County Armagh - Environment

1. Tourist Attractions

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Armagh Planetarium

The Armagh Planetarium was the world's first to introduce an interactive control system. Each seat in the "Theatre of Stars" is equipped with a control unit directly connected to a powerful computer. During "a Star Show" the audience decides what happens next by using this control unit to talk to the computer. The computer controls nearly one hundred special effects, slides and video projectors which can take you anywhere from the surface of Mars to the inside of a black hole. Each show uses the very latest pictures supplied by NASA and astromomers from around the world, and are produced here in Armagh-you will not see their like elsewhere.

After the hour long voyage to the stars is over, the visitors can walk through the "Hall of Astronomy" where interactive multi media displays will tell more about the cosmos. The exhibitions are all hands on and are designed in such a way that visitors can experience the thrill of discovery when using them.

The Planetarium also has a space shop, where the visitors can choose a selection of gifts ranging from astronaut ice cream to cosmic umbrellas.

1944 sees launch of two new projects the Astropark and the Eartharium. The Astropark is a development of some 25 acres of land around both the observatory and the plantarium. Some of the planned features are the solar system trail, planet gardens where aspects of each planet are reflected in the layout, a stone calendar, an outdoor auditorium and many outdoor exhibits reflecting our position in the universe.

The Eartharium is an earth science centre where visitors can work their way up from the bowels of the earth through volcanic vents to the surface, measure earthquake activity, examine man's impact on the environment, study the atmosphere, see ozone depletion and much more.

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2. Lakes

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The Lough Neagh Discovery Centre

Throughout the year, the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre offers a varied menu of activities to whet the appetite of those who simply enjoy a pleasant day next to nature.

And with its innovative range of audio-visual shows, computer displays and interactive games, the Centre certainly adds a new dimension to the natural experience.

Facilities for you to enjoy include:
Gift & Craft Shop
Loughside Cafe
Ecolab
Birdwatching Hides
Picnic & Play Areas
Exhibition
Guided Walks
Lectures
Special Events.

We also provide excellent services for schools and other organised groups, including talks, tours and demonstrations.

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3. Nature Reserves

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Lough Neagh Discovery Centre

Learn about the history and wildlife of the Lough in relaxed comfort through a series of exciting audio-visual shows, interactive games and exhibition. Then experience the wonders of Oxford Island for yourself: natural history, wildlife, family walks and much, much more - all in a spectacular setting on the water's edge.

View the area's varied birdlife from one of several hides or stroll the winding shoreline on a peaceful guided walk. Pause for a picnic, perhaps, or get a different view of Lough Neagh's vast waters on one of our boat trips. And to round off a perfect family outing, savour the range of home-cooked fare on offer in the Loughside Café.

Whatever you choose, the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre promises you a world of wonders - naturally.

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4. Bogs

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Brackagh Moss Nature Reserve

Originally a raised bog, over 300 years of turf cutting have left Brackagh a maze of pools, drainage channels and peat ramparts. Most of the reddish acid bog peat was removed, exposing older, black, base-rich fen peat underneath.
The variety in soils has resulted in an extremely varied flora. Dense alder and willow carr woodlands open on to luxuriant species-rich fens and shallow pools while in a few areas acidic bog mosses survive, bedecked with insect-eating sundew plants.
In summer, pond edges and glades teem with the frenetic buzz of a myriad of insects. The rare marsh fritillary and delicate green hairstreak butterflies vie with 17 other species for a place in the sun. The range of dragonfly species, which includes the rare Irish damselfly, is one of the best in Northern Ireland.
Surprisingly, pike survive in many of the small pools where hunting mink or even an occasional otter may be spotted.
Winter rains regularly inundate large tracts of the site for weeks on end. The flocks of duck that often accompany the floods are ever watchful for wandering birds of prey.

Facilities;
There are two lay-byes along the Brackagh Moss road with an information panel and a path system north of the road. Due to hazardous conditions, permission to visit the reserve south of the road must be obtained from the Warden.

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5. Open Farms

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Tannaghmore Animal Farm

An animal farm with many of the rare breeds of livestock and poultry found on farms in Ireland 100 years ago. Visitors are able to see animals in close proximity.

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6. Islands

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Oxford Island Nature Reserve

Oxford Island is a peninsula on the south-east shore of Lough Neagh. The nature reserve supports a wide range of habitats including wet meadows, reedbeds, woodlands and shoreline scrub, all of which are typical of the lake shore. Sheltered bays provide a refuge for large numbers of wintering wildflow, especially diving ducks that can be easily seen from birdwatching hides overlooking the lough. Whopper and bewick's swans can usually be found grazing on neighbouring fields.
Displaying great-crested grebes, duckling broods and many other wetland birds can be easily seen in the spring and summer while the natural grassland of Kinnegoe meadows are alive with the colour of flowers and butterflies. Five miles of footpath pass through these grasslands and also take you to woodlands, ponds and the lough shore.
The Lough Neagh Discovery Centre tells the story of the lough's history and wildlife through audio-visual presentations, computers and interactive games. These have been designed to challenge and inform visitors on aspects of the lough's ecology and management in an entertaining way.

