National Park Trees & Woodland Strategy Appendix 3 Designated Site assessment in relation to sensitivity to woodland creation 2019 – 2039 Table 1 - Screening of Preferred/Potential areas for native woodland expansion for impacts on European sites Site name Qualifying Interest Location of ‘Preferred’ and Potential effects Mitigation requirements ‘Potential’ areas for native for proposals woodland expansion in relation to European site Ben Heasgarnich Base-rich fens (Alkaline fens) No preferred or potential areas are There will be no direct impacts on the qualifying interests No mitigation required SAC identified within or adjacent to SAC of the SAC as no preferred/potential areas for native Alpine and subalpine calcareous as all of the site within the National woodland expansion are identified within the SAC. grasslands Park lies above the 500m contour Given the separation distance between the preferred/ line1. potential areas and the SAC, any native woodland High-altitude plant communities expansion in these areas will not give rise to a likely associated with areas of water seepage The nearest preferred area lies significant effect on the qualifying interests of the SAC (Alpine pioneer formations of the Caricion around 0.7km away from the SAC (e.g. through seed dispersal). bicoloris-atrofuscae) and the nearest potential area lies No likely significant effect Plants in crevices on base-rich around 1.2km away. rocks (Calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation) Tall herb communities (Hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities of plains) and of the montane to alpine levels Montane acid grasslands (Siliceous alpine and boreal grasslands) Plants in crevices on acid rocks (Siliceous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation) Species-rich grassland with mat-grass in upland areas (Species-rich Nardus grassland, on siliceous substrates in mountain areas and submountain areas in continental Europe) Mountain willow scrub (Sub-Arctic Salix spp. Scrub) 1 The spatial analysis used to identify preferred/potential areas for native woodland creation excluded all land above the 500m contour line – see Appendix 1 for further details of the spatial analysis. 2 | NATIONAL PARK TREES & WOODLAND STRATEGY | APPENDIX 3 – DESIGNED LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT IN RELATION TO SENSITIVITY TO WOODLAND CREATION Table 1 - Screening of Preferred/Potential areas for native woodland expansion for impacts on European sites Site name Qualifying Interest Location of ‘Preferred’ and Potential effects Mitigation requirements ‘Potential’ areas for native for proposals woodland expansion in relation to European site Loch Lomond Western acidic oak woodland There are preferred and potential EXPANSION THROUGH NATURAL REGENERATION Planting within or adjacent Woods SAC (Old sessile oak woods with Ilex areas for native woodland expansion to the Loch Lomond and Blechnum in the British Isles) within the boundary of the SAC. Western acidic oak woodland Woods SAC will only be Expanding native woodland within/adjacent to the SAC Otter (Lutra lutra) considered where it can through natural regeneration will be beneficial for the be demonstrated that western acidic oak qualifying interest of the site. This this is consistent with the approach will ensure that any native woodland expansion Conservation Objectives will be made up of species of appropriate provenance and of the site and appropriate avoid the risk of introducing pathogens via planting stock. planting stock can be No likely significant effect obtained. Otter Any proposals for native woodland planting within/ Native woodland expansion through natural regeneration adjacent to Loch Lomond will enhance the habitat available to otters by providing Woods SAC must also improved cover and additional opportunities for holts. be supported by an No likely significant effect otter survey and species protection plan. EXPANSION THROUGH PLANTING Western acidic oak woodland Whilst expanding native woodland within/adjacent to the SAC by planting could be beneficial for the western acidic oak qualifying interest of the site, there is a risk of introducing inappropriate species and pathogens via planting stock. Likely significant effect Otter Whilst native woodland expansion will enhance the habitat available to otters by providing improved cover and additional opportunities for holts, there is a small risk of disturbance to otters shelters through any planting activity within/adjacent to the SAC. Compliance with the UK Forestry Standard (Forests and Water) and Controlled Activities Regulations General Binding Rules (20, 21) will ensure that there are no negative impacts on water quality from planting proposals within or adjacent to the site. Likely significant effect 2 | NATIONAL PARK TREES & WOODLAND STRATEGY | APPENDIX 3 – DESIGNED LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT