Over 60% of Ireland is covered by grassland of one type or another and this does not include areas covered by annual crops, golf courses and lawns. Grasslands are economically important in Ireland as they account for much of our agricultural production and they also provide vital areas for amenity and tourism.
In addition to the economically important grassland types there are also several grassland types of conservation value which support diverse plant and animal communities, often rich in species numbers of both plants and invertebrates. These include orchid-rich calcareous grasslands, coastal machairs, species-rich and neutral grasslands, and wet grasslands such the Shannon callows.
For more information on Grasslands in Ireland, species and the legislation that protects grasslands download the Notice Nature Grasslands Factsheet