Loch Fleet NNR: The Reserve Story - Scottish Natural Heritage

Scotland’s National Nature Reserves For further information about Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve please contact: Scottish Natural Heritage, Main Street, Golspie, Sutherland KW10 6TG Telephone 01408 633602 Fax 01408 633071 E-mail: [email protected]

Loch Fleet NNR: The Reserve Story

Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve: The Reserve Story

Foreword Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve (NNR) lies on the east coast of Scotland, 3km south of Golspie and 8km north of Dornoch. Loch Fleet is a tidal basin which, combined with other nearby coastal sites, supports internationally important numbers of waders and wildfowl in the autumn and winter months. Adjacent to the Loch are pine woodlands containing rare plants including one-flowered wintergreen and twinflower. Along the seaward edge, there are sand dunes and links with interesting areas of lichen-rich dune heath. Loch Fleet is one of more than 50 NNRs in Scotland. Scotland’s NNRs are special places for nature, where some of the best examples of Scotland’s wildlife are managed. Whilst nature is always the first priority on NNRs, the reserves also provide opportunities for people to enjoy and discover more about our rich natural heritage. The Reserve Story is one of a suite of documents we use to manage the NNR. It gives background information about the Reserve and briefly describes the wildlife found on the Reserve, the history of land use before the Reserve was established, and management of wildlife, people and property. We outline how we intend to manage the Reserve in future years in the Reserve Proposals and we invite your comments on these Proposals. Your feedback informs the production of final Reserve Plan which is the blueprint for management of the Reserve for the next few years. In future we will produce a Reserve Review to report how well our plans worked. All the documents can be downloaded from the Loch Fleet page of the NNR Website or obtained from the address below.

For further information about Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve please contact: Scottish Natural Heritage, Main Street, Golspie, Sutherland KW10 6TG Telephone 01408 633602 Fax 01408 633071 E-mail: [email protected]

Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve – The Reserve Story

Contents Foreword Maps of Loch Fleet NNR 1

Introduction to Loch Fleet NNR

1

2

The Natural Heritage of Loch Fleet NNR

3

3

Loch Fleet NNR – a brief histor y

14

4

Management of Loch Fleet NNR

16

Appendix 1

National Nature Reser ves

21

Appendix 2

Site of Special Scientific Interest

22

Appendix 3

Natura 2000 sites

25

Appendix 4

RAMSAR sites

28

Appendix 5

Species

30


Maps of Loch Fleet NNR Location Map

Boundaries of Loch Fleet NNR 1

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This map is based upon the Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office © Crown copyright (2005). Any unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. © Scottish Natural Heritage 100017908 (2005).


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Introduction to Loch Fleet NNR

Loch Fleet NNR is located 3km south of Golspie on the east coast of Scotland. The NNR extends to 1,058ha and includes the Loch Fleet tidal basin, sand dunes, shingle ridges and pinewoods. The tidal basin, the largest habitat, supports a rich diversity of bird life throughout the year. The basin connects to the Moray Firth through a narrow river channel between Ferry Links and Coul Links. Ferry Links are botanically rich sand dunes with dune grassland and dune heath. Ferry Wood and Balblair Wood are plantations dominated by Scots pine containing rare pinewood plants. The Reserve is a popular place for informal recreation with a car park and interpretive panels at the end of the Littleferry peninsula. The Reserve lies on the fertile coastal strip alongside the Moray Firth. To the south of the Reserve there are grazed fields with patches of forestry, while to the north there is a golf course and agricultural land. To the west is the Mound Rock, a large hill overlooking Loch Fleet, and an area of wet woodland called Mound Alderwoods that has developed behind the Mound causeway. The land in the NNR is owned by Sutherland Estates. In 1998 Loch Fleet was declared a NNR, but before this there was a nature reserve here, managed by Scottish Wildlife Trust in partnership with the estate since 1970. The NNR is managed by a partnership of Sutherland Estates, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Loch Fleet is designated for its wildlife interest under a range of UK, EU and international legislation and conventions – Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Area (SPA) and RAMSAR site. Details of these designations are given in the appendices. The features at Loch Fleet that qualify for these designations are listed in Table 1 and are described in more detail in the next chapter. We have to pay special attention to these features when managing the NNR.

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Table 1

Designated and qualifying features for Loch Fleet

Protection

Special Protection Area

RAMSAR

Site of Special Scientific Interest

European

International

UK

Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet

Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet

Loch Fleet

Sand dunes (includes dune heath)

✓1

✓

Sand flats

✓1

✓

Saltmarsh

✓1

✓

Feature Habitats

Native pinewoods

✓

Eel grass beds

✓

Species Osprey (foraging)

✓

✓2

Bar-tailed godwit (non-breeding)

✓

✓

Greylag goose (non-breeding)

✓

✓

Wigeon (non-breeding)

✓

✓

Wintering wildfowl assemblage (total greater than 20,000 birds)

✓

✓

✓

Eider (non-breeding)

✓

Long-tailed duck (non-breeding)

✓

Breeding bird assemblage

✓

Otter

✓3

Common seal

✓3

Red data book invertebrates

✓4

Vascular plant assemblage

✓5

✓

1

Part of the assemblage of important wetland habitats.

2

Identified as a hosted attribute on the site.

3

Identified as part of the assemblage of rare plants and animals.

4

Red data book invertebrates are identified as part of the assemblage of rare plants and animals.

5

Nationally Scarce wetland plants are identified as part of the assemblage of rare plants and animals.