Facilities:
Interpretive Centre, Loughside café, craft centre and shop, footpaths and birdwatching hides. Guided events throughout the year, environmental education activities and interpretive leaflets.

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7. Harbours

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Kinnego Marina

Kinnego Bay is the beautiful setting for the largest marina on Lough Neagh. Skippered boat trips and expert instruction in sailing and powerboating are offered by fully qualified staff. Accommodation on-site includes a 30-bed hostel and a camping and caravan park.

Kinnego Marina situated off M1 junction 10, with berths and moorings for 101 boats. The Master McGra passenger Cruiser operates tours on the Lough to Coney Island, Maghery and The Lough Neagh Discovery Centre. Camping and caravan facilities are also available as well as the nearby Waterside House, a converted farmhouse which provides hostel accommodation for 34 people. Caters for residential groups and activity holidays all year.

A wide variety of leisure activities are possible in the area, with three leisure centres, Cascades in Portadown, Waves in Lurgan and Craigavon Leisure Centre in the Central area. All centres operate children's activity programmes during the holiday periods. Public tennis courts are available in Lurgan, Brownstown and Portadown Parks.

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8. Parks

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Ballymoyer Forest

Coniferous wood on National Trust land. Pleasant meandering woodland trail.

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9. Canals

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The Newry Canal

Whether it be the important archaeological sites around Scarva, the extensive Linen history of Gilford and Tandragee, the famous and infamous characters who passed this way, the Monastic and commercial importance of Newry, or simply the superb enginerring displayed by the Canal itself, there will be something to amaze and enthral every visitor to the area.

In Spite of the fact that it is a man-made waterway, the Newry Canal is today a haven for an abundance of plants and animals. Its slow moving water forms an important habitat especially since many bodies of freshwater such as ponds and marshes are fast disappearing from our countryside.

Special Observation points along the Canal ...

* Victoria Lock-Albert Basin:
Cormorants and Great Crested Grebes

* Albert Basin-Carnbane:
Tame Mallard

* Acton Lake:
Great Crested Grebe and Little Grebe and in Winter, Gadwall, Pintail, Shoveler, Wigeon, Pochard and Tufted Duck.

Acton Lake is designated as a site of special scientific interest; a small flock of Whooper Swans roosts here and the area has a good reputation for rare winter migrants, notably the Goosander.

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10. Woods and Forests

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Ballymoyer Forest

Coniferous wood on National Trust land. Pleasant meandering woodland trail.

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11. Walks

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Ballymoyer Forest

Coniferous wood on National Trust land. Pleasant meandering woodland trail.

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12. Gardens

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Tourism Gardens

Walk around the grounds of the Church of Ireland Cathedral and the Roman Catholic Cathedral and witness a series of gardens each designed to reflect an aspect of Armagh, with a linking path designed to connect the gardens and to tell its own story. The various gardens takes the themes of Ancient Armagh, the Monastic City, the Ecclesiastical City and the future.

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13. Bird Watching

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Birdwatching - Lough Neagh

Lough Neagh is the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles. With Lough Beg and associated wetlands, it is a designated Ramsar Site - a wetland of international conservation importance. Its western shore, between the Ballinderry and Blackwater rivers, is in county Tyrone. Access points are few. Offshore in winter, enormous rafts of birds include the largest concentration of diving duck in Britain and Ireland.

Species wintering waterfowl number up to 100,000, including 6% of the world total of whooper swan; internationally signifcant numbers of Bewick's swan, pochard, tufted duck, scaup, goldeneye; nationally significant numbers of great-crested grebe. These grebe make up an eighth of the British breeding population., Inland Sperrin Mountains: breeding golden plover, red grouse; buzzard, hen harrier, long-eared owl, peregrine, sparrowhawk, raven, plus crossbill, siskin in upland forests - Drum Manor, Gortin Glen, Knockmany, Lough Bradan, Seskinore. In the south of the county Greenland white-fronted geese graze by the Blackwater.

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14. Visitors Centre

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Navan Fort

Just to the west of the city of Armagh lies Navan, once known as Ema. Dynamic audio-visual techniques, narration, interactive devices and even the design of the building itself are all employed to bring the area's archaelogy and mystery to life.

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