Woodland Ecosystems - Tayside Biodiversity · renewed interest in traditional woodland skills in managing coppice and hedgerows (hedgelaying, etc.), there is an urgent need to source

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BackgroundTayside is home to a rich variety of native woodlandtypes and is also the ‘cradle of Scottish forestry’ aslarch, spruce and Douglas fir were first introducedhere. Europe’s oldest tree is our renowned FortingallYew, which is between 3,000 and 5,000 years old.Tayside’s woodlands are a major asset: biodiversity,recreation, tourism and carbon sequestration, aswell as the economic value of wood fuel and timberextraction. There are, however, serious threats toindividual woodlands, including Ash Dieback andthe invasive non-native Rhododendron ponticum.In the SNH Biodiversity Indicators 15 of the 23woodland bird species have increased by 10%.These include Great-spotted woodpecker,Chiffchaff and Blackcap. Many woodland birds arereliant on tree seeds as a source of food.

Tayside has 16% tree coverage, some 127,000hectares of which 38,925 ha (2013 FCS WoodlandSurvey) is occupied by native and Ancient Woodland.In Perth & Kinross only 36% of native woodland is ingood health, whereas it is 51% in Angus. AncientWoods - land continually wooded since 1750 - are animportant and irreplaceable national resource. Theypreserve the soil's ecological processes andassociated biodiversity. Woodlands, hedgerows andindividual trees (especially noteable and veterantrees) are vital both culturally and for biodiversity.

The outlook for native Pinewoods is the best it hasbeen for 300 years, not only providing habitat, butalso for its aesthetic and cultural contribution to theScottish landscape. Wet Woodlands tend to betransient, colonising relatively inaccessible ground,often survivors of larger woods which have beenfelled and converted to other uses. In the Taysidelandscape, the role of Wet Woodlands lies in theirwater quality and flood management benefits.

Lowland Mixed Broadleaved Woodland, on theother hand, is the most diminished Taysidewoodland type. A very large proportion has beencleared for agriculture or in urban expansion and itsuse as pasture has died out. Its ecological conditionhas been compromised, especially in producinghardwood timber, supporting game species, orrecreational use. Ash-Wych elm woodlands aretoday confined to the most fertile soils. With arenewed interest in traditional woodland skills inmanaging coppice and hedgerows (hedgelaying,etc.), there is an urgent need to source localmaterials. Coupled with a greater interest inplanting broadleaves by community groups and inurban fringe woodlands, now is the time to reviewour management of this woodland type.

Birchwoods often form part of a complex mosaic,grading into other woodland types depending on

6Woodland Ecosystems

Glen Lednock, Perthshire © CAG Lloyd

soil fertility, exposure and soil moisture. These areoften interspersed with open areas of heath andbog. The ecosystem is especially dynamic asbirchwood boundaries ‘alter’ over time. In theAngus Glens with continual selective removal thereare losses of natural seed-sources. Over-grazing bysheep and deer has resulted in a lack ofregeneration; climate change may affect theirlongevity and affect the ground flora beneath.

Some 80% of our woodlands are introduced coniferforests: these are amongst the longest established inthe British Isles. Biodiversity benefits includegreater species diversity and long-term retention, aswell as their micro-climatic effects, carbon andoxygen exchange, soil stabilisation and regulationof water run-off. Forest rides, wayleave routes,roads, quarries and wetlands - and land where treeshave failed to grow - make a valuable contributionto their overall biodiversity value.

As with other woodland types, the disappearance oftraditional orchards in Tayside has been driven byeconomic and development pressures. Since theHistoric Orchards of the Carse of Gowrie Survey,remaining orchards have been re-planted and theloss of skills addressed. The Perth800 celebrationsresulted in hundreds of fruit trees planted; in Angusthere are now 60 school orchards. The community

orchard in Cultybraggan, Comrie, is proof that topfruit yields more than just community spirit - theeconomic benefit links the Slow Food movementand local food production.

Objectives1 Endeavour to reduce the direct pressures on

woodland biodiversity by implementingprojects to enhance ecosystem health.