2


2

The Natural Heritage of Loch Fleet NNR

Geology Beneath the blown sand and alluvial deposits of the dunes, lies a bedrock of Old Red Sandstone. Old Red Sandstone is a sedimentary rock, formed in the Devonian period, between 417 and 354 million years ago. Shingle ridges have been deposited on top of the sandstone; these ridges extend from the Mound Rock at the western boundary of the NNR to the current coastline, and north from Littleferry to Golspie. As the ice retreated at the end of the last Ice Age Loch Fleet became a tidal delta. At this time Loch Fleet was a wide-open bay, embracing a sea loch reaching inland as far as Rogart. Currents sweeping southward gradually dragged shingle across the entrance to the loch, reducing the mouth to a narrow channel through which the tidal current races in and out. The loch used to extend 6km inland towards Rogart but the building of the Mound causeway between 1814 and 1818 truncated the Loch. The causeway, nearly 1km in length, was constructed to carry the main road north. The causeway acts as a tidal barrier, stopping the sea some 2.5km short of its natural tidal limit.

Loch Fleet as depicted in Roy’s Military Survey of the Highlands 1747 – 1755, c. 60 years before the Mound causeway was built, showing woodland west of the Culmaily burn.

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The tidal basin The largest habitat on the Reserve is the tidal basin known as Loch Fleet, which extends to over 630ha. At high water the basin is full, but at low tide extensive intertidal mud and sand flats are exposed with the River Fleet cutting a channel through the sediments. Mapping has shown that the sediments in the tidal basin rarely move, with islands and channels staying in the same position year on year. This suggests that there is little change in the quantity of sediment within the basin from year to year.

Tidal basin The sand and mudflats found in the sheltered intertidal areas are very productive, supporting a rich marine fauna of razor shells, cockles and many species of marine worms. There are large mussel beds on the north side of the river channel. These provide rich feeding grounds for waders and wildfowl throughout the year but are especially important during the winter months when they provide undisturbed feeding for migratory birds. The tidal waters support a range of fish species which in turn provide a food source for other wildlife. Ospreys take flounder and sea trout and otters will take common eel. Coal fish, nine-spined stickleback and pipe fish can also be seen and Atlantic salmon pass through the estuary on their way to the River Fleet. The beds of eelgrass are an important intertidal and shallow subtidal habitat. The extensive root systems of the eelgrass help stabilise the shore and seabed, and the beds shelter a range of juvenile fish and provide a source of food for several wildfowl species in winter.

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Saltmarsh has developed around the sheltered shores of Loch Fleet. The largest area is at the head of the bay at Balblair, there is a small patch around three tidal pools at Creag Beag and another area at Skelbo where there is fringing saltmarsh close to the public road. At the head of the Loch, the saltmarsh vegetation grades into drier grassland. Characteristic saltmarsh plants include thrift, sea poa grass, sea spurrey, glasswort, mud rush and sea milkwort.

Saltmarsh

The dunes From the mouth of the river northwards along the coast towards Golspie there are raised shingle ridges, separated from the sea by a narrow band of building fore dunes. Fore dunes form where the sands are constantly moved by the action of the sea and winds, under such harsh conditions only a few plant species are able to survive,

Dunes with marram grass

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the most common being the sand-binding marram grass. Behind the fore dunes, where the build up of sand has slowed and erosion is less common, the covering of marram grass increases and other species of grass appear. On Ferry Links the older, more stable dunes and shingle ridges support a mosaic of dune grassland communities. Three types of grassland community are found here: Lichen rich heath fixed dune grasslands with red fescue and lady’s bedstraw; dune grassland with marram grass and lyme grass, and dune grassland with sand sedge, sheep’s fescue grass and common bent grass. Several interesting vascular plants grow amongst the dunes, including variegated horsetail, sea centaury, purple milk vetch, rue leaved saxifrage, moonwort and frog orchid. On more acidic ground dune grassland is replaced by dune heath with heather and sand sedge. In some places lichens dominate creating lichen-rich dune heath, here carpets of Cladonia lichens, with cushions of Cladonia portentosa and Cladonia ciliata, are found amongst crowberry, bell heather and ling. This lichen-rich dune heath is of particular importance at Loch Fleet.

The woodland There are two areas of woodland in the Reserve, each with its own character and interest. Both Ferry Wood and Balblair Wood are plantations of Scots pine but the pinewood flora found in parts of the woods suggest that native Caledonian pine forest may have grown here in the past. Balblair is the older of the two woods and we know that this area was planted sometime between 1781 and 1823. We have evidence of pinewood, possibly of plantation origin, in the vicinity of the NNR, from before 1750. Roy’s Military Survey of 1750 shows a rectangular area of woodland in the general area, but the John Home Survey of Golspie from 1781 shows a rectangular area, clearly labelled ‘Fir Wood (i.e. pine wood) 146 acres’ in the position of the present plantation immediately west of Balblair Cottage. This lies just outside the NNR boundary. John Thomson’s Atlas of Scotland, 1823, shows woodland stretching from the Littleferry road west to the present A9, covering all the present plantation area. Ordnance Survey maps from the early 1900s show extensive tree

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cover with the occasional unplanted ride or glades. The estate records show an earlier wood was destroyed by a storm in the early 1900s. This was replaced by the current plantation which dates from 1905. Most of Balblair Wood is now very uniform in appearance, with even-aged trees and limited natural regeneration, however, a trio of unusual pinewood plants is found here – one-flowered wintergreen, creeping lady’s-tresses and twinflower. All three are native to the Caledonian pine forest that once covered large tracts of Scotland, and their presence here may be a legacy of earlier forest in this location. The wood is now managed to benefit these pinewood plants.

