SITE MANAGEMENT STATEMENT Tel: (01478) 613329 Site Code: 1486 Fax: (01478) 613470
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STRATH Bridge Road Site of Special Scientific Interest Portree Isle of Skye IV51 9ER SITE MANAGEMENT STATEMENT Tel: (01478) 613329 Site code: 1486 Fax: (01478) 613470 Purpose This is a public statement prepared by SNH for owners and occupiers of the SSSI. It outlines the reasons it is designated as an SSSI and provides guidance on how its special natural features should be conserved or enhanced. This Statement does not affect or form part of the statutory notification and does not remove the need to apply for consent for operations requiring consent. We welcome your views on this statement. This statement is available in Gaelic on request. Description of the site Strath Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is situated in southern Skye, between Broadford and Loch Slapin, where it straddles the B8083 road to Torrin. The site is of varied terrain and extends from the coast through grassland and woodland up to upland heath and includes areas of limestone pavement and two sizable freshwater lochs. It contains both geological and biological features of interest, some of which are of international as well as national significance. The southern part of the SSSI is also a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) as it is considered to be one of the best areas in the UK for a range of limestone-related habitats. The northern part of the SSSI forms part of the Cuillins Special Protection Area (SPA) for the golden eagle. Natural features of Condition of feature Other relevant Strath SSSI (and date monitored) designations Mineralogy of Scotland Unfavourable - declining (July 2006) Tertiary Igneous Favourable - maintained (July 2006) Base-rich loch Favourable - maintained Strath SAC (August 2004) Molluscs Favourable - maintained (July 2003) Upland assemblage Favourable - maintained (June 2004) Upland birch woodland Unfavourable - no change Strath SAC (March 2008) Vascular plant assemblage Unfavourable - no change (August 2004) Features of overlapping Natura Condition of feature SPA or SAC sites that are not notified as SSSI (and date monitored) natural features Alpine and subalpine calcareous Unfavourable - no change Strath SAC grasslands (June 2004) Base-rich fens Favourable - maintained Strath SAC (August 2006) Hard-water springs depositing lime Favourable - maintained Strath SAC (June 2004) Limestone pavements Unfavourable - no change Strath SAC (June 2004) Plants in crevices in base-rich rocks Unfavourable - declining Strath SAC (August 2006) Wet heathland with cross-leaved Favourable - maintained Strath SAC heath (August 2006) Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) Favourable - maintained Cuillins SPA (August 2006) The geological interest encompasses the volcaniclastic deposits of Kilchrist, including the internationally-known Kilchrist Vent and the Beinn na Caillich granite, the youngest major intrusion in the area, both part of the Tertiary Igneous feature. The Beinn an Dubhaich granite, which forms the mineralogy of Scotland feature, includes all the granite outcrops from Loch Slapin to Kilchrist and is one of the most studied small intrusions in Britain. The site illustrates a range of unusual mineral deposits resulting from the intrusion of the Beinn an Dubhaich granite into earlier Cambrian dolomites. The Tertiary Igneous feature is considered to be in favourable condition. However, the site is a popular teaching area for geology and unfortunately there is considerable evidence of inappropriate geological hammering and collection of specimens on the feature. The mineralogy of Scotland feature is currently in unfavourable condition as parts of the feature were covered by the non-native species cotoneaster. Large amounts of the cotoneaster have been removed since the last survey in June 2006, however follow up treatment is likely to be needed. Inappropriate geological hammering and collection of specimens has also occurred on this feature in the past. Strath SSSI contains a range of limestone-influenced habitats, including limestone grassland, limestone crevice, clint and grike pavement communities, open gravel flushes, petrifying springs, a ravine, two lime-enriched lochs and woodland. These limestone habitats support a number of unusual plants including several notable species. The site is moderately to heavily grazed in parts, by cattle and sheep as well as deer. Whilst some grazing is required to maintain the limestone grasslands in good condition, moderate to heavy grazing can have a negative impact, particularly on the limestone pavement and calcareous grasslands. Grazing is also affecting the crevice plant communities but the recolonisation of cotoneaster is perhaps the major threat to this habitat. Although the upland