2 Safeguard woodland ecosystems, species andgenetic diversity by enhancing connectivityand where possible preventing its decline.

3 Mainstream biodiversity conservation actionby raising awareness and the enjoyment ofwoodland ecosystems within localcommunities.

4 Recognise the important of ancient woodlandin Tayside by protecting the existing resourceand restoring and reconnecting ancientwoodland remnants.

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Key Sites Black Wood of Rannoch:Caledonian Pinewood

Glenartney: Juniper Woodland

Crossbog Pinewood, Angus

Den of Airlie

Birks of Aberfeldy

Upper Farrochil and StrathTummel: Upland Birchwood

Methven Woods: Lower MixedBroadleaf

Drummond Hill: PlantedConiferous Woodland

Strathtay Estate: Upland MixedAshwood

Megginch Castle: TraditionalOrchard

Loch Clunie: Wet Woodland

Key Species • Woodland mammals,including Red squirrel andPine marten

• Scottish crossbill andNightjar

• Woodland invertebrates, inc.Scottish wood ant and moths

• Woodland plants, inc.Juniper, Blaeberry, SmallCow-wheat, Coral-rootorchid and Twinflower

• Woodland lower plants andfungi

Priority Habitats • Native conifers: Scottish Pinewoods, Yew andJuniper

• Upland Birchwoods

• Wet Woodlands

• Upland Oakwoods

• Upland Mixed Ashwoods

• Lowland Mixed Broadleaf (Deciduous)Woodlands

• Aspen

• Traditional Orchards

• Planted Coniferous Woodlands (especially thewoodland edge/glades)

Native woodland type PKC area ha. AC area ha. Total Tayside ha.

Wet woodland 3675 ha 928 4603

Native pinewoods 7032 1065 8097

Upland birchwoods 7292 1713 9005

Upland mixed ashwoods 1659 184 1843

Upland oakwoods 2235 174 2409

Juniper scrub 93 - 93

Red squirrel © SNH

Scot's pine © SNH

Forestry Commission Scotland’s work is driven bythe Water Framework Directive, the ScottishForestry Strategy, and the need to improve naturalflood management. It is actively promotingresponsible woodland management withlandowners and tenant farmers in the River SouthEsk catchment to improve natural floodmanagement opportunities, mitigate diffusepollution, and improve habitats. Contour treeplanting work being carried out in Glen Clova isbeing funded through project partnercontribution and has been designed to ensure noloss of agricultural production or farm income.The increase of targeted woodland cover above400m contours will contribute to greater soilpermeability which, in the long term will result in

a reduction in peak water flow during flood events.Not only will the project provide opportunities foremployment in rural areas and create businessopportunities from woodland management, theincrease in trees could create shelter for livestock.Connections between important habitats will beimproved, increasing the resilience of localbiodiversity.

stalkers, gamekeepers and

rangers. At least two visits are

made to known lek sites

between mid-March and mid-

May and the numbers of

blackcock present on leks

counted between one hour

before and one hour after

sunrise. Other suitable habitat

is also visited to search for new

leks or displaying birds.

This Group has been

monitoring the Black grouse

population in an area centred

on Loch Tummel since 1990.

Each year 25-30 volunteers

count black grouse within

seven 10 km squares. The

group includes staff and

volunteers from the RSPB,

Game & Wildlife Conservancy

Trust, Forestry Commission

Scotland and SNH, as well as

Perthshire Black Grouse Study Group

Despite national declines

during the 1990s the Perthshire

population has long been a

stronghold for this species. The

long-term data has been used

in several peer-reviewed papers

and the complete coverage and

annual nature of the data

means it can be used to analyse

the importance of land

management changes on the

population over the long-term.