Balblair Wood The present Ferry Wood is mainly Scots pine planted in the 1960s. Maps from the 18th century do not show woodland here and John Home’s survey (1781) clearly labels the ground as open links and heath. John Thomson’s Atlas of Scotland (1823) shows no trees in the area. The first indication is in the 1st edition of the Ordnance Survey map (6-inch scale 1873), which shows scattered trees across part of the area. A revised 1-inch edition of 1896 shows two patches of woodland but by the 2nd edition of the 6-inch (1906), conifer plantation is shown covering more or less the same area as today. The first plantings must therefore be dated between 1823 and 1896 with the possibility that planting had started in 1873. Most of the present wood, replanted in the 1960s, has a uniform structure typical of a plantation but the central section is more natural. Here the trees range from seedlings to old ‘granny’ pines, and the understorey is more typical of native pinewood. These trees

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are presumably the last remnants of the first planting. The woodland is intermingled with patches of lichen-rich heath similar to that found on Ferry Links. Aerial photographs from 1946 show a scattered cover of trees of different ages with large gaps in the tree cover. There is little change evident in the aerial photos taken in the 1960s, suggesting the wood may have been grazed during the intervening years. Today no livestock graze the woodland and there is vigorous regeneration in the open areas at the centre of Ferry Woods. The wood is now managed to protect the lichen-rich heath and pinewood habitats.

The species on Loch Fleet NNR Appendix 5 lists the protected species found at Loch Fleet. The list indicates which species are European Protected Species, Red Data Book species or species with a UK or Local Biodiversity Action Plan. Birds

Shelduck Throughout the year an interesting bird assemblage can be found at Loch Fleet. The intertidal flats are an important feeding and roosting ground for waders and wildfowl, with the highest numbers during the spring and autumn migrations although some species stay throughout the winter and others breed in the vicinity. Birds like shelduck, wigeon, teal, curlew and redshank, are all easily seen as they search the mud and seaweed for food.

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Curlew Species including greylag goose, wigeon, teal, bar-tailed godwit and dunlin are part of the assemblage of wintering waterfowl that migrate from their northern breeding grounds either to spend the winter in the relative shelter of the Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet or to pass through on route to wintering areas further south. Loch Fleet is particularly important for greylag geese in the autumn, for in winter the birds spread further out into the Dornoch Firth. A significant proportion of the greylag geese roosting on Loch Fleet are thought to be from the population breeding in Caithness and Sutherland, these mix with birds from the Icelandic population. Approximately 2% of the UK population of greylags use the Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet SPA. Ospreys occasionally nest on the Reserve and Loch Fleet is a good place to watch them fishing. Ospreys are one of the success stories amongst Scottish birds, having disappeared from Scotland in the early 1900s but returning regularly to breed in the1950s. The Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet SPA is a fishing area for approximately 10% of the UK breeding population. In contrast some birds have declined at Loch Fleet for reasons that are not fully understood. The wintering population of long-tailed duck has declined since Loch Fleet became an SSSI in 1975 to the extent that this species is now unusual here. Similarly the site once supported nationally important numbers of non-breeding eider duck, but numbers are now much lower than they used to be. Little terns used to breed in the Reserve but no longer do so, although they can occasionally be seen feeding at the mouth of Loch Fleet.

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Over 100 species of bird have been recorded on the Reserve, with 49 species having bred since records were started. Arctic and common terns, oystercatchers, ringed plovers, wheatears, stonechats, cuckoos, meadow pipits and skylarks favour the Links. The pinewoods support birds typical of coniferous forest, including crossbills, siskin, redstart, treecreeper, great spotted woodpecker, buzzard and sparrowhawk. Crested tits have been recorded, but do not appear to be resident. Capercaillie once lived in Balblair Wood, but have not been reported for several decades.

Osprey Mammals Common seals are the most conspicuous mammals at Loch Fleet. They can be seen from the public road at Skelbo where there are usually between 40 and 60 although numbers can rise to 90 in the winter months. Grey seals are rarely seen in summer but small numbers can appear during the winter. Two European Protected Species, otter and common pipistrelle bats, occur on the Reserve. It is likely that other bat species will occur here but little is known about bats within the Reserve. Roe deer, red squirrel, fox, pine marten, and weasel have all been noted although there have been no records of red squirrel for a few years now. Wildcat was formerly recorded between Golspie and Littleferry, but anecdotal evidence suggests it is less common now than it was in the 1960s and 1970s.

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Common seal Inver tebrates There is a variety of butterflies found on Ferry Links, including green hairstreak, small heath and healthy populations of dark green fritillary and grayling. Small numbers of speckled wood have been seen in Balblair Wood in recent summers and the colourful painted lady has been observed here too. Butterflies are monitored as part of the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. Day flying coastal moths that can be seen include the six-spot burnet moth and mother shipton.

Burnet moth

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The flora A total of 265 species of higher plants have been recorded on the Reserve. The plants in Balblair Wood are the most noteworthy; here the three most important species are one-flowered wintergreen, twinflower and creeping lady’s-tresses. But there are other unusual species too like common wintergreen and lesser twayblade. These species are more typically found in a native pine forest. One-flowered wintergreen is listed as vulnerable in the Red Data Book. There are only 17 populations in Scotland and the population of over 1,000 plants in Balblair Wood is considered the largest in Britain. Most populations are found within pine forest, usually in pine plantations, so we work closely with forest managers to protect this species. Balblair Wood is an ideal place to monitor the response of this species to different types of woodland management.

Twinflower

One-flowered wintergreen

Twinflower is a nationally scarce plant usually found in native pinewoods. It is the subject of a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) because the estimated total UK population of twinflower has declined considerably with a 64% reduction between pre-1970 and post-1970 records. It is now confined to Scotland where it is found in about 50 locations from Caithness to the Borders, with a concentration around the Cairngorms.

