Ulster Wildlife has purchased a rare 90ac area of Co. Fermanagh farmland to create its newest nature reserve in Northern Ireland.
Located near Derrygonnelly, Fedian Nature Reserve is an example of traditional, pre-war farmland, previously owned by the Nixon family and sympathetically managed by local grazier George Ferguson.
The farmland is brimming with wildflower meadows, bird-friendly hedgerows and ancient woodland.
Ulster Wildlife
When the land was placed on the market last winter, Ulster Wildlife moved quickly “to safeguard the haven for future generations”.
This latest acquisition now brings the total number of nature reserves the charity cares for across Northern Ireland to 19.
The farmland, which is untouched by fertiliser and slurry, has a rich mosaic of habitats and is a haven for wildlife, including threatened species.
Red squirrels, pine martens, otters, woodcocks, marsh fritillary butterflies and a wealth of wildflowers are currently found on the site, with wildlife surveys expected to reveal more species.
Fedian Nature Reserve will continue to be actively farmed, with low numbers of cattle grazed across the site to maintain the wildflower-rich grasslands awash with orchids in summer, from early purple to yellow bird’s nest, to swathes of devil’s bit scabious.
Ulster Wildlife said that grazing is also a vital to ensure the population of Europe’s most threatened butterflies – the marsh fritillary – which thrives there, along with the locally rare dingy skipper butterfly.
Although Fedian will not be open for general public access, the nature reserve will serve as a model for nature-friendly farming.
Ulster Wildlife is planning to host demonstration events, knowledge-sharing with local farmers, and annual guided walks for the community and members of the charity.
Through continued collaboration with neighbouring landowners, Ulster Wildlife aims to extend habitat connectivity and support nature’s recovery across a wider Fermanagh landscape.
Commenting on the new nature reserve, Peter McEvoy, director of land management at Ulster Wildlife, said:
“When we first stepped foot on Fedian over eight years ago through our Environmental Farming Scheme Group programme, we knew it was a special place, reminiscent of fields that time had forgotten.
“It is home to one of the few remaining remnants of species-rich grassland and centuries-old woodland in Northern Ireland – two vanishing landscape types that tell the story of what’s been lost, and what we still have time to protect.
“This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure a site of exceptional nature value, something that would take tens, if not hundreds, of years to recreate.”
McEvoy aded that “this is not just about protecting a unique wildlife haven; it’s about demonstrating what farming and nature conservation can look like side by side”.
“Our aim is for Fedian Nature Reserve to become a beacon for nature-friendly land management, and we’re delighted to have been able to secure its future for generations to come,” he said.
Dr. Paul Mullan, Northern Ireland director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said that they awarded £150,000 to help acquire the species-rich grasslands of Fedian.
“We’re committed to supporting nature recovery, and with Ulster Wildlife securing this haven for nature, it means that this vital habitat and the species found there can thrive.
“It’s a wonderful example of our natural heritage, combining precious, ancient woodland and an intact example of pre-war farmland.
“We’re so pleased that people will be able to connect with this untouched landscape, whether through its use as a nature-friendly farming demonstration site or on a guided walk,” he said.
