Offaly County Development Plan 2021–2027 (as varied) — Chapter 4: Biodiversity and Landscape

1. Page 31

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 4 Biodiversity and Landscape Page 133 Figure 4.16 Bee Pollination 4.12 Invasive Species Invasive species, both invertebrate and plants, can represent a major threat to local, regional, and national biodiversity, with their prevalence accelerated by climate change. Both Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam are becoming more prevalent in this regard. The Council has been controlling Japanese Knotweed since 2008 and Himalayan Balsam on the Camcor catchment since 2018. Terrestrial and aquatic habitats can be negatively affected, resulting in significant damage to conservation and economic interests, such as agriculture, forestry and civil infrastructure. Figure 4.17 Invasive Species Japanese Knotweed Himalayan Balsam

2. Page 32

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 4 Biodiversity and Landscape Page 134 4.13 Areas of High Amenity Areas of High Amenity (AHA) are areas worthy of special protection / enhancement due to their uniqueness and scenic / amenity value. These designations are additional to statutory national and European designations which may overlap with these AHA. It is a priority of the Council to protect and preserve the AHAs in Table 4.17 and Figure 4.18. Table 4.17 Areas of High Amenity in County Offaly Waterways and Wetlands 1. River Shannon and Callows 2. Grand Canal 3. Lough Boora Discovery Park3 4. Pallas Lake Upland Areas 5. Slieve Bloom Mountains 6. Croghan Hill4 Peatlands 7. Clara Bog 8. Raheenmore Bog Eskers 9. Eiscir Riada 10. Clara Eskers 11. Other Eskers Archaeological and Historical 12. Clonmacnoise Heritage Zone 13. Durrow Monastic Site and Demesne 3 Lough Boora Discovery Park designation also includes bog lands, agricultural lands, ecological, biodiversity, historical site. 4 Croghan Hill designation also includes archaeological and historic interest.

3. Page 33

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 4 Biodiversity and Landscape Page 135 Figure 4.18 Areas of High Amenity in County Offaly 4.13.1 Areas of High Amenity - Waterways and Wetlands Shannon River and Callows The Council recognises the immense value of the River Shannon and Callows as a key habitat. The Council encourages the protection of this landscape including the Callows and views of special interest and the development of Shannonbridge, Banagher and Shannon Harbour as focal points. The Grand Canal The Offaly section of the Grand Canal comprises of some 70 kilometres from Edenderry to Shannon Harbour. It passes through the towns of Daingean and Tullamore and the village of Pollagh. The canal traverses large tracts of boglands and is bordered by hedgerows dating back 200 years and fringes of wild vegetation along the bank. The Grand Canal is a focus for a wide range of uses, especially for recreation and tourism purposes. The visual quality of the surrounding areas is intrinsic to maintain the attractiveness of the Grand Canal corridor. Hence, the corridor is especially sensitive to large development structures, insensitively designed or sited housing and large-scale land uses such as extractive industries. The Heritage Council published Waterway Corridor Studies pertaining to Offaly in 2002 and in 2004. The Council will consider these studies in relation to funding and planning applications (See Policy BLP- 23 in this chapter).

4. Page 34

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 4 Biodiversity and Landscape Page 136 The recreational value of the Grand Canal is recognised and it is intended to preserve its attractiveness by carefully controlling development in order to protect its amenity and tourism potential. Developments, which require vehicular access from public roads that were formerly towpaths or from existing towpaths along the Grand Canal, are required to be strictly controlled (refer to Policy BHP-27 in Chapter 10). The development of the canal in relation to walking, cycling, coarse fishing and cruising will however be encouraged whilst achieving a balance with active management of the canal to keep the canal navigable. The potential for the Kilbeggan to Ballycommon link of the Grand Canal, as a cycling, walking and possibly a navigational route is acknowledged. Lough Boora Discovery Park Lough Boora Discovery Park is made up three different wetland areas, two angling lakes and the Lough Boora Mesolithic Site. There are also areas of forestry, pasture, flower-rich natural grassland and wilderness areas. The area is rich in biodiversity as evidenced by the BioBlitz survey carried out by National Biodiversity Data Centre in 2012 with 940 species recorded in 24 hours. Pallas Lake The scenic and recreational value of Pallas Lake is recognised, as is the value of the unspoilt rural setting of this area. The Council intends to carefully control development in the area in order to preserve its attractiveness. Figure 4.19 Pallas Lake