Glen Clova Contour Planting Project

93

Black grouse © Doug Shapley

Glen Clova Contour Planting Project © Kelly Ann Dempsey

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EcosystemServices & Ecosystem ScaleProjects Ecosystem Services • Carbon sequestration

• Photosynthesis and oxygenproduction

• Renewable energy

• Recreation and leisure

• Health and wellbeing,including medicines

• Tourism

• Wild food provision

• Timber and wood fuel

• Flood protection

• Climate regulation

Ecosystem Scale Projects

• Natural flood managementprocesses

• Tayside Red SquirrelConservation

• Tay Landscape PartnershipOrchard Initiative

• Riparian CatchmentWoodland Planting projects

• Wild Harvest projects

• Tayside Orchard projects

• Coppice woodlandmanagement

• Upper Strathearn OakwoodsProject

Pressures Invasive non-nativespecies and diseasesHimalayan Balsam, JapaneseKnotweed and Giant Hogweedall suppress the natural groundflora. As oak is a strong lightdemander, regeneration of oakunder oak canopy is difficultwith invasion ofRhododendron and SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus;Rhododendron shades outnative shrubs, young trees andground flora, including lichensand bryophytes. Although anative plant, the spread ofBracken Pteridium aquilinumcan seriously limit younggrowth.

Many tree pathogens arepresent in Britain - andspreading so research/treatment is urgent andongoing, especially where AshDieback and Phytophthoraramorum are concerned.

Climate ChangeMany bird species are likely tobe affected by climate changein the future, including Blackgrouse, Scottish crossbill andPied flycatcher.

Silvicultural SystemsThe cessation of coppicing andincreased grazing pressurefrom domestic animals andbrowsing by wild animals hascontributed towards a decreasein the structural diversity ofUpland Oakwoods. Removal oflarge amounts of timber in theearly 20th century significantlychanged the composition andstructure of Tayside’s uplandoakwoods. The replacement ofnative woodlands with crops ofnon-native species, notablyDouglas fir in Tayside, is nowlargely historical, but its effectsare ongoing.

AfforestationInappropriate afforestation andencroachment by scrub, treesand bracken in priority non-woodland habitats and keysites leads to impoverishedhabitats. Short-rotationcoppice for biofuel also needsto be carefully located so thatit does not damage priorityupland or existing woodlandhabitats.

Fragmentation ofHabitatFelling and conversion ofwoodlands to intensiveagriculture or developmentincluding housing, otherinfrastructure developments,golf courses and quarrying arekey issues. Trees enclosed bynew development risk beingfelled to abate an allegednuisance and there is not arobust Tree Preservation Ordersystem to safeguard them.Adjacent woodland areas arevulnerable to furtherencroachment or degradingowing to spray drift or run-offfrom agricultural land.Connecting features such ashedgerows and old wood bankscan also be lost. In developinglandscape-scale woodlandplanting projects, thedevelopment of forest habitatnetworks or urban greenspacenetworks must also take intoconsideration other priorityhabitats.

Lack of ManagementHistorical under-planting ofoakwoods with coniferousspecies has contributed to thedecline of about 40% ofoakwoods across Scotland.Lack of management andadjacent land use changes(including new roads,quarrying and recreationalaccess) have led to a limited

Pear orchard, Megginch by Errol© CAG Lloyd

95

age structure within manywoods. Unsympatheticmanagement for wildlife inPlanted Coniferous Woodlandcan occur if there is a limitedrange of tree species andminimal areas of open space.Such woodland can also bevulnerable to fire, wind-throwand major forest pests anddiseases.

Grazing IssuesChanges in woodland structurecan occur if sites are over-grazed by both domestic

animals and deer, leading todegradation of ground floraand lack of regeneration.Overstocking of sheep and deerinhibits regeneration ofmontane scrub and woodland.Sycamore and Beech cansurvive the effects of over-grazing to take over any gapscreated in the Ashwoodcanopy; this hinders potentialexpansion of the originalwoodland type. Conversely,wood pasture can be under-grazed or converted tointensive grassland and veteran

trees removed or severelypollarded.

Abstraction of WaterIn wet woodland, agriculturaldrainage coupled withexcessive grazing results inpoached soils, changes in thewoodland structure andground flora, and regenerationissues. Increased waterabstraction, eutrophicationand other forms of pollutionalso take their toll.

