Area 180 ha | Province Ulster | |
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Location Down, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom Elevation 190 metres (620 ft) to 310 metres (1,020 ft) Similar Annalong Forest, Donard Forest, Rostrevor Forest, Maghery Country Park, Belvoir Park Forest | ||
Drumkeeragh forest timelapse
Drumkeeragh Forest is a mixed coniferous forest located on the lower slopes of Slieve Croob, near Ballynahinch, Northern Ireland. It is used for commercial felling and is managed by the Forest Service Northern Ireland.
Contents
- Drumkeeragh forest timelapse
- Map of Drumkeeragh Forest United Kingdom
- View from drumkeeragh forest over south down
- Connection to crimes
- References
Map of Drumkeeragh Forest, United Kingdom
The forest is predominantly made up of sitka spruce but Norway spruce, western red cedar, European larch, Douglas fir, noble fir, and Scots, lodgepole and Corsican pines are also found there. The trees are felled for timber, with cleared sections rotating every 50 years. The high elevation (190 metres (620 ft) to 310 metres (1,020 ft)) and poor soil mean that deciduous trees used to produce timber can not grow in the forest.
In the cleared areas, replanting has been carried out with wildlife conservation and landscaping in mind. Some of the replanted trees have included mountain ash and silver birch, both native broadleaf trees, which has led to a wider variety of birds in these areas.
View from drumkeeragh forest over south down
Connection to crimes
Drumkeeragh Forest was the scene of the death of Penny McAllister. On 27 March 1991 McAllister had her throat slit by her husband's lover, Susan Christie, while they walked together in the woods. Christie originally claimed that a "wild bearded man" attacked them both but she was later convicted of manslaughter.
On 20 December 2004 Karen McMullan was left at Drumkeeragh forest, along with her burnt out car, after being held hostage for more than 24 hours. The kidnapping was part of the robbery of Northern Bank headquarters in Belfast, where her husband worked.