The landscape has been changed significantly in recent years by changing agricultural practices and housing development. The lidar data and aerial photography provide an important record of the landscape at the moment, against which future changes can be monitored.

Comparison with older photography allows those changes which have taken place in recent years to be assessed. A collection of aerial photographs taken by Prof. K. St Joseph in 1963/4 allows us to see that this field, in Ballinvally townland, has been cleared recently. The wall in the foreground was not there in 1964 and is itself the result of clearance. An older field system can be seen to survive in the field beyond which has not been cleared.

The lidar data shows that the older field system has not been completely removed from the cleared areas but remains as slight earthworks. Documenting the survival of slight upstanding features is crucial for the furture management of the historic landscape.

© 2004 Corinne Roughley and Colin Shell