Increasing RecreationalUseVisitor presence in woodlandshas been shown to affect thenumber of birds, badgers anddeer owing to increaseddisturbance. This may beworsened around breeding orhibernation time where batspecies are concerned.Destruction or over-managedwoodland ground cover forfootpaths, orienteering ormountain bike routes canresult in the loss ofinvertebrates which affects thewildlife that feed upon them.Careful path management canmitigate against this.

out where Juniper is growing in

Perthshire. Stands of 50+

mature juniper bushes are

needed to be self-sustaining

and this is now rare in the

landscape.

The loss of juniper will affect

wildlife such as Black grouse,

Snipe and Woodcock who

benefit from the dense ground

cover provided by juniper. Its

evergreen leaves are often the

There are three native conifersin Scotland – the Scots Pine, Yewand Juniper. All can be long-lived if they are able toreproduce. Juniper was once awidespread species in Scotlandand Perthshire is still a key areafor it. It is, however, in trouble,with many veteran junipers leftin the landscape, over-grazedand not able to regenerate. It isin serious decline and ScottishNatural Heritage is keen to find

The Hunt for Juniper

only grazing available to sheep

and deer during snowy winters.

Farm livestock also use the

shelter juniper affords. Most

juniper berries for gin

production in the UK are

imported from Eastern Europe,

although there is a Southern

Uplands project underway.

Scottish juniper was often used

by illicit whisky distillers

because of its smokeless wood.

Juniper © SNH

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Maintaining & Improving Habitats

Action Action breakdown Who needs to takethe action

Timescale

1 Protect and expandTayside’s forests andwoodlands,increasing theirvalue to society andthe environment.

Set targets for new and existing native treecover, taking into consideration the ScottishForestry Strategy's vision for woodlandexpansion to around 25% of Scotland's landarea.

Forestry CommissionScotlandScottish Natural HeritageCairngorms NationalPark AuthorityAngus CouncilPerth & Kinross CouncilTayside BiodiversityPartnershipRiver South EskCatchment Partnership

Short

2 Maintain existingnative woodlandand TraditionalOrchard areas andprevent net loss orreduction in theirquality.

Protect native woodland resources throughplanning policy, conditions and TreePreservation Orders.Protect, restore and enhance ancientwoodland.

Forestry CommissionScotlandCairngorms NationalPark AuthorityAngus CouncilPerth & Kinross Council

Long

3 Investigate andsupport projects andpolicies whichcreate more plantingof native woodlandspecies and forestcover in Tayside.

Expand the establishment of Scots Pine andnative Oak plantings where appropriatewithin Tayside, or extend existing nativewoodland where there has been continuouscover of some kind for 500 years or more. Expand the establishment of mixedbroadleaves, birchwoods and wet woodlandplantings where appropriate within Tayside,or extend such existing native woodlandwhere there has been continuous cover ofsome kind for 500 years or more.Identify Planted Ancient Woodland Sites(PAWS) and encourage landowners andmanagers to incorporate PAWS restorationin management plans.

Forestry CommissionScotlandCairngorms NationalPark AuthorityAngus CouncilWoodland TrustPerth & Kinross CouncilRiver South EskCatchment PartnershipLandowners andmanagers

Long

4 Improve theenvironmental valueof woods and foreststhroughout Tayside.

Deliver new grants, including work in openspace and non-woodland habitat within thewoodland or forest area.Develop forest habitat networks.

Forestry CommissionScotlandCairngorms NationalPark AuthorityAngus CouncilPerth & Kinross CouncilRiver South EskCatchment PartnershipCommunity WoodlandsAssociationLandowners andmanagersCommunity groups

Long

Woodland Ecosystems Actions ScheduleKey for timescale Short: 1-3 yrs Medium: 4-6 yrs Long: 7-10 yrsActions will be input into the UK Biodiversity Action System (UKBARS)where Lead Partners will be outlined

97



Timescale

5 Encourage naturalflood managementthrough the plantingof trees.

Where appropriate, support catchment-ledtree planting initiatives that encouragenatural flood management and mitigateagainst the impacts of climate change.

