the Forth Naturalist and Historian Volume 22 Naturalist Papers 3 The Weather of 1998 – S. J. Harrison. 14 Book Reviews – Forth Integrated Management Strategy; Estuaries of Central Scotland. 15 The Forth Area Bird Report 1998 – C. J. Henty. 43 CARSE: Recording the Natural Heritage of Stirling, Falkirk, Clackmannanshire – Lesley Brown. 45 Wallacebank Wood Wildlife Reserve 1986-1999 – Angus Smith. 54 Book Reviews – Species History of Scotland; – The Glasgow Naturalist. 55 The Odonata (Dragonflies) of the Forth Area – E. M. and R. W. J. Smith. 60 Journals of the University Library by FNH; Addresses of Authors and Reviewers. 61 Plants of Falkirk District: an Update – W. R. Brackenridge. 66 Book Reviews – Loch Lomond and the Trossachs; – Scotland, World Bibliographic Series 34; – Access to the Countryside. 67 Brambles of the Trossachs and Stirling: Rodgers 1896 Scottish Visit Retraced – G. H. Ballantyne. 76 Man and the Landscape Symposia – L. Corbett. Historical Papers 78 An Association of Heritage Societies in mid Scotland – Bill Inglis. 79 The Wallace Oak, Torwood; Supplement to Forrester (FNH 21) – L. Corbett. 92 Book Reviews – Scotland’s Roman Remains; History of Dollar; Memories of St. Ninians. 93 The Torwood and the Wallace Oak: some Early Records – John G. Harrison. 97 Sir George Harvey PRSA; People of the Forth (12) – Maria Devaney. 107 The Sheriffmuir Atlantic Wall: an Archaeological Survey on part of the Whitestone Range – D. Cowley. 117 My Stirling as Remembered 70 years ago – Duncan McNaughton. 133 Bridges of the Forth and its Tributaries – Louis Stott. 154 Book Reviews – On the Trail of William Wallace; On the Trail of Robert the Bruce; Under the Hammer: Edward I and Scotland; Revue de Terroir. 156 The Forth Naturalist and Historian. Forth Naturalist and Historian, volume 22 Published by the Forth Naturalist and Historian, University of Stirling – an approved charity and member of the Scottish Publishers Association. 1999. ISSN 0309-7560 EDITORIAL BOARD Stirling University – D. McLusky (Chairman), D. Bryant, N. Dix and J. Proctor, Biological Sciences; S. J. Harrison and D. Simpson, Environmental Sciences; N. Tranter, History. K. J. H. Mackay, R. McCutcheon, J. M. Allan, W. Brackenridge, J. Gallagher. Honorary Secretary: Lindsay Corbett, the University and 30 Dunmar Drive, Alloa. Honorary Editors: L. Corbett and N. Dix. ISBN 1-898008-32-9 Single copies may be taken of single articles provided due acknowledgement is made and the copies are for non-profit education or private use. Supported by BP in Scotland, and this volume by Falkirk Environment Trust. Cover: front– Sheep shearing, 1860 by Sir George Harvey PRSA back– Forth Rail Bridge, 1892 By courtesy of The Smith Art Gallery and Museum, Stirling and R. McCutcheon Printed by Meigle Printers Ltd., Tweedbank Industrial Estate, Galashiels. Set in Zapf Calligraphic on Amber 100 gsm and cover Black Label Gloss Art 250 gsm. Forth Naturalist and Historian, volume 22 3 THE WEATHER OF 1998 S. J. Harrison Although very few weather records were broken during 1998, it was far from being an unexceptional year. The sequence of mild winter and early spring months continued, with the temperature in February reaching a remarkable 4°C above the long-term average. However, having encouraged the early emergence of buds and shoots, the weather then played the unpleasant trick of bringing a combination of killing frosts, heavy rain and snow in April. May promised a good summer ahead but this was not to be the case. The months June to August were cold and wet, and it was not until September that the weather eventually improved a little. A deluge then followed in October and November and there were widespread floods. On the whole 1998 was a cloudy, mild and rather wet year. Temperature and rainfall values in the following refer to Parkhead II although reference is also made to the records from Bridge of Allan and Flanders Moss. January Mild and very windy at first, becoming colder later Scotland was almost obliterated by isobars on the weather map over the first four days and driving rain fell in strong to gale-force south-westerly winds. The 5th and 6th offered a respite from the wind and rain but the night-time temperature fell to –1.1°C (–2.3°C Bridge of Allan) by the morning of the 6th. There was another spell of wet and generally windy weather until the 12th but the wind was from the south, which resulted in high temperatures being registered over this period. The maximum temperature exceeded 13.0°C between the 9th and 11th. The wind slackened on the 13th but the