nature reserves armagh

Learn about the history and wildlife of the Lough in relaxed comfort through a series of exciting audio-visual shows, interactive games and exhibition. Then experience the wonders of Oxford Island for yourself: natural history, wildlife, family walks and much, much more - all in a spectacular setting on the water's edge.

View the area's varied birdlife from one of several hides or stroll the winding shoreline on a peaceful guided walk. Pause for a picnic, perhaps, or get a diffe...

Originally a raised bog, over 300 years of turf cutting have left Brackagh a maze of pools, drainage channels and peat ramparts. Most of the reddish acid bog peat was removed, exposing older, black, base-rich fen peat underneath.

The variety in soils has resulted in an extremely varied flora. Dense alder and willow carr woodlands open on to luxuriant species-rich fens and shallow pools while in a few areas acidic bog mosses survive, bedecked with insect-eating sundew plants. In summ...

Oxford Island is a peninsula on the south-east shore of Lough Neagh. The nature reserve supports a wide range of habitats including wet meadows, reedbeds, woodlands and shoreline scrub, all of which are typical of the lake shore. Sheltered bays provide a refuge for large numbers of wintering wildflow, especially diving ducks that can be easily seen from birdwatching hides overlooking the lough. Whopper and bewick's swans can usually be found grazing on neighbouring fields.

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Annagarriff Wood lies at the heart of this reserve, having survived as a hunting preserve for over 200 years. Although felled on occasion, it has never been farmed and most native tree species are present. Oak and birch predominate but rarities such as yew, aspen and alder buckthorn may be seen.

Jays frequenting the canopy often scold resident sparrowhawk and long-eared owls, while on the forest floor flowers compete for the spring light and badgers find digging easy in the gravel...