Woodland of the Black Isle

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Strathpeffer - beyond the Black Isle

Coill’ an Righe CI-Grade 2
Birch wood on north facing slopes above fields at eastern end of Strathpeffer. Small alder wood at west end of site.

Size of Wood 25 hectares.
Geology : Middle Old Red Sandstone.
Soil : Neutral brown soil. with freely and poorly drained areas.
Habitats Present: a. Open bracken dominated areas frequent. Some open Calluna and Vaccinium myrtillus dominated areas at the western end on higher slopes. b. Damp runnels in alder wood with springs on slope. c. Occasional dead standing alders.
Woodland Types Present: Rowan-birch wood, type 12A. Small area of valley alder wood, type 7A, at western end.

Description
Birch is the dominant species but other trees such as oak and beech are
frequent and found scattered throughout the wood. Other trees include sycamore, ash, elm and lime. With the exception of birch, it is probable that these trees were planted. The birches are tall and mature and generally scattered rather than forming a dense cover.
Bracken dominates the ground flora throughout, being less dense or absent only under tree canopies. Abundant species where the bracken is less dense include Anthoxanthum odoraturn, Holcus mollis, Deschampsia flexuosa, Poa trivialis, Conopodium majus, Oxalis acetosella and Galium saxatile.

At the north western end a strip of alder wood is found adjacent to a small ditch and extends up the slope where flushing occurs. The alders are mature with some stands of young trees on the slope. Prunus avium and P. spinosa occur with the alder near the ditch. Abundant species in the ground flora with the young alder on the slope include Filipendula ulmaria, Angelica sylvestris, Crepis paludosa and Geranium robertianum.

Species of Note: None.
Faunal Interest: Badger setts in alder wood, rabbits. Buzzard, many songbirds.
Land Use Pressures: The wood is of high amenity value and some planting of broad leaved trees has been carried out. Signs on the Knockbain Farm road encourage and direct walkers.
Adjacent Land: Pasture fields, lowland grass and heath, scrub, small conifer plantations, railway.

CI Grade 2.

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An Dubh Lochan
The birch woods, type 12A, form part of a complex area of woodland lochans, wet and dry heath and mires with small pools. The woodland is found on the better drained higher areas. Many of the birches are small but there is an area of mature birch between the two lochs.

Small juniper bushes are occasional and scattered pine trees occur on "islands" in the wet mire at the south east end. The birch woods at the north east end are recovering from the forest fire of 1986.

Bracken is locally dominant in the ground flora while other areas are dominated by grasses or by Calluna and Vaccinium myrtillus. The woodland tends to be poor in species with much of the interest of the site coming from the diversity of habitats with the wetland areas being rich in species.

Species of Note (none from the woodland): Genista anelica, Platanthera bifolia, Utricularia intermedia,
Sedges Recorded: Carex binervis, C. curta, C. demissa, C. echinata, C. hostiana, C . lesiocarpa, C. lepidocarpa, C. panicea, C. pilulifera, C. pulicaris, C. rostrata

Grade 3 Birch-rowan, type 12A

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Secondly, the segments of the Torrachilty Forest of Forestry and Land Scotland. Images to come.

Achilty Wood
Corriemoillie & Longart NH40016361
Garbat NH4033 6606
Grudel NH2974 6364
Little Garve NH3957 6293
Longart NH4063 6885 Footbridge
Silverbridge NH4022 6385
South Garve NH36806316
Strathgarve NH4031 6391 AND NH39916245
Strathrannoch NH39916943
Tarvie NH42765893
Torrachilty NH40566117

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