Sites of Special Scientific Interest on the Black Isle
Contents
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest on the Black Isle
- Site 1377 Roskill
- Images
- Site 1531 The Dens
- Images
- Site 540 Drummondreach Wood
- Images
- Site 494 Dam Wood
- Images
- Site 253 Braelangwell Wood
- Images
- Site 1179 Monadh Mòr
- Images
- Site 1214 Munlochy Bay
- Images
- Site 1376 Rosemarkie to Shandwick Coast
- Images
- Site 159 Beauly Firth
- Images
- Site 467 Cromarty Firth
- Images
- Final words
Site 494 Dam Wood
Link to NatureScot webpage Link
Map of the SSSI Link
GRID REFERENCE: NH 642570
AREA: 18.98 hectares
NATURAL FEATURES
Biological:
Lowland heath: Lowland wet heath
Fen: Springs (including flushes)
Invertebrates: Moths
DESCRIPTION
Dam Wood lies close to the Mulbuie Ridge, midway between Munlochy and Culbokie.
It is notified for lowland wet heath, springs (including flushes) and moths. The site is dominated by lowland wet heath which is crossed by numerous runnels and seepages emanating from the calcium-rich Old Red Sandstone rocks. These lime-rich habitats were once extensive in East Ross and Cromarty and Dam Wood is the largest of four such remnants.
The wet heath is dominated by ling Calluna vulgaris, bell heather Erica cinerea and cross leaved heath Erica tetralix. Purple moor grass Molinia caerulea is locally abundant. Of particular interest is the extensive population of Juniper Juniperus communis which occurs within the wet heath but also across the whole site. The plant communities associated with the flushes are markedly different from the wet heath and support a range of small sedges such as long-stalked yellow sedge Carex lepidocarpa as well as species more normally found in upland plant communities such as globe flower Trollius europaeus and alpine bistort Polygonum viviparum.
The site also supports the narrow-bordered bee hawk moth, a nationally rare species, and the chestnut-coloured carpet, a moth whose larvae feed on juniper.
VISITING DAM WOOD SSSI
The almost invisible access to the site is from a small parking area from which two tracks lead off. The southern track passes between woods before turning right towards the stile entrance to the site. On first glance there is little to be seen - just scattered stunted trees and a damp moorland hillside. The time to visit is late spring when the orchids and rarer flowers are in bloom, many by seeps of water. Waterproof footwear is sensible. There are no recognized paths - you choose how to avoid the wetter areas. The SSSI is owned by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and visitors will find they spend most time looking at the ground! At Dam Wood and Roskill SSSIs you get the feel of the Black Isle before much was made accessible for agriculture through drainage and soil improvement.
Images
ENTRANCE TO THE SSSI
A reserve of the Scottish Wildlife Trust. See Link. There were no cattle on the reserve during our July visit. The sign is rather historical. There is an interesting stile beside the gate. see NH6457 : Gate.
. There were no cattle on the reserve during our July visit. The sign is rather historical. There is an interesting stile beside the gate. see NH6457 : Gate.by Julian Paren
Entrance gateway to the wildlife reserve at Belmaduthy Dam
by valenta
FLOWERING PLANTS
This area (within the Dam Wood SSSI) favours chalk-loving plants due to seepages emanating from the underlying calcium-rich Old Red Sandstone rocks: Very different from the acid soils found in much of the Highlands.
by Dr Richard Murray
Living up to its name this was almost the only orchid species spotted at the Scottish Wildlife Trust Reserve. A visit in a few week's time should reveal more orchid varieties.
by Julian Paren
Grass of Parnassus is a perennial of peaty grassland, marshes and moors. A few examples were seen during an early August visit to the reserve.
The 20 hectare Belmaduthy Dam is an excellent example of wet lowland heath and mire mosaic, with lime flushes providing conditions suitable for a range of interesting plants. It was once a much more common habitat on the Black Isle, but much has now been replaced by agriculture or forestry. Underground springs in the nearby upper slopes of the Black Isle introduces nutrients to the otherwise poor ground, creating pockets of base-rich soil. The reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The 20 hectare Belmaduthy Dam is an excellent example of wet lowland heath and mire mosaic, with lime flushes providing conditions suitable for a range of interesting plants. It was once a much more common habitat on the Black Isle, but much has now been replaced by agriculture or forestry. Underground springs in the nearby upper slopes of the Black Isle introduces nutrients to the otherwise poor ground, creating pockets of base-rich soil. The reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
by Julian Paren
This orchid was rather common across the Scottish Wildlife Trust Reserve.
