Western Isles Native Woodland Restoration Survey Report Restoration & Enhancement of Native Woodland Resources Sapling
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Western Isles Native Woodland Restoration Survey Report restoration & enhancement of native woodland resources Sapling Native woodland, Bowglass, Isle of Harris Dog Rose Acknowledgements The author would like to thank Scottish Natural Heritage the many people who provided 32 Francis Street information, guidance and helped survey sites throughout the duration Stornoway of this project. They include Stewart Isle of Lewis Angus, Simon Fraser, Brendan Harty, Kevin Kennedy, Carol Knott, Mark T: 01851 705258 MacDonald, Iain MacIver, Kenny MacKay, Donald MacLeod, Duncan MacPherson and Paul Smith. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar This report has been part-funded by Sandwick Road Scottish Natural Heritage Stornoway Isle of Lewis HS1 2BW T: 01851 703773 F: 01851 709287 Western Isles Native Woodland Restoration Survey Report 2 Contents Summary .....................................................................................................................................5 Context .....................................................................................................................................5 the Western Background ...................................................................................................................................6 Methodology ...............................................................................................................................7 Isles once Key Sites .....................................................................................................................................8 Lewis .....................................................................................................................................9 had extensive 1. Allt Gil Bhigurra .................................................................................................. 9 2. Mullach nan Ron .............................................................................................10 woodland 3. Cul Creag & Bruinagil .....................................................................................11 4. Loch Claidh & Loch Brolluim ........................................................................12 5. Cromore, Crobeag & Eilean Chalium Chillie ...........................................15 cover in 6. Loch Shuardail, Loch Leurbost ....................................................................16 7. Loch Orasay .......................................................................................................18 prehistory… 8. Loch Buaile Bhig ...............................................................................................20 Harris 9. Tarbert Oak, Craobhag ..................................................................................21 10. Rhenigeadal and Loch Seaforth .................................................................22 11. Loch Plocrapoil .................................................................................................23 12. Bowglass .............................................................................................................24 Uist 13. Meall Mor ...........................................................................................................26 Barra 14. Loch Obe .............................................................................................................28 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................29 Bibliography ..............................................................................................................................31 Appendix ....................................................................................................................................... 1. Botanical Society for the British Isles Records ............................................32 2. Survey sites .................................................................................................................41 3. Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme sites .............................................................42 3 Western Isles Native Woodland Restoration Survey Report Western Isles Native Woodland Restoration Survey Report 4 Summary Context Native Woodland in the Western Remnant native woodland in the Isles is a fragmented resource that Western Isles is a subject that has requires management in order drawn strong interest from ecologists, to preserve habitats for future archaeologists and the general public biodiversity. From a survey of the alike, due to its well documented resource undertaken in 2007, a scarcity within recent history. This number of key sites have been fascination is also fuelled by the identified for their biological value knowledge that the Western Isles and their feasibility in terms of once had extensive woodland cover restoration and enhancement. This in pre history, between the last ice age document sets out a number of and 3500 years B.P. (Before Present), recommendations for the future evidenced by the discovery of tree …a fragmented management of these key sites. macrofossils and arboreal pollen preserved within the islands peat. resource Opposite: Leay fern that requires Below: Sapling among bracken management in order to preserve habitats for future biodiversity. Background The Western Isles Woodland Strategy information for future actions and to was formally launched in January identify key areas for protection and 2004 with the aim of encouraging the expansion. The recommendations use of trees, shrubs and woodlands contained in this document will to enhance the environment and support delivery of the Woodland areas of maximise a range of sustainable Strategy and the Native Woodland HAP. benefits to the Western Isles community. The strategy was drawn … value up by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in conjunction with representatives of the Western Isles Local Biodiversity have been Partnership and the Forestry Commission Scotland. It identifies the survey of the existing native woodland highlighted resource as one of the priorities for action. to raise Complementing the Woodland Strategy is the Native Woodland Habitat Action Plan (HAP), launched awareness in May 2004, which forms part of the Western Isles Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP). The HAP also identifies the of their survey of semi-natural woodland as one of its key objectives. In 2007 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar importance undertook a survey of the native woodland resource. The purpose of within the the survey was to provide baseline lichen) (a Lungwort Western Isles context Aspen regeneration Aspen Western Isles Native Woodland Restoration Survey Report 6 Methodology The initial phase of the survey involved From the detailed survey results core a map based exercise using historical areas of NBL frequency and value have records from the Botanical Society of been highlighted (Map 17) to raise the British Isles (BSBI) (sites listed at awareness of their importance within Appendix 1). Records held by Scottish the Western Isles context, and with a Natural Heritage and Comhairle nan view to encouraging the appropriate Eilean Siar were also researched as was land-managers to carry out restoration topography and place names likely in these areas as a matter of priority. to indicate the presence of native The key sites within these core woodland. From this extensive list, fifty areas are described in detail in the sites were prioritised for more detailed following sections. These areas can survey (Appendix 2). The detailed then be utilised for seed harvesting survey work was based on the National for production of seedlings from seed Vegetation Classification (NVC) zone 103 (native to Western Isles). woodland identification key. NVC is a classification system developed in Native Woodland the 1980’s to help enable ecologists Development to Date and land managers to identify, analyse Native woodland restoration and and map sites composed of several development was limited in the different habitat sites including Western Isles prior to the production woodland (Hall et al., 2001). All of the Native Woodland Habitat Action woodland sites classified by the NVC Plan. Native woodland habitat has have a W or Woodland prefix. NVC been a relatively unknown quantity, woodland classifications present in the with the exception being the work Western Isles include: of SNH and the BSBI, in particular by W1 Grey Willow, Marsh Bedstraw Stewart Angus (SNH). Native woodland sites identified and designated by SNH W4 Downy Birch, Purple Moor-grass prior to the 2007 survey are as follows: W9 Ash – Rowan, Dog’s Mercury Loch Orasay, Lewis – Grid Ref: NB 387 W11 Sessile Oak-Downy Birch, 283, Designation: SSSI Wood Sorrel W17 Sessile Oak-Downy Birch, Loch Laxavat, Lewis – Grid Ref: NB 251 Greater Fork-moss 376, Designation: SSSI In addition to sites listed in Appendices Allt Voligair, South Uist – Grid Ref: NF 1 and 2 further remnant woodland 799 293, Designation: SSSI areas were recorded through Loch Druidibeg, South Uist – Grid Ref: implementation of the Scottish NF 782 378, Designation: NNR & SSSI Forestry Grant Scheme (SFGS) operated between April 2004 and These sites are not described in detail March 2008 (See Appendix 3). Where in this document as they are already appropriate these remnants have been subject to management prescribed included within geographic areas to by SNH. aid understanding of native woodland Individual reports have been restoration activity through the SFGS Individual reports have been Scheme building a picture