IN RELATION TO SENSITIVITY TO WOODLAND CREATION 3 Table 1 - Screening of Preferred/Potential areas for native woodland expansion for impacts on European sites Site name Qualifying Interest Location of ‘Preferred’ and Potential effects Mitigation requirements ‘Potential’ areas for native for proposals woodland expansion in relation to European site Endrick Water SAC River lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) There are preferred areas identified Native woodland expansion along riparian corridors No mitigation required directly adjacent to the SAC and can have a range of benefits, including reducing diffuse pollution and flood risk, moderating water temperature, Brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri) potential areas within the SAC. and supporting fish populations. Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) Further preferred and potential areas are identified within the wider Compliance with the UK Forestry Standard (Forests and catchment of the SAC. Water) and Controlled Activities Regulations General Binding Rules (20, 21) will ensure that there are no negative impacts on the water quality of the SAC from planting proposals within or adjacent to the site. No likely significant effect Trossachs Woods Western acidic oak woodland (Old sessile Preferred and potential areas EXPANSION THROUGH NATURAL REGENERATION Planting within or SAC oak woods with Ilex and Blechnum in the identified within the boundary of adjacent to the Trossachs British Isles) the SAC Expanding native woodland within/adjacent to the SAC Woods SAC will only be through natural regeneration will be beneficial for the considered where it can western acidic oak qualifying interest of the site. This be demonstrated that approach will ensure that any native woodland expansion this is consistent with the will be made up of species of appropriate provenance and Conservation Objectives avoid the risk of introducing pathogens via planting stock. of the site and appropriate No likely significant effect planting stock can be obtained. EXPANSION THROUGH PLANTING Whilst expanding native woodland within/adjacent to the SAC by planting could be beneficial for the western acidic oak qualifying interest of the site, there is a risk of introducing inappropriate species and pathogens via planting stock. Likely significant effect 4 | NATIONAL PARK TREES & WOODLAND STRATEGY | APPENDIX 3 – DESIGNED LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT IN RELATION TO SENSITIVITY TO WOODLAND CREATION Table 1 - Screening of Preferred/Potential areas for native woodland expansion for impacts on European sites Site name Qualifying Interest Location of ‘Preferred’ and Potential effects Mitigation requirements ‘Potential’ areas for native for proposals woodland expansion in relation to European site Ben Lui SAC Base-rich fens (Alkaline fens) There are preferred areas identified Whilst some native woodland expansion within the Any proposals for native Alpine and subalpine calcareous directly adjacent to the SAC SAC could be beneficial for the qualifying interests and woodland expansion grasslands boundary and potential areas wider biodiversity aims, it could also result in the loss of within/adjacent to Ben Lui identified within the boundary. qualifying habitat through woodland encroachment into SAC must be supported High-altitude plant communities qualifying habitats. by an NVC survey to associated with areas of water seepage* Likely significant effect demonstrate that the (Alpine pioneer formations of the Caricion qualifying habitats will not bicoloris-atrofuscae*) be directly affected by Plants in crevices on base-rich the proposals and include rocks (Calcareous rocky slopes with management measures chasmophytic vegetation) to ensure that woodland does not encroach onto Tall herb communities (Hydrophilous tall sensitive qualifying herb fringe communities of plains and of habitats. the montane to alpine levels) Wet heathland with cross-leaved heath (Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix) Montane acid grasslands (Siliceous alpine and boreal grasslands) Plants in crevices on acid rocks (Siliceous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation) Acidic scree (Siliceous scree of the montane to snow levels - Androsacetalia alpinae and Galeopsietalia ladani) Species-rich grassland with mat-grass in upland areas (Species-rich Nardus grassland, on siliceous substrates in mountain areas (and submountain areas in continental Europe)*) Mountain willow scrub (Sub-Arctic Salix spp. Scrub) 4 | NATIONAL PARK TREES & WOODLAND STRATEGY | APPENDIX 3 – DESIGNED LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT IN RELATION TO SENSITIVITY TO WOODLAND CREATION 5 Table 1 - Screening of Preferred/Potential areas for native woodland expansion for impacts on European sites Site name Qualifying Interest Location of ‘Preferred’ and Potential effects Mitigation