by Julian Paren
FUNGI
Snowy Inkcap Fungi are strongly linked to dung, and in the Belmaduthy Dam Reserve of the Scottish Wildlife Trust cattle are stocked there for their role in conservation management. This image shows one stage of the life-cycle of the Snowy Inkcap fungus. The technical name of the fungus is Coprinopsis nivea. Different stages in the development of the Snowy Inkcap are here. NH6457 : Snowy Inkcap in Belmaduthy Dam Reserve I
The 20 hectare Belmaduthy Dam is an excellent example of wet lowland heath and mire mosaic, with lime flushes providing conditions suitable for a range of interesting plants. It was once a much more common habitat on the Black Isle, but much has now been replaced by agriculture or forestry. Underground springs in the nearby upper slopes of the Black Isle introduces nutrients to the otherwise poor ground, creating pockets of base-rich soil. The reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The 20 hectare Belmaduthy Dam is an excellent example of wet lowland heath and mire mosaic, with lime flushes providing conditions suitable for a range of interesting plants. It was once a much more common habitat on the Black Isle, but much has now been replaced by agriculture or forestry. Underground springs in the nearby upper slopes of the Black Isle introduces nutrients to the otherwise poor ground, creating pockets of base-rich soil. The reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
by Julian Paren
Snowy Inkcap Fungi are strongly linked to dung, and in the Belmaduthy Dam Reserve of the Scottish Wildlife Trust cattle are stocked there for their role in conservation management. This image shows two stages of the life-cycle of the Snowy Inkcap fungus. The technical name of the fungus is Coprinopsis nivea.
The 20 hectare Belmaduthy Dam is an excellent example of wet lowland heath and mire mosaic, with lime flushes providing conditions suitable for a range of interesting plants. It was once a much more common habitat on the Black Isle, but much has now been replaced by agriculture or forestry. Underground springs in the nearby upper slopes of the Black Isle introduces nutrients to the otherwise poor ground, creating pockets of base-rich soil. The reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The 20 hectare Belmaduthy Dam is an excellent example of wet lowland heath and mire mosaic, with lime flushes providing conditions suitable for a range of interesting plants. It was once a much more common habitat on the Black Isle, but much has now been replaced by agriculture or forestry. Underground springs in the nearby upper slopes of the Black Isle introduces nutrients to the otherwise poor ground, creating pockets of base-rich soil. The reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
by Julian Paren
TREES
Belmaduthy Dam, a heathland with juniper, willow bushes and pine trees, is intersected by calcareous runnels in which grow black bog-rush, tawny sedge, carnation sedge, broad-leaved cotton grass and yellow saxifrage. In June and July the site supports a profusion of orchids including twayblade, coralroot, early marsh, Northern marsh, lesser butterfly and heath spotted, as well as other lime-loving plants such as globeflower, northern bedstraw and grass of Parnassus. The openness of the vegetation must be maintained by autumn grazing using a neighbouring farmer’s sheep or cattle.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s website provides some information about the site
Link
The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s website provides some information about the site
Link
by Julian Paren
Belmaduthy Dam, a heathland with juniper, willow bushes and pine trees, is intersected by calcareous runnels in which grow black bog-rush, tawny sedge, carnation sedge, broad-leaved cotton grass and yellow saxifrage. In June and July the site supports a profusion of orchids including twayblade, coralroot, early marsh, Northern marsh, lesser butterfly and heath spotted, as well as other lime-loving plants such as globeflower, northern bedstraw and grass of Parnassus. The openness of the vegetation must be maintained by autumn grazing using a neighbouring farmer’s sheep or cattle.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s website provides some information about the site
Link
The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s website provides some information about the site
Link
by Julian Paren
Belmaduthy Dam, a heathland with juniper, willow bushes and pine trees, is intersected by calcareous runnels in which grow black bog-rush, tawny sedge, carnation sedge, broad-leaved cotton grass and yellow saxifrage. In June and July the site supports a profusion of orchids including twayblade, coralroot, early marsh, Northern marsh, lesser butterfly and heath spotted, as well as other lime-loving plants such as globeflower, northern bedstraw and grass of Parnassus. The openness of the vegetation must be maintained by autumn grazing using a neighbouring farmer’s sheep or cattle.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s website provides some information about the site
Link
The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s website provides some information about the site
Link
by Julian Paren
Belmaduthy Dam, a heathland with juniper, willow bushes and pine trees, is intersected by calcareous runnels in which grow black bog-rush, tawny sedge, carnation sedge, broad-leaved cotton grass and yellow saxifrage. In June and July the site supports a profusion of orchids including twayblade, coralroot, early marsh, Northern marsh, lesser butterfly and heath spotted, as well as other lime-loving plants such as globeflower, northern bedstraw and grass of Parnassus. The openness of the vegetation must be maintained by autumn grazing using a neighbouring farmer’s sheep or cattle.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s website provides some information about the site
Link
The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s website provides some information about the site
Link
by Julian Paren
The 20 hectare Belmaduthy Dam is an excellent example of wet lowland heath and mire mosaic, with lime flushes providing conditions suitable for a range of interesting plants. It was once a much more common habitat on the Black Isle, but much has now been replaced by agriculture or forestry. Underground springs in the nearby upper slopes of the Black Isle introduces nutrients to the otherwise poor ground, creating pockets of base-rich soil. The reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
by Julian Paren
Part of the Scottish Wildlife Reserve has seen significant natural regrowth in recent years. However in the open part of the reserve this Scots Pine has stood for many a year.