Creeping lady’s-tresses is one of the few British orchids that is almost exclusive to Scotland, where it is found in remnants of Caledonian Forest mainly in the Highlands in Glen Affric, Strathspey and the Cairngorms. It is a Nationally Scarce plant but it can be locally abundant in the northeast of Scotland. Its national distribution has declined since 1970 and it is no longer found in southwest Scotland or Orkney.

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Creeping lady’s-tresses


The other habitats at Loch Fleet support a range of important species. The less common species include seaside centaury, a nationally scarce species, purple milk vetch, rue leaved saxifrage, frog orchid, felwort and moonwort. The species found on the saltmarsh typically include sea poa grass, sea spurrey, glasswort and milkwort, with more unusual species including long bracted sedge, sea pearlwort and grass-leaved orache. Two nationally scarce species have been recorded on the intertidal flats in recent years – narrow-leaved eelgrass and dwarf eelgrass. Over 110 species of lichen have been recorded, with important areas of lichen-rich heath on both Ferry Links and within Ferry Woods. The lichen flora of Ferry Links is regarded as outstanding because it includes a large number of montane (high upland) rarities. Eight nationally scarce or rare species of lichen have been recorded within Ferry Wood and a further three species on the dunes. Cladonia species are dominant, however Peltigera and Lecanora species are also well represented. Over 50 species of fungi have been recorded on the Reserve. There are three rare species of tooth fungi, the drab tooth fungus, the brown corky spine fungus and the scaly tooth fungus; all three are Red Data Book species with their own BAP.

Summar y Loch Fleet NNR has an unusual combination of habitats with the tidal basin, sand dunes and pine woodlands supporting a diverse flora and fauna. Of particular note are the unusual pinewood plants, including the largest population of one-flowered wintergreen in Scotland and several rare fungi and lichens. The Reserve is also important for wintering birds with large numbers gathering to feed and roost on this rich coastal site.

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3

Loch Fleet NNR – a brief histor y

ERA

A timeline for the area around Loch Fleet Evidence found near Loch Fleet

Neolithic (4000–2000 BC)

Hunter-gatherers first exploited the abundant natural resources of the Moray Firth about 8,000 years ago. The presence of shell middens, burial mounds, a rough-cut stone axe and flint implements from this era have been discovered near Littleferry.

Bronze Age (2000–750 BC)

Stone cists dating from the bronze age were found at Cambusmore and Skelbo on the southern shore. Further evidence of settlement from this era has been discovered at Culmaily in the form of hut circles and field systems with clearance cairns. A bronze age axe was found at Cambusmore.

Iron Age (750 BC–AD 43)

The remains of a souterrain (an earth-house) were excavated at Kirkton just north of the Reserve. On the south shore within Skelbo woods are the remains of an Iron Age Broch. A more intact broch, Carn Liath, can be found just north of Dunrobin Castle.

Romans in Scotland (AD80–399) Beginning of Scotland (400–999) Early Medieval 1000–1285

Carved symbol stones from the Pictish era, with rod and crescent symbols, have been discovered at both Ferry Links and Littleferry. The stones can be seen in Dunrobin Castle Museum.

Wars of independence 1286–1370

On a rise to the south of Loch Fleet stand the remains of Skelbo Castle. The original buildings, a keep and barmkin, are thought to date from the 14th Century. The remains show evidence of a fine example of an early Norman fortress of motte and bailey type. (The buildings are signed as dangerous and access is not advised).

The Stewarts 1371–1487

From Viking times the main north/south route was along the coast, and the main way to cross Loch Fleet was by ferry. The hamlet of Littleferry grew up on the north side of the Loch and became a focal point for local fishermen and ferry users. In its heyday, as well as Littleferry House, there was a ferryman’s house, a pilot’s house, a customhouse, three stores for fish and other produce, an icehouse (still in existence), a pier store and an inn.

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Loch Fleet NNR – a brief histor y (continued)

ERA The Reformation 1488–1602

A timeline for the area around Loch Fleet Evidence found near Loch Fleet

Stuarts 1603–1713

The parish of Golspie was originally named Kilmalie and had its church and burial ground at what is now Kirkton Farm a short distance north of the Reserve. Sir Robert Gordon had the church transferred to Golspie in 1619 when St. Andrew’s became the parish church.

North Britons and Jacobites 1714–1836

In 1812 the Mound Causeway was started as a way of shortening the north south route along the east coast. It was completed in 1818 after numerous failed attempts to bridge the final section of approximately 100m. This final section contains a series of gates to allow the River Fleet to flow into Loch Fleet and to allow salmon to reach their spawning grounds up river. The importance of Littleferry declined when the causeway was completed because it shifted the main route for goods going north.

Victorians 1837–1900 Modern Scotland In 1902 a short section of railway line was built along the south 1901–1944 shore of Loch Fleet from the main line at the Mound to Dornoch. There were stations at Embo, Skelbo and Cambusavie. The last train ran in 1960. The line is marked on the 1:50 000 OS maps as dismantled railway. Timeline dates taken from BBC History website.

