There are four sub types of Whole HNV farmland. See below for examples of these. In all cases the semi-natural habitat cover is very high and the stocking density is very low. The field boundary densities can vary depending on the dominant habitat type (peatland dominated farms in particular have low field boundary densities).These farms occur in Connemara, the Iveragh Peninsula and the Inishowen peninsula in the west and the Blackstairs, Comeraghs and Wicklow uplands in the east. They may also be lowland farms dominated by species-rich wet or dry grasslands such as those in the Burren, the Aran Islands and north County Leitrim.

 

Whole HNV farmland with no commonage

The majority of farms in this sub type occurred in the Burren. Most of these farms had high proportions of dry semi-natural grasslands and low stocking densities

Semi-natural habitat cover: High (~75%)

Stocking density: Low (~0.6 LU/UAA)

Field boundary density: Low (~100m/ha)

© Photos: J Moran and C Sullivan. Copyright for all these images remains with the photographer

Small whole HNV farmland

These farms had very high cover of semi-natural habitats (both grasslands and peatlands). Many of these farms also included shares in commonage. These farms were all small and included all the island farms. The field boundary density on all these farms was very high.

Semi-natural habitat cover: High (~80%)

Stocking density: Low (~0.50 LU/UAA)

Field boundary density: High (~300m/ha)

© Photos: C Sullivan. Copyright for all these images remains with the photographer

 

Large whole HNV farmland

These farms were all quite large (>100ha) and had very high semi-natural habitat cover. Peatlands were very common on these farms and many of them had shares in commonage. The stocking density was very low on these farms as well as the field boundary density (which is not unusual for farms with high cover of peatland).

Semi-natural habitat cover: Very high ( ~90%)

Stocking density: Very low (~0.30 LU/UAA)

Field boundary density: Low (~90m/ha)

© Photos: C Sullivan. Copyright for all these images remains with the photographer

Whole HNV commonage farmland with agriculturally improved grassland

Similar to all the other sub types described here these farms had very high proportions of semi-natural habitats. The majority of these farms also had shares in commonage. Unlike many of the other types described here, they had higher cover of improved agricultural grassland and slightly higher stocking densities.

Semi-natural habitat cover: High (~70%)

Stocking density: Low (~0.70 LU/UAA)

Field boundary density: Medium (~ 185m/ha)

© Photos: C Sullivan. Copyright for all these images remains with the photographer