MAIDENS TO 19 Wellington Square SITE OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST KA7 1EZ

SITE MANAGEMENT STATEMENT Tel:01292 261392 Fax: 01292 269493 Site code: 1121

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.

Description of the site

Maidens to Doonfoot Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) consists of three discrete sections stretching along the coastland, immediately to the south of Ayr. The site is nationally important for its geological features from the Lower Carboniferous and Lower Devonian age, as well as for its biological features which include one of the best examples of maritime cliff in , nationally rare shingle habitat, the best example of ash woodland in , and an interesting assemblage of invertebrates.

Geological interest

The foreshore between Bracken Bay and Longhill Point shows sedimentary rocks dating from the Lower Carboniferous (Dinantian). These rocks were deposited around 360 to 350 million years ago. The Dinantian outcrops comprise ‘cementstones’ (carbonate-rich sediments) with associated sandstones, shales and mudstones. Together these sediments represent deposition in a lagoonal environment (a partly enclosed area of sea water).

The Dinantian rocks are significant because they were laid down at a time when volcanic activity was widespread in the Glasgow area and they allow us to reconstruct the geography of at this time. The unique sedimentological interest of the site is complemented by fossil finds, including palynomorphs (fossil plant spores), which can be used to date and correlate the rock sequences.

The Carboniferous - Permian Igneous feature at the Heads of Ayr is a major volcanic vent of Lower Carboniferous age. This feature illustrates important details of the internal structure of what was the throat of a Carboniferous volcano sometime between

C116334 1 360 and 340 million years ago. Super-heated steam and other gases would have ‘drilled’ their way to the Earth’s surface at this point forming a vent through which lava would have passed.

Most of the exposure comprises volcanic ash, but in addition to the fragments of volcanic and country rock are rarer nodules of rock thought to derive from close to the base of the Earth’s crust. These nodules supply critical evidence as to the nature of the lower crust and the underlying upper mantle beneath Scotland during the Carboniferous period, evidence which is of great importance in understanding the volcanic activity which occurred at that time. The site has been studied by geologists since the early days in the development of the science and consequently has historical significance.

The Old Red Sandstone Igneous feature comprises volcanic rocks (lavas) formed approximately 415 million years ago during the earliest part of the Devonian geological period. The volcanic rocks, associated with occasional thin layers of sediment, are found as coastal outcrops between Port Shuchan to Castle. The association between these lavas and the sediment was originally thought to represent lava flows that erupted across newly-deposited sediment in a lake or river, and became mixed in with the then soft, wet sediment.

However, recently the interpretation of this association has changed, and it is now understood that the lavas were instead ‘intruded’ or forced into the still soft sediment layers below the ground surface, rather than being erupted above the ground, and are therefore not true lavas. Similar coastal exposures are found further south at Culzean Harbour, providing additional evidence for this.

These outcrops provide a crucial insight into volcanism and volcanic processes in Lower Devonian Scotland.

All the geological features are considered to be in a favourable condition; the extent, composition and structure of the key rock exposures have been maintained, with only minor natural erosion between Bracken Bay and Longhill Point. There has been no reduction in the visibility or accessibility of the exposures.

Maritime cliff

Small patches of maritime cliff habitat, located around Barwhin Hill, , , Fisherton Cottage and Heads of Ayr, comprise one of the best examples of this habitat type in Ayrshire. A variety of maritime cliff communities occur; mostly maritime cliff grassland and coastal heath, but also lichen-covered rock, scrub, bracken, vegetated and un-vegetated crevices and ledges, and rarely mire/flush (where burns enter the cliff edge, on slumped under-cliffs and around the waterfall at Bracken Bay). The maritime cliff grassland is dominated by red fescue grass, together with maritime species such as thrift and sea plantain. The coastal heath comprises mainly heather and species such as sheep’s fescue and wild thyme.