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4

Management of Loch Fleet NNR

Key events Date

Event

1970

Loch Fleet became a Scottish Wildlife Trust Reserve under agreement with Sutherland and Cambusmore Estates

1975

Notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

1984

SSSI renotified

1995

Nature Conservation Order served on all intertidal land to protect marine invertebrates from exploitation

1996

100 year Management Agreement concluded over Balblair Wood

1997

Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet Special Protection Area proposed

1997

Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet RAMSAR site proposed

1997

25 year Management Agreement concluded over Loch Fleet, Ferry Links and Ferry Wood

1998

25-year partnership concluded between SNH and SWT in agreement with Sutherland Estates for the future management of the Reserve

1998

Loch Fleet declared a NNR

Management of Loch Fleet NNR Loch Fleet NNR is managed by a partnership of Sutherland Estates, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Management of the natural heritage We do not actively manage the tidal basin but keep it as a quiet area, left to nature with minimal disturbance. In the mid-1990s we became concerned that shellfish collection and bait digging could have a detrimental impact on food supplies of the birds, so in 1995 we obtained a Nature Conservation Order to prevent collection and removal of marine invertebrates from the intertidal areas. The dunes and dune heath are vulnerable to colonisation by trees and scrub. The plantations are a constant source of seed and the open heath offers a good habitat for the seed to germinate. To prevent the dunes and heath turning into scrub woodland we remove young trees and clear gorse scrub. The dune and heath communities are fragile and susceptible to erosion. The main threats are motorcycles, quad bikes and other motorised vehicles. Vehicle tracking damages the

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ground cover and opens up bare sand where the impact is exacerbated by wind erosion. To prevent further damage we have erected low-level barriers to restrict off-road access and temporary signs to explain the restrictions on vehicular access. Since 1997 management for nature conservation has been the priority in both Balblair and Ferry Woods. Balblair is important for its rare pinewood plants, so the woodland management is designed to ensure continuity of habitat for the rare species. The woodland is divided into compartments and we have agreed the management for each compartment with the estate. The focus is to restructure the plantation to create more natural woodland with a wider age range of trees and open glades, so the wood is being thinned, and exotic species, such as rhododendron are being removed. We monitor the rare plants and ground vegetation to check the success of woodland management operations. Ferry Wood was replanted in the 1950s but the soils are thin and nutrient poor so growth has been limited. The central area of the Wood was not planted and is more open with a well-developed ground flora rich in lichens, which is closer in composition to the flora of the open dunes than woodland. The management here is designed to increase the conservation value by improving the structure within the plantation areas while maintaining the areas of lichen rich heath. The Wood is being thinned selectively to maintain the open structure preferred by the lichens. For the birds we focus our management effort on limiting disturbance. Wildfowling is not encouraged and the estuary is widely recognised as a wildfowl reserve. In years when terns have nested in or close to the NNR, we have erected signs to keep people a safe distance from nesting colonies. After ospreys tried but failed to breed within the Reserve, we built an artificial nest platform in a quieter area of the Reserve. This special platform was used in its first year (2004) with young ospreys fledging successfully. A large proportion of the Reserve is low lying and close to the high tide mark. Should sea levels continue to rise it is likely that some parts of the Reserve will be flooded more frequently than at present. We have recently noted changes in the profile of the dune system between Golspie and Littleferry. Such changes are not a new phenomenon and have been occurring for millennia, so where these do not conflict with other objectives, we will allow coastal processes to continue to develop naturally. In the short term this could, for example, result in the formation of saltmarsh vegetation on part of Ferry Links in place of coastal grassland. Research The main emphasis of research has been data collection. A survey of the invertebrate fauna was conducted in 1975 and a survey of the lichen flora of Ferry Wood in 1987. We have monitored the population of one-flowered wintergreen since 1988, and the Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh now include this plant in their rare plant-monitoring

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programme. Their work will help explain the changes that have occurred. We established monitoring plots in 1991 to assess the natural regeneration of pine within Balblair Wood and determine how this affects the one-flowered wintergreen. Waders and wildfowl have been counted regularly as part of the national Birds of Estuaries Enquiry (BoEE) survey, now called the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS). These waterfowl counts have been undertaken since the 1960s. SWT wardens’ reports from 1984–96 include records of breeding birds, mammals, plants and insects as well as more in depth surveys of particularly important communities and species. The butterflies have been monitored as part of the National Butterfly Monitoring Scheme since 1992. Management for people Loch Fleet NNR offers opportunities for visitors to experience wildlife throughout the year. Local people and visitors make good use of the Reserve for recreation. We estimate that over 8,000 visits to the Reserve are made every year with most people visiting during the summer months. Visitor surveys have shown that people use NNRs to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere, scenery and wildlife watching opportunities. Ferry Links and the adjoining beach are the most popular parts of the Reserve. A network of informal paths crosses the dunes; the most well used being the old coast road between Littleferry and Golspie. For many years a small area at the northern end of the Reserve has been used intermittently as a clay pigeon shoot. The woodland walk through Balblair Wood was way-marked in 2004 by the Highland Access Project. The track runs from the Littleferry road, through Balblair Wood, to Kirkton Farm, with a branch continuing along the edge of the woodland near the shore of Loch Fleet towards the Mound. Although the track is not surfaced it is the most suitable track on the Reserve for less-abled visitors. A bin has been placed near the entrance to the Balblair walk for dog owners to deposit dog waste. Ferry Wood has no vehicular access and no formal paths.