Forestry CommissionScotlandCairngorms NationalPark AuthorityNorth East GreenNetworkAngus CouncilPerth & Kinross CouncilScottish Natural HeritageTayside BiodiversityPartnershipRiver South EskCatchment PartnershipWoodland TrustTay FoundationEsk Rivers & FisheriesTrust

Long

6 Extend and enhanceUpland Oakwoods,bringing themunder managementto increase theirbiodiversity andconservation value.

Encourage the application for funds withinthe Scottish Rural Development Plan andForestry Grant Schemes (or their successors)to raise awareness of the importance ofUpland Oakwoods to woodland ownersthrough examples of good practice,workshops, publicity and other events.

Develop Forest Habitat Networks as detailedin the Scottish Forestry Strategy andIndicative Forestry Strategies.

Forestry CommissionScotlandCairngorms NationalPark AuthorityAngus CouncilPerth & Kinross CouncilRiver South EskCatchment PartnershipLandowners andmanagersCommunity groups

Medium

7 Maintain, improveand increase thehabitat quality ofConiferousPlantations whereScottish BiodiversityList species arepresent.

Safeguard and enhance existing andpotential habitat features in all plantations.

Protect and suitably manage Great CrestedNewt ponds to increase population.

Restructure first rotation coniferplantations.

Forestry CommissionScotlandCairngorms NationalPark AuthorityRiver South EskCatchment PartnershipLandowners andmanagersCommunity groupsFife Amphibian & ReptileGroup (Fife ARG)Tayside Amphibian &Reptile Group (TayARG)

Long

98



Timescale

8 Maintain, restoreand improveexisting WetWoodlands inTayside and expandthem whereappropriate.

Safeguard and enhance existing habitatfeatures in all Wet Woodlands, especiallythose in SAC and SSSI designated sites.

Scottish Natural Heritage

Forestry CommissionScotland

Cairngorms NationalPark Authority

Angus Council

Perth & Kinross Council

River South EskCatchment Partnership

Landowners andmanagers

Community groups

Long

9 Halt further loss ofTraditional Orchardsin Tayside.

Protect Traditional Orchard resourcesthrough planning conditions and TreePreservation Orders.

Undertake a survey of all Tayside orchards.

Undertake a variety of biodiversitystudies/surveys across Tayside to ascertainthe biodiversity value of old orchards, andpublicise the findings to a wide audience.

Encourage the setting up of a fruit treegrafting programme to safeguard existinglocal fruit varieties and to make availablelocal varieties to projects throughoutTayside.

Disseminate the booklet 'TraditionalOrchards in Tayside – a Guide to Wildlife andManagement' as widely as possible.

Angus Council


Tayside BiodiversityPartnership

Tay LandscapePartnership

Scottish OrchardCollective

Plants withPurpose/Appletreeman

Carse of Gowrie Group


Community groups

Medium

10 Restore andenhance TraditionalOrchards in Tayside.

By 2025 restore 12 acres of TraditionalOrchards in Perth & Kinross.

By 2025 restore 8 acres of TraditionalOrchards in Angus.





Long

99



Timescale

11 Promote thebiodiversityimportance ofTraditionalOrchards, enhanceorchardmanagement andencourage theirsustainableeconomic use.

Promote and publicise Traditional Orchardsas part of the culture and landscape.

Support groups such as the Carse of GowrieHistoric Orchards Forum.

Support community events and trainingworkshops throughout the year.

Support an annual Tayside Orchard Festivaland local community Apple, Pear or OrchardDays.






Landowners

Community groups

Medium

12 Restore woodlandplant speciespopulations andgenetic diversity andenhance speciesconnectivity.

Support existing and new projects whichidentify and safeguard threatened species.



