Northern Ireland

National Trust fits GPS trackers to sheep grazing in fire-hit Mournes

Sheep in the Mournes have been fitted with GPS trackers by the National Trust. Picture from National Trust images/Paul Moane
Sheep in the Mournes have been fitted with GPS trackers by the National Trust. Picture from National Trust images/Paul Moane Sheep in the Mournes have been fitted with GPS trackers by the National Trust. Picture from National Trust images/Paul Moane

GPS trackers have been fitted to sheep grazing on National Trust lands in the Mournes as part of efforts to monitor the landscape following April's devastating wildfires.

The fires, which lasted for several days, destroyed around 200 hectares of National Trust land.

Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland’s highest mountain, was one of the areas worst hit.

The trust said surveys have shown the burnt landscape is starting to recover, with evidence of new heather growth.

However, the charity is also trying to ensure that sheep which graze on its lands do not eat too many new shoots growing in areas hit by the fire.

The trust has now spent £3,000 on GPS sheep trackers - the first of its sites in Northern Ireland to use the technology.

Rhona Irvine, the trust's rural surveyor, said light grazing by sheep helps prevent invasive species and reduce the number of woody shrubs.

"This makes the land more resilient to future fire risk by reducing the potential fuel load," she said.

"In that way we ensure rare, important and sensitive species are not drowned out and are able to get the light and conditions they need to thrive."

Working with farmer John Maginn, the trust has fitted GPS trackers on some sheep which graze in the Mournes.

The trackers send information to an app.

Data from the trackers will be overlayed with location maps of the sheep to see whether they are spending long periods grazing new growth in burnt areas and if they need to be moved to an different part of the mountain.

"Along with drone imagery, habitat monitoring and control sites, the devices will provide valuable data on any impact of grazing and allow us to ensure we are making good decisions for the optimal recovery of the land," Ms Irvine said.

Mr Maginn, whose family has farmed in the Mournes for decades, said: "As well as helping us with habitat management, it is enabling a higher level of animal welfare by giving us instant access to information on the individual animals."