LAGGAN PENINSULA AND BAY Site of Special Scientific Interest

SITE MANAGEMENT STATEMENT

Site code: 895

Address: Main Street, , Isle of , Argyll. PA43 7JJ Tel: 01496 810711 email: [email protected]

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.

Natural features of Condition of feature Other relevant Laggan Peninsula and Bay SSSI (date monitored) designations Blanket bog Favourable, maintained (September 2007) Sand dune Unfavourable, no change (June 2003) Greenland barnacle goose Favourable, maintained SPA (Branta leucopsis) (November 2008)

Greenland white-fronted goose Favourable, recovered SPA (Anser albifrons flavirostris) (December 2008)

Description of the site

Laggan Peninsula and Bay Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is comprised of a narrow strip of coastline which occurs between and Bowmore on the Isle of Islay. The SSSI includes the rocky headland of Laggan Point, which supports an extensive area of blanket bog, and a seven mile long, Atlantic facing, sandy bay which is backed by a rare and uninterrupted habitat transition from sand dunes through dune grassland, dry coastal heath, wet coastal heath and ultimately to inland blanket bog.

The SSSI is also of importance for supporting internationally important numbers of Greenland white-fronted and barnacle geese, species listed on Annex I of the EC Birds Directive. The significance of the site for these species is recognised by its designation as a Special Protection Area. The white-fronted geese roost in the bog areas and feed on improved and rushy pastures. The barnacle geese feed mainly on the improved pastures and occasionally at their roost areas on the short dune sward. Barnacle geese also roost on the improved fields and the beach.

The area is also important, but is not notified, for chough, which have been recorded breeding within the SSSI and feeding on the dune grassland. (This SSSI is adjacent to SSSI/SPA, which is notified for chough). The strand also supports breeding colonies of arctic and little tern.

Site condition monitoring carried out in 2003 found the sand dune feature of Laggan Peninsula and Bay SSSI to be in unfavourable condition. The dunes failed the targets for dune structure and vegetation composition. Further monitoring of the dune was carried out in 2009, the results are currently being written up. Initial analysis suggests that the dune feature remains in unfavourable condition.

Further site condition monitoring carried out in 2007 found the blanket bog feature of Laggan Peninsula and Bay SSSI to be in favourable maintained condition. Although the blanket bog feature passed all targets, small patches of the non-native invasive species rhododendron ponticum were found. Localised damage from peat cutting was also evident, however this activity has planning permission.

In 2008 the Greenland barnacle and white-fronted geese features of Laggan Peninsula and Bay SSSI were monitored and both features were found to be in favourable condition with the mean number of wintering birds for each species having increased from the baseline population figures.

Picture 1. Barnacle geese. Picture 2. Sheep grazing on the dunes.

Past and present management

The site has traditionally been used for agricultural purposes. Large areas of what was once coastal grassland or heath were drained and agriculturally improved. The remainder of the site has always been used for rough grazing. The blanket bog has also been affected by peat cutting, which has been carried out since before the site’s notification.

At present the site is divided into four farming units which graze cattle and sheep on the unimproved ground and produce silage on the improved grassland. Laggan estate is also run as a sporting estate with River Laggan being used for salmon fishing and game shooting taking place on the northern part of the site. There is also a small, well established area of coniferous woodland plantation within Laggan Estate on the coastal grassland. This is unlikely to be felled in the future and at present is not having a negative impact on the SSSI.

The current farming methods allow the site to support large numbers of overwintering geese and also contribute to the maintenance of feeding areas for chough. This management is currently supported through the local Islay Goose Management Scheme which provides financial aid to farmers who manage their land sensitively to the presence of geese and may suffer financial loss due to the presence of geese on their land.

Peat cutting for both domestic and commercial use still takes place on the site today and planning permission is in place for peat extraction. This activity is damaging to the blanket bog however geese continue to roost on the bog pools in large numbers and the extent of peat excavation has not increased significantly since the sites notification. Sand extraction from the Big Strand also takes place on a commercial basis below the high water mark. The effects of the extraction are being monitored but it does not appear to be causing erosion in the locality. Work at the site stops during the tern breeding season.

The Islay refuse tip is also located in the centre of Laggan Peninsula but is excluded from the SSSI boundaries. Waste material is sometimes blown into the SSSI from the tip but council staff regularly remove any wind blown material from the SSSI.

There are several access points to the beach and the strand is popular with tourists. A small campsite is also situated to the south of the SSSI. At present visitor numbers are not causing damage or erosion to the sand dunes but may cause disturbance during the tern breeding season.

Objectives for Management (and key factors influencing the condition of natural features) We wish to work with the owners and occupiers 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 to monitor the effectiveness of any management agreements.

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, where 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 on the European interests of this SSSI must assess those operations against the relevant Natura conservation objectives (which are listed on our website through the SNHi – SiteLink facility).

1. Maintain the suitability of the site for the internationally important wintering populations of Greenland white-fronted and barnacle geese in order to meet national and international obligations. Maintain the suitability of the site for chough and terns.

Current management of geese roosting and feeding areas within Laggan Peninsula and Bay SSSI appears to be benefitting the wintering populations of Greenland barnacle and white- fronted geese and will continue to be supported through the local Islay Goose Management Scheme. In addition SNH staff will continue to monitor goose roost usage and feeding across the SSSI. This data will ensure that any changes in site usage or population declines/rises can be detected and appropriate management advised.

It is also important that the SSSI remains relatively undisturbed with little recreational pressure to enable the continued usage of the area by geese. This will also benefit nesting terns which are particularly sensitive to disturbance during their breeding season.

Chough have also been recorded breeding in the SSSI. Habitat management to encourage usage of the SSSI by chough may be supported through the Scottish Rural Development Programme which provides financial aid for the positive management of SSSIs and owners of Laggan Peninsula and Bay SSSI should consider application to this scheme in the future.

2. Maintain and where possible enhance the areas of blanket bog habitat within Laggan Peninsula and Bay SSSI.

Maintain the areas of blanket bog in favourable condition and ensure that grazing levels allow plants to flower and set seed. The patches of the invasive rhododendron ponticum found during the most recent site condition monitoring should ideally be removed to prevent further spread across the site. SNH staff should continue to liaise with managers of the peat extraction works to ensure that damage to the site remains minimal.

3. Maintain the areas of sand dune habitat within the SSSI.

Grazing pressure from stock and rabbits over the dune area is inhibiting the flowering of dune vegetation and has led to a reduction in the botanical interest of the site. Winter feeding has also caused localised poaching. However, the current conservation priority of the site focuses on the presence of wintering geese for which the area is also designated as a Special Protection Area. Any change in management to improve the condition of the sand dune feature will have to be balanced alongside the management for other interests of the site. Therefore current management should aim to maintain the dunes in a stable condition. SNH will continue to monitor the sand dune feature of the site and if the botanical interest of the dunes declines further, will advise on appropriate changes to management.

Other factors affecting the natural features of the site

Islay Airport lies adjacent to the SSSI. Although air traffic disturbs the geese while feeding, airport operations do not have a significant impact on the site.

Date last reviewed: 15 September 2010