5. Page 35

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 4 Biodiversity and Landscape Page 137 4.13.2 Areas of High Amenity - Upland Areas Slieve Bloom Mountains The Slieve Bloom Mountain area is the only substantial upland area in County Offaly. Approximately one-third of the mountains, some 12,000 hectares, lies within County Offaly, the remainder is located in County Laois. The scenic value of the Slieve Bloom Mountains derives from the contrast they offer to Offaly’s otherwise flat landscape. The mountains afford the visitor a range of spectacular views, forests and riverside walks, picnic sites, historic and archaeological sites. The overall policy of the Council towards the mountains will be to co-operate with other bodies in encouraging development of the amenity and recreational potential of the area while at the same time, preserving the quality and character of the environment. The Council accepts that there is need to devise an overall strategy for the integrated development of the Slieve Bloom Mountains area and to secure an appropriate balance between competing land use, for example, farming, forestry, recreation, conservation and residential. Croghan Hill The Council recognises the scenic quality and recreational value of the Croghan Hill area. Croghan Hill, Raheenmore Bog (which is a designated Nature Reserve under the Wildlife Act 2000, as amended) and Cannakill Deserted Medieval Village are the main elements of the Area of High Amenity. The Council, through its development management function, will seek to preserve the scenic amenity and recreational potential of this area and to protect it from development that would damage or diminish its overall attractiveness and character. A comprehensive study of the Croghan Hill environment was published in 2011 by John Feehan titled ‘Croghan, County Offaly’. 4.13.3 Areas of High Amenity - Peatlands Clara Bog Clara Bog is an internationally renowned raised bog, which is a designated Nature Reserve. Moreover, the esker system adjacent to the bog is recognised to be critically important to the functioning of the bog’s soak system. The Council will, through its development management system liaise with the NPWS in order to protect and safeguard this area from development, which would damage or detract from its scientific environmental and ecological value. The Clara Bog Visitor Centre located in Clara town is an important educational and tourist attraction. Raheenmore Bog Raheenmore Bog developed in a small basin in the catchment of two major river systems i.e. the Brosna and the Boyne. It is situated about 5km from Daingean. The bog has a well-developed hummock and hollow system. Typical bog land birds that breed include Red Grouse and Snipe. Raheenmore Bog is a classic example of a midland raised bog and the deepest remaining in Ireland.

6. Page 36

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 4 Biodiversity and Landscape Page 138 Figure 4.20 Raheenmore Bog 4.13.4 Areas of High Amenity - Eskers The Eiscir Riada which traverses the north-western corner of County Offaly in a more or less continuous line from Shannonbridge to Clonmacnoise and on to Clara, Durrow and Rahugh (County Westmeath), is worthy of conservation due to its geomorphologic, scientific, historical, recreational and amenity value and uniqueness. The Council recognises the potential that the esker landscape in the north and north west of the county has to be a UNESCO Geopark, to promote the unique geological heritage of the area.

