Guide to Vegetation Habitats in Ireland

Guide to Vegetation Habitats in Ireland
Habitat classifications The following list shows where we have established similar wildflower ecosystems from seeds and plants
We have included the measure of difficulty, that we use when we approach each site.

Extractes from, A Guide to Habitats in Ireland,
Heritage Council (Ire) Habitats Classification in Ireland.
ISBN 1 901137 27 9

Semi-Natural Grassland
GS1 Dry calcareous and neutral grassland.      Easy
GS2 Dry to Moist Meadows and grassy verges           Moderate ease
GS3 Dry-humid acid grassland                        Moderate ease
GS4 Damp to Wet grassland                    Moderate ease

Heath
HH1 Dry Siliceous heath (see also GS3)             Difficult sites,  Seed not commonly available
HH2 Dry Calcareous Heath (see also GS1)                  Difficult
HH3 Wet Heath                        Moderate
HD1 Dense Bracken                       Difficult          Requires controls

Peatland   
PB All Acid Peatlands and Bogs             Difficult
PF All Fens                        Difficult
GM1 Marsh, waterlogged occasionally flooded      Easy   Requires correct sowing time

Woodland and shady places   
WN-WD All Woodland types                    Difficult requires correct sowing time
WL1 Hedgerow                        Moderate ease
WL2 Lines of Trees                        Difficult requires species knowledge

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cultivated Land
BC1 Arable Crop Land                   Easy,  Requires annual cultivation
BC2 Horticultural Crop Land / Agroforestry    Moderate to difficult depending on site and soil
BC3 Tilled and cleared lands (Unknown Usage)   Easy,  Requires ‘stale bed’ cultivation
BC4 Flower Beds and Borders ‘Gardening’               Moderate      Depends on many varied factors
Heavily Modified Soils – Improved Grassland   
GA1 Improved Grassland (agricultural)                        Moderate,  Requires ‘stale bed’ cultivation
GA2 Amenity Grassland                        Easy,  provided staff are trained

Built Upon Lands          
BL1 Stone walls                        Easy   Requires correct sowing time
BL2 Earth Banks and Field Boundaries       Moderate   Requires management of weeds
BL3 Artificial surfaces and roof Gardens             Difficult   Requires correct sowing time

Disturbed Ground               
ED1 Exposed sand, gravel or till (unconsolidated)           Easy, but slow, may need slow release feed
ED2 Spoil and Bare Ground (<50% existing cover)            Moderate
ED3 Recolonising Bare Ground             Moderate
ED4 Active Quarries and Mines       Difficult   Requires correct sowing time