Plantlife Scotland

Botanical Society of theBritish Isles

Angus Council


Landowners


Long

13 Promote thesustainabledevelopment ofTayside’s woodlandtypes throughincreased policyintegration.

Ensure TAYplan (Strategic DevelopmentPlan), Angus Local Development Plan, Perth& Kinross Council, Development Plan andIndicative Forestry Strategies take intoaccount sustainable development.

Annually produce updates for LocalAuthority Climate Change Declarationreporting.

Produce updates for Local Authoritystatutory biodiversity reporting against the2020 Challenge.




Angus Council




Long

14 Reduce the directpressures onwoodlandbiodiversity byenhancingecosystem health.

Tackle littering and invasive non-nativespecies at problem sites.

Encourage measures which reverse habitatfragmentation.

Safeguard alluvial forests and bogwoodlands.

Develop and promote ongoing beneficialdeer management.

Introduce biosecurity measures wherenecessary at outbreaks of notifiable treediseases.

Angus Council





Landowners and Landmanagers

Long

100



Timescale

15 Ensure the long-term future ofwoodland habitat byshowcasing bestpractice landmanagementtechniques.

Maintain species richness within thedifferent woodland types.

Reduce grazing pressure from deer andlivestock ensuring a more collaborativemanagement approach of roe and fallowdeer to help promote more tree regenerationin existing woodlands.

Protect woodlands and woodland stripsfrom inappropriate development,disturbance and damage (includingrecreation).

Promote demonstration sites and advise ongood woodland management practices.

Encourage sympathetic management ofwoodlands for wildlife, structural diversityand rich lower plant communities, includingthe natural turn-over of leaf litter and woodby invertebrates and fungi.




North East GreenNetwork

Angus Council


Landowners and LandManagers

Royal Society for theProtection of Birds

British Lichen Society

Plantlife Scotland

National Farmers UnionScotland

Scottish Land & Estates



Long

16 Promote thesafeguarding andmanagement ofveteran trees.

Support measures to protect and manageveteran trees across Tayside.

Encourage the widening of the Ancient TreeHunt surveys across Tayside.

Support groups such as the Ancient TreeForum and Perth & Kinross Tree Wardens’Network in raising awareness on veterantree management.

Support the setting up of a National Registerof Scotland’s Trees of Special Interest.

Support community events and trainingworkshops throughout the year.


Woodland Trust

Ancient Tree Forum

Angus Council



Perth & Kinross TreeWardens Network

Long

17 Promote theimportance of urbantrees.

Protect urban trees in accordance withBS5837.

Renew the street tree resource acrossTayside.

Encourage the need to renew the resourcethrough new development opportunitieswith planners and developers.

Raise awareness of the importance of urbantrees with planners and developers throughregular training events.

Support the planting and management ofcommunity orchards, school orchards andfruit tree plantings in the urban setting.


Angus Council



Woodland Trust


Perth & Kinross TreeWardens NetworkDevelopers


Medium

101



Timescale

18 Promote restorationprojects and speciesmanagementprogrammes.

Set up Green Habitat Network to createstepping stones for key species.

Identify woodlands with the greatestpotential for Red squirrel conservation andencourage the use of funding through theScottish Rural Development Programmeand Forestry Grant Scheme to supporthabitat management for Red squirrels.

Investigate ways of managing upland forestground to increase its value as a wildlifehabitat.

Explore options for fencing to protectsensitive habitats from disturbance.

Where Juniper is present (>50 plants),enhance management by controllinggrazing levels and timing, protecting bushesfrom burning and removing encroachingvegetation.

Safeguard small and vulnerable populationsof Juniper.

Encourage natural regeneration of Aspen.

Identify woodlands with the greatestpotential for Bat species conservation.

Remove invasive plants such as JapaneseKnotweed, Himalayan Balsam and GiantHogweed.

Encourage the setting up of a TaysideWoodland Butterfly Project.



Scottish Wildlife Trust

Plantlife Scotland


Angus Council



Butterfly ConservationScotland

Bat Conservation Trust


Community groups

Medium

19 Support the Aspen2020 Project

Encourage the gathering and sharing ofinformation about Aspen to enablelandowners and managers to safeguard andexpand existing Aspen woodlands and plantnew ones.