Information board of Ferry Links

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In the 1980s and 1990s SWT employed a seasonal warden at Loch Fleet from April–September, but there has been no seasonal warden since 2001. The warden’s work included practical site management, monitoring of interesting species and habitats, a programme of guided walks, interpretation and education about the importance of the reserve for wildlife. As a replacement the Highland Council Ranger Service now offers a programme of guided wildlife walks and special events on the Reserve during the summer months. These are advertised locally and are normally well attended. The Reserve has been used by very small numbers of educational groups, and we think there may be further opportunities for educational groups and groups from the local community to use the Reserve. There are several interpretive panels around the Reserve and the NNR leaflet is widely available. In 2004 Golspie Community Council produced the Golspie Walks booklet, which includes walks on the Reserve. A leaflet box was installed at the entrance to Balblair Wood in autumn 2003 to carry supplies of the NNR leaflet, and at the same time a notice board was put up at Littleferry to provide more on-site wildlife information and advertise events on the Reserve. In 2005 we will be carrying out a study to examine the existing interpretation and to identify potential improvements. The Reserve has several car parks. Highland Council maintains the car park at Skelbo which provides a good view of the Reserve and is an excellent site to watch and listen to the birds and common seals in the estuary. The car parks at Littleferry and Balblair Bay have viewpoints overlooking the Reserve and access to walks. Management of the proper ty Loch Fleet is owned by Sutherland Estates and managed through agreement with SNH. The management agreement over Balblair Woods lasts until 2096, while the agreement over Loch Fleet and Ferry Wood lasts until 2022. SNH also has a partnership agreement with SWT whereby both parties agree to work with the owners to coordinate the conservation management of the NNR. This agreement runs from 1998 until 2023. Loch Fleet NNR has a Liaison Group, which meets once a year to share information and contribute to management decisions on the Reserve. The Group consists of representatives from SNH, Sutherland Estates, SWT, the local community and other interested parties. Scottish and Southern Energy who have a right of access for maintenance and repairs along the way-leave maintain the power lines crossing the Reserve. A water pipe crosses part of the saltmarsh leading to Balblair Cottage and there is a right of access for maintenance.

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Summar y Loch Fleet NNR is a very important place for wildlife. The estuarine habitat is largely left to natural processes so we carry out very little management. In the dunes we are working to control tree colonisation and damage by vehicles. In the woodlands our management is designed to maintain suitable habitats for rare plants and lichens. We have provided facilities for visitors so that they can enjoy the Reserve and learn more about its wildlife by using the footpaths, interpretive panels, leaflets, and guided walks. If you would like to find out more about the management of Loch Fleet NNR, please contact the SNH office in Golspie.

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Appendix 1 – National Nature Reser ves Scotland’s NNRs are special places for nature, where many of the best examples of Scotland’s natural heritage are protected. Whilst nature always comes first on our NNRs, they also offer special opportunities for people to enjoy and find out about the richness of our natural heritage. NNRs are declared under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 or the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. A new Policy for NNRs in Scotland was developed in 1996. This Policy requires NNRs in Scotland to have four attributes and be managed for one or more of the three purposes. The attributes are: ●

national importance – SNH must be satisfied that it is nationally important for the interests to be managed as a nature reserve;

●

the ‘primacy of nature’ – all NNRs should place the needs of nature at the heart of decisions about land use and management; ‘nature conservation’ itself becomes the land use;

●

best practice – NNRs should be well managed to achieve their objectives and to a standard which is appropriate to the reserve’s national status;

●

the surety of long-term objectives – this requires most NNRs to be owned and managed either by SNH or by ‘approved bodies’.

The purposes are: ●

national awareness NNRs – on these reserves the people of Scotland, and others from further afield, can take pride in the natural heritage ‘on display’ and come to understand it better and enjoy it to the full;

●

specialised management NNRs – these will be selected because the character of the interest requires specialised and pro-active management which is best delivered by a nature reserve;

●

research-related NNRs – these NNRs will offer opportunities for research into the natural heritage and its management which specifically require a nature reserve location and which are not available elsewhere.

Between 2000–2003 all of Scotland’s NNRs were reviewed against this Policy. As a result there are now 55 NNRs in Scotland. More information can be found at: NNR Website:

http://www.nnr-scotland.org.uk

Scotland’s NNRs: A policy statement http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/polstat/nnrpolcy.pdf

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Appendix 2 – Site of Special Scientific Interest The Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designation is the main nature conservation designation in Great Britain. The SSSI series has been developed over the last 50 years, and since 1981 the national suite of sites provides statutory protection for the best examples of GB’s flora, fauna, or geological or physiographical features. Originally notified under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, many SSSIs were renotified and others newly notified under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. There have been further changes in the protective mechanisms in place as a result of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act which came into force in 2004. This Act has introduced new conservation measures and has amended existing legislation, including the consultation and consenting process for changes in management on SSSIs. These sites also underpin other national and international nature conservation designations. Most SSSIs are privately owned or managed; others are owned or managed by public bodies or non-government organisations. There are more than 1,400 SSSIs in Scotland.

Web Links: ‘The Nature of Scotland – A Policy Statement’ http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/environment/nas-00.asp ‘People and Nature: A New Approach to SSSI Designations in Scotland’ http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library/documents-w1/pandn-00.htm Guidelines for selection of biological SSSIs http://www.jncc.gov.uk/Publications/sssi/default.htm Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) http://www.snh.org.uk/about/ab-pa01.asp List of Scottish SSSI http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/protect/SSSI_02.pdf

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Loch Fleet SSSI Country

Scotland

Unitary Authority

Highland Regional Council

Notified

01/01/1975

Re notified

13/07/1984

Grid Ref*

NH800960

Area (ha)

1238ha NNR Boundary

SSSI

*This is the approximate central point of the SSSI.

This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office © Crown copyright (2005). Any unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. © Scottish Natural Heritage 100017908 (2005).

