Veon Forestry awarded Silvermine Mountains SAC stock proof fencing contract by the National Parks and Wildlife Service NPWS.
Following a competitive tendering process for the Silvermine Mountains SAC stock proof fencing contract by the Department for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Veon is nearing completion of the 4,000 meters stock fence on land in the Silvermine mountains which the NPWS intends to have grazed with upland cattle to determine the positive effects on natural native plant growth.
Silvermine Moutains SAC has been designated for Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix and Species-rich Nardus grasslands, on siliceous substrates in mountain areas. Additionally the small white orchid occurs on site. This species is protected under the Flora (Protection) Order, 2015 and is classed as Vulnerable in the Red Data List of Vascular Plants 2016. The above types of Irish semi-natural grasslands are listed for protection in the EU Habitats Directive as these are now among the most threatened habitat types in Ireland due to changes in agriculture over the past 50 years.
Semi-natural grasslands can be lost to abandonment, agricultural improvement or afforestation. To prevent their loss and protect these habitats and their diversity, they must be managed. This means being grazed or cut at least occasionally, or they quickly create a dense thick sward with a heavy litter layer of dead grasses.
In order to facilitate management of the site through grazing, the site required Veon to install new fencing as previous installed fencing had fallen into disrepair.
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