weather was generally unsettled with spells of exceptionally dull and wet weather. The 17th was the wettest day of the month, registering a rainfall of 17.7 mm (19.8 mm Bridge of Allan). Cold Arctic air came to Scotland late on the 18th and light snow began to fall. The north of Scotland was affected by very heavy snow but in the Stirling area there was only a light dusting down to 150 m. Dull and much milder weather returned on the 21st but after the 23rd the weather became calm and clear with night frosts for much of the remainder of the month. February Exceptionally mild but very wet at times Winds remained relatively light and the skies relatively clear for the first two days. The grass minimum in Bridge of Allan fell to –5.7°C by the morning of the 3rd, but later in the day the wind began to freshen from the west, heralding a spell of wet and windy weather which persisted until the 16th. Winds were south to south-westerly and daytime temperatures exceeded 14.0°C on the 13th and 14th. Night-time temperatures were more than 10°C higher than the long- term average. Between the 12th and 16th the air temperature never fell below 4 S. J. Harrison a remarkable 10.0°C. There was an almost total cloud cover on most days and heavy rain fell in occasionally very strong winds. The Allan overtopped its banks on the 11th and the rain deposited a notable fall of Saharan dust on the 14th. Some sunny spells developed on the 16th but rain returned on the 19th. Cherry blossom was in bloom in Bridge of Allan by the 18th. Clearer weather moved in on the 21st and night temperatures fell towards freezing, reaching –1.6°C in Bridge of Allan by the morning of the 22nd. From the 23rd onwards the weather was generally rather wet and windy for the remainder of the month. During the afternoon of the 27th snow fell in cold Arctic air, which provided a thin cover of 1 cm on low ground by the morning of the 28th. March Mild and generally quite dry Cold weather continued for the first two days and heavy snow fell on the 1st in a bitter easterly wind. Heavy snow fell in gale force winds in northern Scotland which heralded the start of a very cold spell of weather. In central and southern Scotland the weather turned milder on the 2nd and the snow had disappeared from most of the Ochils by the 3rd. However, Arctic air was never far away and it brought more snow on the morning of the 5th. Sleet and snow again fell locally on the 6th and the daytime temperature reached only 4.1°C . By the end of the first week, conditions in the north of Scotland had become severe with many roads blocked and power lines down. The weather became warmer briefly on the 8th and 9th but rain fell in a strengthening wind on the 10th. Cold Arctic air then returned, with sleet falling on the 12th. The weather then changed for the better, reaching 15.0°C on the 14th and warm and sunny weather lasted until the 18th. Cloud cover then increased and the 19th to 24th were dull grey days with little wind. The weather remained unsettled for the rest of the month with occasional very blustery conditions. April Cold and very wet at times Heavy rain fell on the 2nd (19.7 mm), which had turned to snow by the 3rd in a strong easterly wind. On the 7th the weather was dull, damp and relatively mild but by the 8th Arctic air returned to Scotland bringing snow showers throughout the 9th, and more widespread snow later in the day. While the weather remained bright but cold in Scotland, with occasional snow flurries, England and Wales experienced a memorably wet Easter weekend with widespread floods between the 10th and 13th. The overnight temperature had fallen to –3.8°C by the morning of the 14th, and by the 15th the cold weather had moved south to affect much of England and Wales. Spells of rain and sleet persisted until the 16th when the cloud cover cleared and the daytime temperature managed to top 11.0°C on the 17th. The Arctic weather was replaced by unsettled weather from the west for the remainder of the month. Although there were a few sunny spells, the weather was generally cloudy with showers and longer spells of rain. Daytime temperatures over the latter part of the month were well above average. There were heavy hail showers on the 26th and a tornado was reported to the north of Glasgow later in the day. The last three days of the month were settled and quite warm. Weather 1998 5 May Warm and mostly dry The first three days were sunny and quite warm, but under clear skies night temperatures fell and the last of the spring air frosts were recorded on the 1st and 3rd.