Plants that are rare in Ayrshire have been recorded along the cliffs, including southern polypody, rock samphire and wood vetch, as well as yellow saxifrage, which is the only known record for this species in southern Scotland.

C116334 2 The maritime cliff habitat is in a favourable condition; the range and extent of cliff habitat have been maintained, although the maritime vegetation is present in small patches and is not always readily conspicuous.

Shingle

Vegetated shingle occurs in a series of small bays, between rocky headlands at Culzean Castle, Dunure Castle and Fisherton Cottage. Shingle vegetation is scarce but species include lyme grass, creeping bent and fescue species. The examples of shingle habitat are small but as this is a rare habitat in Scotland they are of national importance.

The shingle habitat is in a favourable condition, although plant species were very scarce. No negative activities were recorded on the site that could affect the feature, however in the previous monitoring visit visitor trampling was apparent on the shingle beach nearest Culzean Castle (a 200m stretch at Dolphin House and slipway); this could possibly have contributed to the lack of plant species present in the shingle along this stretch.

Upland mixed ash woodland

The site contains the best example of upland mixed ash woodland in South Ayrshire. Long stretches of this habitat are present along the cliff edge between Barwhin Point and Swallow Craigs, consisting predominantly of ash and sycamore, with locally occurring beech, wych elm, hazel, hawthorn and blackthorn, and a diverse ground flora including dog’s mercury and hart’s-tongue fern. A large area of ash-dominated woodland also occurs at the Heads of Ayr in the area around the Carwinshoch Burn, where it is interspersed with large areas of blackthorn and hawthorn scrub (which are not part of a notified feature). A very small fragment of wych elm-dominated woodland occurs at shore-level near Bracken Bay, and there is an area of sycamore-dominated woodland on the cliff edge at Fisherton Cottage.

The upland mixed ash woodland is in a favourable condition. The extent, composition and structure of the woodland have been maintained, the woodland supports a healthy ground flora and there is evidence of regeneration of native, broadleaved trees.

Invertebrate assemblage

A number of interesting invertebrate species have been recorded within the maritime cliff habitat. The seepages and small streams support two nationally scarce water beetles Cercyon depressus and Ochthebius lejolisii, and the larvae of various cranefly species; the nationally rare cranefly Orimarga virgo is found at Bracken Bay. The coastal grassland supports two weevil species: Tropiphorus elevatus which is nationally scarce, and Eutrichapion (Cnemapion) vorax. The grayling butterfly, a priority species within the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, breeds within the dry coastal grassland at Culzean.

As this feature has recently been revised from Cranefly (Orimarga virgo) to Invertebrate assemblage the condition has not yet been formally monitored. The cranefly feature was monitored in August 2002 and was considered to be in favourable condition.

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Natural features of Condition of feature Maidens to Doonfoot SSSI (date monitored) Favourable, maintained Carboniferous - Permian Igneous (January 2007) Favourable, maintained Old Red Sandstone Igneous (February 2002) Lower Carboniferous [Dinantian - Favourable, maintained Namurian (part)] (January 2007) Favourable, maintained Maritime cliff (June 2009) Favourable, maintained Shingle (June 2009) Favourable, maintained Upland mixed ash woodland (August 2008) Newly revised feature, Invertebrate assemblage not yet formally monitored.

A large mass of lava within the ash of the Woodland on the cliff edge north of Heads of Ayr vent. Carwinshoch Burn.

Past and present management

The southern (Culzean) section of the SSSI falls within Culzean Castle and Country Park, which is owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS), and part of the Culzean section also overlaps with a Historic Scotland Garden and Designed Landscape. NTS undertake various management practices within the SSSI, which in the Culzean section includes ring-barking of some sycamore and underplanting with native species, and they will also receive funding, commencing in 2011, through the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) to carry out rhododendron, bracken and scrub control. In addition NTS manage a woodland restoration project, which involves the restoration of a 5km stretch of native woodland between Culzean and Dunure, this stretch overlaps with the SSSI; encompassing the northernmost part of the Culzean section and the southern half of the Dunure section.

