some areas it is quickly succeeded by grassland species such as Purple moor-grass, Yellow oat grass, Couch grass and Heath groundsel. As in Turraun, the oldest site in the Parklands, these grasslands often develop into rich wildflower meadows, where orchids such as the Common spotted, Bee, Early purple and Fragrant, can be found.

Where the underlying limestone rock has been exposed, as at Turraun and Lough Boora Mesolithic site, species rich Calcareous grasslands have developed and Mountain everlasting, Creeping willow, Butterfly orchid, Twayblade and Centaury can be seen. Of special note is the thousands of Marsh helleborine plants which grown on the storm shoreline at Lough Boora Mesolithic site.

Woodland and wetland plant species

As at the Cloghan wetlands and Turraun, large areas of the Parklands have developed into naturally regenerating open woodlands. These are predominantly made up of Downy birch and Willow, but Aspen and recolonising Scots pine are also present. Meanwhile, Bent grass, Hard fern, Bramble and Raspberry are found among the trees.

The Parkland’s wetlands are characterised by species such as; Bog  cotton , Water mint & Water horsetail, Phragmites reeds, Bulrush, Marsh arrow-grass & Marsh bedstraw.  The natural wetlands at Finnamores are of special note as they are dominated by Fen species such as: Blunt-flowered or Fen rus, Yellow sedge, Marsh cinquefoil & Marsh speedwell.