Flora and Fauna
The River Shannon (Sionainn or Sionna in Irish) is, at 386 km, Ireland's longest river. The Shannon provides many different habitats for a wide variety of species of flora including some rare and very interesting plants. Some, which can be found in this area, include various types of algae, reeds and grasses. The Shannon offers a good cross-section of the fauna of Ireland. There are brown hares, foxes, mink and frogs etc. There are butterflies, dragonflies, beetles and in the Shannon; mussels, snails and leeches. Many different varieties of birds live on the Shannon such as swans (Berwicks, Mute and Whooper), moorhens, swallows, terns, ducks and the midlands are especially noted for corncrakes.
Peatlands which are prevalent in the area, are regarded by many scientists as important. Climatologists, archaeologists and biologists value the peat archives in the bogs for research purposes.
The Callows is a stretch of the River Shannon at Shannonbridge that has a very shallow gradient which results in seasonal flooding when heavy rain occurs. The outcome of this has resulted in the formation of the Callows (wet grassland areas) which are rich in flora and fauna and internationally recognised as a nature conservation area, designated as an (NHA) Natural Heritage Area, (SAC) Special Area of Conservation and (SPA) Special Protection Area. The Callows consist of grasses and sedges, meadowsweet, ragged robin and a number of other vegetations which, when dried out in the summer months is utilised for agricultural activity (hay cutting, grazing).
The Corn Crake which is rare and is protected nationally, is located in the Callows area. Duck, gulls, swan, and breeding waders including the Northern Lapwing, Common Redshank, Eurasian Curlew and Common Sandpiper are also sighted within the area.
Read more about this topic: Shannonbridge
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