7. Page 37

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 4 Biodiversity and Landscape Page 139 Figure 4.21 Eiscir Riada at Clonmacnoise 4.13.5 Areas of High Amenity - Archaeological and Historical Landscapes Clonmacnoise Clonmacnoise is one of Ireland’s foremost national monuments and is of international importance as a spiritual, historic, archaeological and cultural center. The unique atmosphere and attractiveness of Clonmacnoise derives not only from the monastic site itself but its relationship to the River Shannon and the Callows together with the sense of enclosure provided by the eskers. The effect is heightened by the unfolding of the site as it is approached either from the river or any of the three approach roads. In order to preserve and retain the unique and special character of Clonmacnoise, the Council has designated the area surrounding Clonmacnoise, including Mongan Bog, Fin Lough and Clonmacnoise Callows, as a Heritage Zone within which a restrictive policy applies to developments (See Policy BLP- 35 in this chapter, Policy in Chapter 2 Core Strategy, Settlement Strategy and Housing Strategy, and Policy BHP-41 in Chapter 10 Built Heritage). Offaly County Council supports the preparation of a masterplan that conserves and protects the Clonmacnoise monastic site while catering for visitors and will co-operate with the OPW and other agencies in its implementation.

8. Page 38

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 4 Biodiversity and Landscape Page 140 Durrow Abbey, Monastic Site and surrounding area Durrow Abbey Demesne, situated between Tullamore and Kilbeggan contains the remains of the monastery of Durrow founded by St. Columcille in about 587. The Esker Riada and the Slí Mhór, which run approximately 600 meters north of the site, may have played an important role in the site’s location. Durrow Demesne is a fine example of an historic designed landscape in the natural style, which sought to respect and enhance natural features (Durrow Abbey Conservation Plan, Office of Public Works, 2005). The thirty-one hectares of state owned lands which are the subject of the conservation plan, constitutes only a portion of the Historic Durrow Abbey Demesne. The broader demesne landscape, which is currently in private ownership, provides the setting and context for the landscape and archaeological features situated within the state owned lands. The conservation plan states that it is vital that the future management of the surrounding privately owned demesne landscape is complimentary to the conservation objectives for the monuments. The ‘historic demesne boundary’ as marked in the Office of Public Works’ Conservation Plan represents the boundary of the Area of High Amenity. 4.14 Landscape Landscape means an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors5. The Council of Europe’s ‘European Landscape Convention’, signed and ratified by Ireland, recognises the importance of all landscapes, and not just exceptional landscapes and encourages public bodies to adopt policies and measures at national, regional and local level to promote, manage and plan landscapes. The National Landscape Strategy for Ireland (NLS) 2015-2025 recognises the importance of landscape protection and its interconnectivity with biodiversity and climate change. Both the NLS and the Eastern and Midland Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) identify the need for national and regional landscape character assessments to provide a framework for comprehensive and consistent local (county) landscape character assessments advising on the proper collection, monitoring and review of the landscapes’ physical, scientific, ecological, biodiversity and cultural assets. Once the necessary national and regional landscape character assessments and maps are in place, in addition to guidance on local landscape character assessments, the Council will carry out a comprehensive county landscape character assessment to ensure a consistent approach. 4.14.1 Landscape Sensitivity The sensitivity of a landscape is the measure of its ability to accommodate change or intervention without suffering unacceptable effects to its character and values. The sensitivity of the landscapes of County Offaly varies and is thereby classified within the following sensitivity classes: Low, Moderate and High Sensitivity. 5 Article 1a of the European Landscape Convention

9. Page 39

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 4 Biodiversity and Landscape Page 141 Figure 4.22 Landscape Classification Areas in County Offaly The capacity of each landscape character type to absorb new development will largely depend on the sensitivity of the landscape type. Developments which are likely to create a significant environmental and particularly visual impact will best be absorbed into areas where the landscape is most robust, i.e. has the capacity to absorb development without significantly changing its character. All developments should be assessed on a site by site basis to avoid, minimise or mitigate any potential environmental or visual impact. Table 4.18, 4.19 and 4.20 below lists the Landscape Sensitivity areas in the county, their sensitivity and acceptability to development. Figure 4.22 illustrates the landscape classification areas for the county in broad terms. Figure 4.23 shows the topography of the county.

10. Page 40

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    Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 4 Biodiversity and Landscape Page 142 Figure 4.23 Topography of County Offaly

Source Offaly County Council: Offaly County Development Plan 2021–2027 (as varied) — Chapter 4: Biodiversity and Landscape (2021–2027) · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.