Support the increased availability of localorigin Aspen for planting.




Long

102



Timescale

20 Encouragecollaborativeregional working forgreen networks.

Identify and promote “cross-boundary”opportunities to join up woodlands andwoodland strips between local authorities,Biodiversity Partnerships and othergeographically based organisations.

In collaboration with partners, share andpromote good practice to other land users.

Encourage or co-ordinate regional-scaleprojects and surveys and advise on funding.

Investigate the potential for a partnershipproject to promote connectivity,management and expansion of ancientsemi-natural woodlands around woodlandSSSIs - consider the introduction of a pilotUpper Strathearn Oakwoods Project.

Highlight projects being developed andcreate opportunities of scale andcollaboration.

Encourage landowners and land managersto consider how best to develop woodlandin order to maximise benefits for wildlifethrough improving habitat connectivity.

Support the setting up of a Scottish CoppiceAssociation to raise awareness ofsustainable coppice management forwoodland products and biodiversity.

Work in partnership to establish an overviewaudit of relict and existing coppicewoodland in Tayside, its current status, andthe potential to plant new coppice coupes.



North East GreenNetwork

Angus Council


Perth & KinrossCountryside Trust




Scottish Crannog Centre

Reforesting Scotland


Landowners and landmanagers

Long

21 Protect, restore andenhance ancientwoodlands asidentified in theSNH AncientWoodlandInventory.

Protect ancient woodlands throughplanning policy and conditions, forestryapplications, awareness-raising withplanners and landowners of theirirreplaceability and encouraging restoration.

Raise awareness of the National WoodlandSurvey of Scotland and the AncientWoodland Inventory.




Angus Council




Ancient Tree Forum

Long

103

Surveying & Monitoring


Timescale

22 Investigate theeffects of climatechange on themovement ofwoodland speciesthrough regularsurveying andmonitoring.

Generate records of woodland wildlife byfacilitating biological surveys in woodlandsaround Tayside.

Raise awareness of woodland species andconservation amongst the widercommunity.

Continue the Black Grouse Project.





British Trust forOrnithology

Angus Council




Tayside Recorders’Forum


Woodland Trust

Botanical Society ofBritain and Ireland

Long

23 Investigatewoodland birdspatial and temporaldistribution patternsin Tayside.

Encourage the continuation of ScottishWoodland Breeding Bird Surveys to improveinformation about woodland birds.


Medium

24 Conserve geneticdiversity bydiscovering andpromoting thediversity of fruitvarieties grown inTayside.

Undertake varietal surveys throughoutTayside and widely share the information.

Survey other key fruit such as plum varieties.

Support growing of local and rare fruitvarieties.





Medium

104

Surveying & Monitoring


Timescale

25 Raise awareness ofendangeredwoodland butterfliesand moths andencouragecommunityparticipation inconservation.

Analyse collected, verified data annually anddevelop adaptive management strategy todevelop surveying and monitoring protocol.

Investigate the connectivity of woodlandpopulations.

Provide survey training for recorders.

Produce and reprint postcards and postersto publicise ongoing projects.

Expand the project to include the North EastScotland Biodiversity Partnership area.

Annually prepare and circulate updates onsurvey work, publicity and volunteers.

Make all survey links available on thePartnership website.

Encourage the undertaking of a Black Woodof Rannoch Moth Project.



North East ScotlandBiodiversity Partnership

Landowners and landmanagers

Community

Long

26 Promote localrecorders, clubs andbiodiversity opendays.

Maintain an up to date database of localrecorders and specialist clubs on the TBPwebsite.

Utilise the skills of local recorders and clubsto target specific projects.

Encourage local open days and promote tothe partnership’s extended network.


Tayside Recorders’ Forum

North East ScotlandBiological RecordingCentre




Scottish Land & Estates

Medium

105

Education & Awareness Raising


Timescale

27 Increase awarenessof woodlandspecies in Taysideand facilitatecommunityparticipation indata recording.

Determine current status and distribution,and monitor populations of Pine marten,bats, woodland birds and woodlandbutterflies in Tayside.