assemblage is considered to be in a favourable condition, a reduction in grazing pressure would be beneficial for some component habitats and species assemblages. However, because the different component habitats have different and sometimes conflicting management requirements, consideration is needed to ensure the correct management measures. The four main areas of woodland on the site, at Coille Gaireallach, Kilbride, Leac nan Craobh and Glen Suardal, are amongst the best examples of woodland mosaics on Durness limestone in Scotland. There are a diversity of woodland types which include species such as downy birch, hazel, ash and rowan in varying proportions. The woods support a variety of unusual plants including an interesting range of Atlantic influenced moss, liverwort and lichen communities. Despite bursts of regeneration within the last 20 years, it is likely that grazing levels may be adversely affecting natural regeneration in the woodlands and are almost certainly reducing the diversity of ground flora in woodland areas. The woodlands have been assessed as being in unfavourable condition because of the grazing pressure as well as lack of deadwood. Loch Cill Chriosd is a lime enriched loch which supports a diverse range of aquatic and emergent plants, including a number of rare or scarce species such as pipewort, long- stalked pondweed Potamogeton praelongus and six-stamened waterwort. The reed swamp which occupies part of Loch Cill Chriosd is gradually encroaching on the loch and could reduce the open water interest over time. The loch was in a favourable condition on the last monitoring visit. Several uncommon mollusc species have been found in flushed areas near Loch Cill Chriosd, as well as within other habitats at the site. The mollusc feature is considered to be in favourable condition. The flora found at Strath is notable for the populations of uncommon lime loving plants, which have a limited distribution on the west coast of Scotland. When the vascular plant assemblage was last assessed in 2004 two of the plant species making up the assemblage feature did not meet their targets regarding population numbers and/or population sizes and the feature was therefore assessed as being in unfavourable condition. High grazing/browsing pressure is adversely affecting most of the species, though for some species grazing is necessary. It is hoped targeted management will have helped resolve this difference in requirements. Past and present management The John Muir Trust and Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRPID) are the site’s principal landowners and manage the site for stock in a traditional manner. Sheep and cattle have grazed at Strath for many years and continue to have access to the site, which is part of six common grazings. However, the natural heritage features present on Strath SSSI have differing and sometimes conflicting grazing-management needs. Addressing these needs requires potentially complex and targeted management actions. To help ensure identification and delivery of the correct management, the site is currently part of ‘Joint Working’, a process whereby a range of relevant agencies are working together to ensure that the site’s notified interests are all brought into a favourable condition. The appropriate level and seasonality of stock grazing for each relevant feature is a key factor that is being determined through Joint Working. The common grazings west of the B8083 are part of the Cuillins Special Protection Area Management Scheme for golden eagle. The agreements under this scheme include moorland management, crow control and reporting and wardening. The main objectives of a separate Management Agreement with the John Muir Trust relate to protecting the SSSI, setting up a management committee and agreeing a management plan for the Strathaird and Torrin areas of the site. Two sporting tenants have fishing and shooting rights over the SSSI and one tenant has a mineral lease until 2024. Objectives for Management We wish to work with the owners to protect the site and to maintain and where necessary, enhance its features of special interest. SNH aims to carry out site survey, monitoring and research as appropriate to increase our knowledge and understanding of the site and its natural features and monitor the effectiveness of the management. The EU Habitats and Birds Directives oblige Government to avoid, in SACs and SPAs, the deterioration of natural habitats and the habitats of species, as well as disturbance of the species for which the areas have been designated, in so far as such disturbance could be significant in relation to the objectives of these Directives. The objectives below have been assessed against these requirements. All authorities proposing to carry out or permit to be carried out operations likely to have a significant effect