Ballymaganlis Wood

The land at Dromore was purchased as one of the Woodland Trust's, Woods on Your Doorstep projects to create a new community woodland in County Down. It lies on the northern edge of Dromore town running parallel to the A1 Dromore By-Pass road. Arable land exists on the other side of the dual carriageway. This is the main route for Belfast-Dublin traffic and consequently this site has a very high profile. It was planted using native species, to provide a valuable area for public recreation and local wildlife. The land was formerly owned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and was gifted in 1999. The development and first 5 years maintenance of the site was 50% funded by the Millennium Commission. Northern Ireland Forest Service’s woodland grant scheme funded the planting and establishment of the native trees. The site consists of a couple of small fields separated by overgrown hedgerows containing semi mature trees. There are four small stands of Sorbus intermedia which appear to have been planted about 15 years before WT ownership. These have been retained to give a larger diversity of canopy composition giving a greater biodiversity. Foxes roam the area and are often seen crossing the main A1 road from the wood.