Description: This is the most northerly inlet on the east coast of Britain. Extensive sand flats support nationally important numbers of wintering birds while the surrounding coastal habitats are of outstanding variety and quality. Coastland: Heathland: Woodland

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Extensive flats support beds of Eelgrass Zostera species and a rich marine invertebrate fauna forms an important source of food for birds. A north-western type of saltmarsh, dominated by Seagrass Puccinellia maritima and Thrift Armeria maritima is relatively species-rich and is unusual in being only lightly grazed. Coul links is an extensive dune complex which is unusual in displaying a complete transition from foredune to wooded slacks. Coastal heathland is well developed in drier areas, supporting Juniper scrub locally. Flooded slacks and winter lochs contribute to the variety of habitat, and over 200 species of vascular plants have been recorded here, including a number of scarce species. Ferry Links is slightly less rich in vascular plants, but has large areas of lichen-rich and mossrich heathland. A breach in the dune front allows occasional flooding from the sea, creating a large and almost pure stand of Sea Milkwort Glaux maritima. A Scots Pine plantation has been established on the site of an old native pinewood on Ferry Links, and a number of scarce pinewood flowers have survived. A stand of what appears to be native pinewood survives within the plantation. Plants Nationally rare plants occurring on this site include Creeping Ladys’-Tresses Goodyera repens, Sea Centaury Centaurium littorale, Twinflower Linnaea borealis, Eelgrass Zostera angustifolia and two Red Data Book species. Birds Thirty-five species breed regularly on coastal habitats, including Schedule 1 species. The rich marine invertebrate fauna of the flats attracts large numbers of wintering wildfowl and waders, including nationally important numbers of Eider. The large wintering flock of Wigeon occasionally reaches nationally significant numbers, while up to 1,500 Longtailed Duck regularly visit the inlet. The description of the SSSI will be updated as part of a review of SSSI citations. This will take into account changes since 1975 eg the decline in long-tailed duck, which no longer visit the reserve in large numbers.

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Appendix 3 – Natura 2000 sites Natura 2000 is a European network of protected sites representing areas of the highest value for natural habitats and species of flora and fauna, which are rare, endangered or vulnerable in the European Community. The term Natura 2000 comes from 1992 EC Habitats Directive: it symbolises the conservation of precious natural resources for the year 2000 and beyond into the 21st century. Scotland’s Natura 2000 sites will help protect these important areas now and for generations to come. The Birds Directive is the commonly used name for the 1979 ‘Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the Conservation of Wild Birds’. This Directive protects all wild birds, their nests, eggs and habitats within the European Community. It gives EU member states the power and responsibility to classify Special Protection Areas (SPAs) to protect birds, which are rare or vulnerable in Europe, as well as all migratory birds, which are regular visitors. The Habitats Directive is the common name for ‘Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and Wild Fauna and Flora’ and which was adopted in 1992. It builds on the Bird Directive by protecting natural habitats and other species of wild plants and animals, as well as modifying the provisions of the Birds Directive in relation to SPAs. Sites selected under the Habitats Directive are called Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). The Directive also lists European Protected Species. These Directives are major contributions by the European Community to implementing the Biodiversity Convention agreed by more than 150 countries at the 1992 Rio Earth summit. The following websites provide further information: Special Areas of Conservation http://www.jncc.gov.uk/ProtectedSites/SACselection Special Protection Areas http://www.jncc.gov.uk/UKSPA/default.htm

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Dornoch Fir th and Loch Fleet SPA Country

Scotland

Unitary Authority

Highland

Classified

24/03/1997

Area (ha)

7836.33

Latitude

57 51 00 N

Longitude

04 02 30 W

Component SSSI

Dornoch Firth, Loch Fleet, Morrich More Mound Alderwoods, Tarbat Ness NNR Boundary

SPA Area


The Dornoch Firth is located in north-eastern Scotland and is one of the two northernmost estuaries in the Moray Basin ecosystem. The Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet SPA is one of the best examples in northwest Europe of a large complex estuary which has been relatively unaffected by industrial development, whilst Loch Fleet itself is an example of a

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shallow, bar-built estuary. Extensive sand-flats and mud-flats are backed by saltmarsh and sand dunes with transitions to dune heath and Alder Alnus glutinosa woodland. The tidal flats support internationally important numbers of waterbirds on migration and in winter, and are the most northerly and substantial extent of intertidal habitat for wintering waterbirds in the UK, as well as Europe. The Firth is also of importance as a feeding area for locally breeding Osprey Pandion haliaetus. Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet SPA forms an integral ecological component of Moray Basin Firths and Bays of which it forms the most northerly component area. This site qualifies under Article 4.1 of the Directive (79/409/EEC) by supporting populations of European importance of the following species listed on Annex I of the Directive: During the breeding season: Osprey Pandion haliaetus, 10 pairs representing at least 10.0% of the breeding population in Great Britain (Count as at early 1990s). Over winter: Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica, 1,300 individuals representing at least 2.5% of the wintering population in Great Britain (5 year peak mean 1991/2–1995/6). This site also qualifies under Article 4.2 of the Directive (79/409/EEC) by supporting populations of European importance of the following migratory species: Over winter: Greylag Goose Anser anser, 2,079 individuals representing at least 2.1% of the wintering Iceland/UK/Ireland population (5 year peak mean 1991/2–1995/6). Wigeon Anas penelope, 15,304 individuals representing at least 1.2% of the wintering Western Siberia/Northwestern/Northeastern Europe population (5 year peak mean 1989/90–1993/4). Assemblage qualification: a wetland of international importance. The area qualifies under Article 4.2 of the Directive (79/409/EEC) by regularly supporting at least 20,000 waterfowl: Over winter, the area regularly supports 34,837 individual waterfowl (5 year peak mean 1991/2–1995/6) including: Curlew Numenius arquata, Dunlin Calidris alpina alpina, Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus, Teal Anas crecca, Wigeon Anas penelope, Greylag Goose Anser anser, Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica.

