Threshold Analysis

The JNCC guidelines include published thresholds for each of the CHEGD groups defining how many scoring species are needed for a site for it to be of ASSI/SSSI quality. These are:

GroupAcronymScoring Species
Fairy ClubsC7
WaxcapsH19
Pink GillsE15
Earth TonguesG5
Crazed Gills and AlliesD3

If the database is analysed, there is only one site in Ireland – The Curragh – that passes all five thresholds. There is only one site that passes four thresholds – Binevenagh ASSI. The 8 sites that pass three thresholds are:

  • Ballygalley Head ASSI (Antrim)
  • Fair Head and Murlough Bay ASSI (Antrim)
  • Galboly ASSI (Antrim)
  • Knock Dhu and Sallagh Braes ASSI (Antrim)
  • Linford Barrows Earth Rings (Antrim)
  • Monawilkin ASSI (Fermanagh)
  • Rathlin Island: Kebble ASSI (Antrim)
  • Slievenacloy ASSI (Antrim)
CHEGDNo Sites
PassedPassedPassedPassedPassed1
PassedPassedPassedPassed1
PassedPassedPassed7
PassedPassed1
PassedPassed5
Passed4
PassedPassedPassed1
PassedPassed5
Passed16
Passed1
Passed6