Encourage the setting up of a community-based Migratory Birds Project to studypopulations of Pied flycatcher, Woodwarbler, Redstart and Tree pipit. As part ofthe project, consider a targeted nestboxscheme in pilot areas (including HighlandPerthshire) before widening out acrossTayside.

Focus on awareness-raising through localand national press, specialist publications,tree and woodland trails, and events.

Develop web and social media presencefocussing on media used by localcommunities and tourists e.g. VisitScotland,CNPA, and Angus Ahead website.

Support Nightjar surveys and the species'safeguarding in Angus woodlands.


North East ScotlandBiological RecordingCentre



Community

Butterfly Conservation(Scotland)



Perth & KinrossCountryside Trust

Dundee & Angus BirdClub

Bat Conservation Trust

Woodland Trust


Long

28 Encouragecommunityoutreach,development andtraining.

Raise awareness of woodland managementmeasures to community groups andvoluntary organisations in Tayside toencourage woodland purchase,management and hardwood timbermarketing.

Encourage sharing good practice andtraining in woodland and orchardmanagement and conservation, includingsustainable coppice, veteran tree andhedgerow management (includinghedgelaying).


Angus Council



Scottish CommunityWoodlands

Native Woodlands

Small Woods Association


Long

106

Education & Awareness Raising


Timescale

29 Raise awareness ofwoodland types toLocal Authorities,CommunityPlanning Partnersand the widerstakeholdernetwork.

Report regularly to community planningthematic partnerships on projectcontributions to local and national SingleOutcome Agreement objectives.

Regularly provide biodiversity seminars andworkshops to local authority staff onrelevant legislation and good practice.

Use social media and targeted websites topromote woodland issues to as wide anaudience as possible.



Angus Council



Long

30 Encourage schoolage participation inprojects relating towoodland andorchard issues.

Support new projects, including the TaysideWildlife Trees Initiative, which identifywoodland ecosystem, habitat and speciesissues.

Support new Branching Out projects inTayside, including expansion of the TaysideWoods for Health initiative.

Expand the Schools into Woods Project toencourage schools to use nearby WoodlandTrust sites for outdoor learning.

Increase opportunities for learning outdoorsvia Outdoor & Woodland Learning Scotland(OWL Scotland).

Encourage the expansion of Forest School,Forest Kindergarten and Skills for Work(rural skills and vocational training) facilitiesacross Tayside.

Develop educational resources to supportthe understanding of issues affectingwoodlands, orchards and trees.



Angus Council




OWL Scotland



Medium

31 Encourageresponsibleinteractions tominimisedisturbance inwoodlands.

Support new projects which identify goodpractice to minimise human disturbance inwoodlands. Encourage community events topublicise cleaning up after dogs, e.g.Hounds on the Hill at Moncrieffe.

Where there are high visitor numbers orrecreational, educational or sportingactivities that are detrimental to specieswithin the woodland or sensitive areas,special zoning of areas, path re-routing orappropriate restrictions should beconsidered.



Angus Council


Woodland Trust

VisitScotland


Long

107

Invasive Non-Native Species


Timescale

32 Reduce the directpressures onwoodlandbiodiversity andecosystem healthfrom invasive non-native species.

Produce a map highlighting key areasthreatened by invasive non-native species.

Limit the spread of the invasive non-nativespecies such as Himalayan balsam andGiant hogweed.

Raise awareness of invasive non-nativespecies and demonstrate the impact thatcan be achieved by labour-intensive control.

Facilitate work party days with volunteerinput to carry out control.

Showcase good practice control effort.

Angus Council




Voluntary Action Angus



Scottish Mink Initiative

Esk Rivers and FisheriesTrust

Scottish EnvironmentProtection Agency

Long

Documents

Woodland Ecosystems - Tayside Biodiversity · renewed interest in traditional woodland skills in managing coppice and hedgerows (hedgelaying, etc.), there is an urgent need to source