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Appendix 4 – RAMSAR sites RAMSAR sites are wetlands of international importance designated under the RAMSAR Convention. In the UK, the first RAMSAR sites were designated in 1976. Since then, many more have been designated. Compared to many countries, the UK has a relatively large number of RAMSAR sites, but they tend to be smaller than many countries. The initial emphasis was on selecting sites of importance to waterbirds within the UK, and consequently many RAMSAR sites are Special Protection Areas (SPAs) classified under the Birds Directive. Dornoch Fir th and Loch Fleet RAMSAR site Latitude

56º24’N

Longitude

003º05’W

RAMSAR code

1034

Area (ha)

6923 NNR Boundary

RAMSAR Boundary


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Summary A large area covering the two northern most estuaries in the Moray Basin ecosystem. The Dornoch Fleet is one of the best examples in northwest Europe of a large complex estuary which has been relatively unaffected by industrial development, whilst Loch Fleet is an example of a shallow, bar-built estuary. Extensive sandflats and mudflats are backed by saltmarsh and sand dunes with transitions to dune heath and alder Alnus glutinosa woodland. The tidal flats support internationally important numbers of waterfowl in winter and are the most northerly and substantial extent of intertidal habitat for wintering waterfowl in Britain, as well as Europe. The sand dune, saltmarsh and estuary habitats are of international importance for their flora and geomorphology. For further information see: http://www.jncc.gov.uk/ProtectedSites/ramsar/RIS/7UK111.pdf

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Appendix 5 – Species There are a number of laws protecting species in the UK; this is only a brief synopsis. The Wildlife and Countr yside Act (as amended) This Act makes it an offence to intentionally kill, injure, or take any wild bird or their eggs or nests (except for species listed in Schedule 2). Special penalties are available for offences related to birds listed on Schedule 1, for which there are additional offences of disturbing these birds at their nests, or their dependent young. The Act also prohibits certain methods of killing, injuring, or taking birds, restricts the sale and possession of captive bred birds, and sets standards for keeping birds in captivity. The Act makes it an offence (subject to exceptions) to intentionally kill, injure, or take, possess, or trade in any wild animal listed in Schedule 5, and prohibits interference with places used for shelter or protection, or intentionally disturbing animals occupying such places. The Act also prohibits certain methods of killing, injuring, or taking wild animals. The Act makes it an offence (subject to exceptions) to pick, uproot, trade in, or possess (for the purposes of trade) any wild plant listed in Schedule 8, and prohibits the unauthorised intentional uprooting of such plants.

There are other Acts which protect Wild Mammals, Badgers, Deer and Seals. The Habitats Directive Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora requires Member States to take the requisite measures to establish a system of strict protection for the animal species listed in Annex IV, ie animal and plant species of community interest in need of strict protection. There are 13 European Protected Species in Britain. The Biodiversity Convention The Convention on Biodiversity was adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 1992. In the UK the Government launched the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, a national strategy which identified broad activities for conservation work over the next 20 years, and established fundamental principles for future biodiversity conservation. A number of Biodiversity Action Plans (UKBAP) have been produced for selected habitats and species, and some areas have developed local biodiversity action plans (LBAP) too. Red Data Book Species Red Data Books list species that are threatened or endangered. In the past species in Britain were included as Red Data Book species if they occurred in fewer than 15 10km x 10km squares. Britain is moving towards the IUCN (The World Conservation Union) criteria which categories species as Extinct, Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable.

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Protected and Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Species Found at Loch Fleet

1

Nationally European **1Red Scarce Protected Data Book Species Species

Plants

Scientific name

One-flowered wintergreen

Moneses uniflora

Twinflower

Linnaea borealis

X

Creeping lady’s-tresses

Goodyera repens

X

Juniper

Juniperus communis

BAP

X X

X

Seaside centaury Centaurium littorale

X

Narrow-leaved eel grass

Zostera angustifolia

X

Dwarf eelgrass

Zostera noltii

X

Variegated horsetail

Equisetum variegatum

X

Drab tooth (tooth fungi)

Bankera fuligineoalba

X

X

Brown corky spine fungus (tooth fungi)

Hydnellum peckii

X

X

Scaly tooth (tooth fungi)

Sarcodon imbricatum

X

X

Lichen

Cladonia uncialis uncialis

X

Lichen

Cladonia mitis

X

Lichen

Bacidia egenula

X

Lichen

Buellia schaereri

X

Lichen

Cladonia cornuta

X

Lichen

Cladonia zopfii

X

Lichen

Peltigera canina

X

Lichen

Peltigera leucophlebia

X

Lichen

Polyblastia gelatinosa

X

Lichen

Psoroma hypnorum

X

Lichen

Stereocaulatum condensatum

X

**Red Data Books are an established method of presenting information about the status of the rarest and most threatened animals and plants.

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Birds

Scientific name

Nationally European **Red Scarce Protected Data Book Species Species

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

X

Crested tit

Parus cristatus

X

Crossbill

Loxia curvirostra

X

Scottish crossbill Loxia scotica

BAP

X

Turdus philomelos

X

Spotted flycatcher Muscicapa striata

X

Song thrush Bullfinch

Pyrrhula pyrrhula

X

Reed bunting

Emberiza schoeniculus

X

Mammals

Scientific name

Common seal

Phoca vitulina

Grey seal

Halichoerus grypus

Wildcat

Felis sylvestris

X

Otter

Lutra lutra

X

Water vole

Arvicola terrestris

Pipistrelle bat

Pipistrellus pipistrellus

Nationally European **Red Scarce Protected Data Book Species Species

BAP

X X

X

Photography: Laurie Campbell (Natural History Photographer), Scottish Natural Heritage, Lorne Gill (SNH), Paul Gallacher (SWT), Tim Harrison, Lyn Wells. All maps are based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office © Crown copyright (2005). Any unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. © Scottish Natural Heritage 100017908 (2005).

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