At Allen and Mellon we are fortunate to have a base in County Fermanagh which provides us with space and accommodation in the heart of Ireland's north-west. This gets us closer to our projects in this part of the world. In fact the Teiges Mountain Wind Farm site where we are engaged as Ecological Clerk of Works and undertaking ecological monitoring, is just five minutes away.
Eshywulligan (Mulligan's marshland) is located in the low hills between Fivemiletown and Rosslea - a heavily forested landscape which is nevertheless rich in biodiversity. The building is a vernacular tin-roofed stone cottage which has been present in some form since the 1840s according to the OSNI 1st Edition maps. Thankfully the interior has now been renovated and provides us with all the necessary comforts!
There are ten acres of land supporting a range of habitats including semi-improved grassland, rush pasture, wet heath, woodland, scrub and fen. Grasshopper warbler, reed bunting and spotted flycatcher all nest here and the call of both cuckoo and curlew can still be heard in early spring.
The property is entirely within the Slieve Beagh - Mullaghfad - Lisnaskea SPA and hen harriers can be seen on foraging flights during the spring. A small stream which is a tributary of the Cooneen River flows along the northern boundary and here otters and white-clawed crayfish can be found. Marsh fritillary and wood white butterflies are also present and an impressive moth list is developing. We are sure that many other discoveries are yet to be made. Contact us at info@allenmellon.com
Meadowsweet in June