Grassland Grassland is the predominantly feature across the Borough. The biodiversity value associated with this type of farmland is relatively poor, and in many areas, high levels of over-grazing, repeated cutting for silage and the use of agricultural chemicals has led to depleted and reduced levels of biodiversity (MEABC, 2019b). In these settings, hedgerows provide important habitats for a variety of woodland and farmland species. The Ecos Nature Park, situated on the River Braid, is a natural floodplain and a prime example of wet grassland habitat. Heathland and Blanket Bog The Antrim Hills and Garron Plateau are dominated by common grasses and clumps of soft rush, with small pockets of wildflowers species, including the ragged robin, lesser spearwort and the devil’s-bit scabious (MEABC, 2019b). The vast majority of lowland raised bogs found within MEA have been affected to some degree by peat extraction - it has been estimated that approximately only 14% of lowland raised bogs in County Antrim still have an intact surface. Many areas of blanket bog found within MEA have experienced from an increased drainage and cutting for fuel, have been reclaimed for agriculture or planted out with conifers (MEABC, 2019b). Coastal Areas The coastline of MEA consists mostly of rock platforms, boulders and cliffs that offer safe nesting sites for birds and refuge for some rare flowering plants. Several notable seabird colonies, such as razorbill, kittiwake and common guillemot, inhabit the cliff face of the eastern coastline of Islandmagee and the Gobbins is also the only mainland-nesting site for the Atlantic puffin in NI (MEABC, 2019b). The geology of the coastline from Larne to Portrush presents a range of geological features including the British Isles’ largest lava field which was formed 50-70 million years ago (MEABC, 2019b).
Population
MEABC has a population of approximately 139,000 people, representing 7.5% of the total NI population (NISRA, 2019c), and projections estimate an increase of 2.2% by 2030 to a total population of 142,114 (MEABC, 2019). The region reflects the overall NI average regarding the rural/urban population split, with approximately 60% of the population concentrated in three main towns, Ballymena, Larne and Carrickfergus and the remaining 40% of the population located in smaller towns, villages, settlements, and the open countryside (MEABC, 2020). Based on NISRA’s Population Totals in 2019, Ballymena local government district (LGD) has an approximate population of 67,230 (NISRA, 2019). Located on the shoreline of Belfast Lough, Carrickfergus (LGD) has an approximate population of 39,340 and is the most concentrated area of settlement in the (NISRA, 2019b). Positioned on the eastern coast of the Borough, Larne has a total population of 32,704 (NISRA, 2019b). MEA spans a wide geographical area and some of rural communities are particularly isolated with regard to access to services such as welfare, 10