by Julian Paren
Belmaduthy Dam, a heathland with juniper, willow bushes and pine trees, is intersected by calcareous runnels in which grow black bog-rush, tawny sedge, carnation sedge, broad-leaved cotton grass and yellow saxifrage. In June and July the site supports a profusion of orchids including twayblade, coralroot, early marsh, Northern marsh, lesser butterfly and heath spotted, as well as other lime-loving plants such as globeflower, northern bedstraw and grass of Parnassus. The openness of the vegetation must be maintained by autumn grazing using a neighbouring farmer’s sheep or cattle.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s website provides some information about the site
Link
The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s website provides some information about the site
Link
by Julian Paren
GROUND TERRAIN IN MARCH
Belmaduthy Dam, a heathland with juniper, willow bushes and pine trees, is intersected by calcareous runnels in which grow black bog-rush, tawny sedge, carnation sedge, broad-leaved cotton grass and yellow saxifrage. In June and July the site supports a profusion of orchids including twayblade, coralroot, early marsh, Northern marsh, lesser butterfly and heath spotted, as well as other lime-loving plants such as globeflower, northern bedstraw and grass of Parnassus. The openness of the vegetation must be maintained by autumn grazing using a neighbouring farmer’s sheep or cattle.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s website provides some information about the site
Link
The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s website provides some information about the site
Link
by Julian Paren
One of a number of Collects that drain into the Roskill Burn. A close view of the weeds in the Collect here NH6457 : Scottish Wildlife Trust - Belmaduthy Dam
by valenta
The Scottish Wildlife Trust owns this hillside on the Black Isle. Most land like this was tamed over the years to make farmland - this is the exception. This reserve is special because of the alkaline water that flows from deep springs onto the naturally acidic soil and this provides an unusual habitat. Highland Cattle may be seen on the reserve, playing their role in natural forest restoration. On this occasion none were seen.
See Link for more information on the site and the suggestion to visit between May and August when orchids are abundant and nationally rare ones can be found by the observant.
See Link
for more information on the site and the suggestion to visit between May and August when orchids are abundant and nationally rare ones can be found by the observant.by Julian Paren
GROUND TERRAIN MAY TO AUGUST
In the lowest corner of the reserve and abutting an old stone wall is an undisturbed moss bed that makes one wonder what lies below to give it such an distinctive topography.
by Julian Paren
Belmaduthy Dam, a heathland with juniper, willow bushes and pine trees, is intersected by calcareous runnels in which grow black bog-rush, tawny sedge, carnation sedge, broad-leaved cotton grass and yellow saxifrage. In June and July the site supports a profusion of orchids including twayblade, coralroot, early marsh, Northern marsh, lesser butterfly and heath spotted, as well as other lime-loving plants such as globeflower, northern bedstraw and grass of Parnassus. The openness of the vegetation must be maintained by autumn grazing using a neighbouring farmer’s sheep or cattle.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s website provides some information about the site
Link
The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s website provides some information about the site
Link
by Julian Paren
It was difficult getting our dog through the boundaries of the woodland area despite a couple of stiles and locked gates. For more details of the Scottish Wildlife Reserve visit Link.
.by Julian Paren
This is a Nature Reserve owned by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and is well-known for its orchids.
by Julian Paren
Scrub juniper trees are a feature of the reserve,and here complete with berries is a young tree at ground level above a mat of lichen, probably cladonia portentosa.
The 20 hectare Belmaduthy Dam is an excellent example of wet lowland heath and mire mosaic, with lime flushes providing conditions suitable for a range of interesting plants. It was once a much more common habitat on the Black Isle, but much has now been replaced by agriculture or forestry. Underground springs in the nearby upper slopes of the Black Isle introduces nutrients to the otherwise poor ground, creating pockets of base-rich soil. The reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The 20 hectare Belmaduthy Dam is an excellent example of wet lowland heath and mire mosaic, with lime flushes providing conditions suitable for a range of interesting plants. It was once a much more common habitat on the Black Isle, but much has now been replaced by agriculture or forestry. Underground springs in the nearby upper slopes of the Black Isle introduces nutrients to the otherwise poor ground, creating pockets of base-rich soil. The reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
by Julian Paren
![Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]](https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/somerights20.gif)
Images used on this page, © Copyright Julian Paren, valenta and Dr Richard Murray;
licensed for re-use under a Creative Commons Licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/( Page < < prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 next >> )
