 |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
The Cairngorms candidate SAC covers a very large
area, over 57,500 hectares in total, including
the central massif, which is the most important
mountain area in Britain for nature conservation.
The whole site has considerable international
importance for a wide range of habitats, particularly
montane and sub-montane plant communities.
|
|
The site contains one of the largest areas of
native Caledonian forest in the UK, lying on gently
undulating glacial deposits in the foothills of
the Cairngorms. Scots pine Pinus sylvestris
bog woodland has developed within the forest because
the irregular glacial topography has led to marked
variations in geomorphology and drainage pattern.
|
|
The drier slopes and knolls support mature pine
woodland, and in the hollows in between, wet mires
with abundant bog woodland have developed. These
stands are composed of cross-leaved heath Erica
tetralix - Sphagnum papillosum mire
or heather Calluna vulgaris - hare's-tail
cotton grass Eriophorum vaginatum mire,
with a scattering of stunted pine trees and saplings.
|
|
|
|
|
A good intact example of this community occurs at Mineral
Well within Rothiemurchus forest, where recent peat
stratigraphy shows evidence of a history of bog woodland
on the site. Other areas have been influenced by past
management for commercial forestry. In total, the hollows
across the site form an extensive area, estimated at
around 170 hectares, which represents the largest example
of bog woodland in Scotland.
 The
Cairngorms contain nationally important populations
of various notable bird species, many of which use the
bog woodland habitat for both breeding and feeding.
These include Scottish crossbill Loxia scotica,
osprey Pandion haliaetus, capercaillie Tetrao
urogallus and crested tit Parus cristatus.
Notable and rare mammals include the otter Lutra
lutra, pine marten Martes martes, wildcat
Felis sylvestris, badger Meles meles and
red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris. The invertebrate
fauna is diverse with rare species of beetle, fly, spider,
moth and dragonfly represented, including the northern
damselfly Coenagrion hastulatum.
There are two main sites within the Cairngorms cSAC
where the work of the Wet Woods Restoration Project
has been targeted. These are Inshriach
and Abernethy Forest. Within
Abernethy Forest itself, work has taken place at four
separate localities: Dell Wood, Garten Wood, Mondhuie
and North Abernethy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
