Crom Castle Estate, Co Fermanagh

Acquisition of 1,120 acres of estate surrounding Crom Castle comprising park, woodlands and wetlands with priority habitats on the upper reaches of Lough Erne. The estate lies astride the upper reaches of Lough Erne, close to the borders with Eire, and is one of the last major unspoilt areas of open space in the vicinity of the Lough. The combination of Parkland, woodland, lakes and islands is of great natural beauty and ecological importance. It includes the largest surviving area of oak woodland in Ireland, one of the largest unspoilt waterways in UK and the largest heronry in Ireland. The oldest Yew trees in Ireland (and possibly Europe), mark the original entrance to the Old Castle garden. The trees are reputed to be 800 years old and were nominated in 2002 as one of the 50 Great British trees for the Queen Elizabeth II's jubilee. The House itself (built in 1840) remains in private hands.