burren LIFE

Habitats of the Burren

Habitat Type: Neutral Grassland

Although not directly covered by the EU Habitats Directive, the flora of neutral grasslands in the Burren has similarities to that of the priority habitat 'Fennoscandian lowland species-rich dry to mesic grasslands' (6270).

Description: Neutral grasslands occur on deeper glacial soils in the Burren including drumlins. Many of these areas were meadowed in the past and can be species-rich with many orchids. Although dominated by plants associated with neutral soils the flora also contains species typical of both acid and base-rich soils. The majority of these grasslands have been agriculturally improved; consequently, unimproved and semi-improved neutral grasslands are not common in the Burren.