C116334 4 There is little active management within the rest of the site, with the exception of the Heads of Ayr where a 20-year Management Agreement (which expires at the end of May 2011) provides for scrub management and controls grazing; keeping livestock out of the woodland in the Carwinshoch Burn area. The bay immediately east of , which adjoins a public car park, is used for recreation and in 2006 evidence of a fire was seen in the fixed dune and scrub communities (damaging an area measuring approximately 40m by 12m).

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 monitor the effectiveness of the management agreement.

1. To maintain the extent, composition and structure of the geological features by ensuring protection from damaging impacts, in particular any potential coastal defence works or replacement of the sewage outfall pipes.

The replacement of sewage outfall pipes could lead to the loss of exposures if the pipe is entrenched into the intertidal exposures rather than being carried above it on raised piers. However, pipe entrenchment which is the more aesthetically pleasing option would be possible in certain areas of the intertidal zone and should not be ruled out.

2. To maintain visibility of, and access to, the geological features, particularly by ensuring trees planted as part of the woodland restoration project do not encroach within 10m of any rock face or outcrop, and also by ensuring path improvements, such as gabions and other retaining structures, do not obscure the rock exposures. Ensure access to the site follows the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC).

Waste material, either agricultural, domestic or construction, obscures outcrops and can represent a hazard to access and could compromise the scientific value of the site; therefore no tipping of waste should occur anywhere on the site.

Any future coastal protection works would need to ensure there are no adverse impacts on the geological features.

3. To maintain the extent and condition of the maritime cliff habitat, and thereby preserve the invertebrate assemblage, by ensuring protection from damaging impacts.

Coastal protection work could be particularly damaging if it prevents or reduces the continuous natural erosion of soft cliffs. This creates bare ground which is important for invertebrates and helps maintain pioneer plant communities. Also damaging would be insensitive cliff-top management, such as fertiliser or

C116334 5 pesticide application, which if allowed to leach, can alter the composition of plant communities. Artificial drainage could interrupt the passage of freshwater seepages and small streams, which are important for invertebrates.

4. To maintain the extent and condition of vegetated shingle by ensuring protection from potentially damaging impacts, such as removal of shingle, the tipping of waste materials, or any new coastal protection works.

Trampling could possibly be a problem in areas where visitor pressure is high, by causing damage to the fragile colonising vegetation; however there is no evidence yet that this has had an impact on the feature and so will need assessing at the next monitoring visit.

5. To maintain the extent, condition and structure of the upland mixed ash woodland by continuing to ensure stock-proof fences are maintained where they have been erected to prevent potential overgrazing; and by controlling the spread of exotic species, in particular rhododendron which can hinder the regeneration of native species. Other factors affecting the natural features of the site

Invasive species

Although not currently having a significant affect on the condition of the notified features, invasive plant species have been identified within the site, and if allowed to spread unchecked they could cause damage to the biological features in the future. Therefore control of the following species is needed:

• Sycamore is widespread across the site and is especially frequent on the coastal slopes in the grounds of Culzean Castle. It is currently considered to be having a neutral impact on the natural features of the site, however it needs to be controlled before it has a damaging impact on the maritime cliff and the upland mixed ash woodland features.1

• Rhododendron, which is frequent along the cliff edge from Swan Pond to Barwhin Point, within Culzean Castle grounds.1

• Giant hogweed, a large stand of which occurs at the mouth of the Glenside Burn (Culzean section), and individual plants occur further north along Culzean Bay and within the woodland at the bottom of the cliff to north of Carwinshoch Burn (Heads of Ayr section).

• Horticultural escapees, non-native species which have spread from the Culzean Castle gardens into the site.

1Sycamore and rhododendron control will be carried out within the Culzean Castle grounds as part of the Culzean Castle and Country Park SRDP contract.

Front page photograph: view of the cliffs within the site. Date last reviewed: 31 March 2011

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