This was the sky clouding over from the west at about 4pm today.....
Friday 27 February 2009
Wednesday 25 February 2009
ASPEN IN THE TAY WESTERN CATCHMENTS AREA
ASPEN IN THE TAY WESTERN CATCHMENTS AREA
Summary
An important part of our TWCP survey work involved gathering information on native woodland, and native woodland fragments, and we kept a particular record of rare or minority forest species. One such species was our native aspen.
During the survey, 125 records were obtained in total. Of these, 59 were in Glenlyon, 12 in Glen Lochay and 44 on the Dochart.
120 of these records are new additions to the national database, with 4 records from Glenlyon and one on the Dochart already included. One record from the database, in Glen Lochay, was not located during our survey work.
For each stand, the numbers of trees of different age classes were recorded, and the location recorded by GPS.
Limitations of data
The importance we placed on locating and recording aspen increased in the 2008 survey season, to tie in with an increased interest in the species among many other organizations throughout the country, and the information gathered about each record became more specific, noting the numbers of trees of different age classes present. In the 2007 survey of Glen Lochay and part of the Dochart, aspen was given no greater prominence than other minor tree species. We therefore anticipate that a number of aspen stands will have been missed in 2007 in these areas. It should also be noted that aspen also grows as a non-riparian tree, and that there will be stands in this area not recorded simply because we were only surveying along watercourses. However, anecdotal evidence would suggest that aspen remnants that are removed from watercourses are very much more restricted than on Speyside, for example.
Two of the broadleaved woodland SSSI sites in this area, Glenlyon Woods and Glenlochay Woods, have aspen listed as a significant minor species in their documentation, although our survey transects did not record any. There are several other extensive areas of broadleaved woodland in this area where we did not have any survey transects that are likely to include aspen, such as the woods behind Fortingall at the bottom end of Glenlyon and the extensive woods at Innishewan on the Dochart system.
Finally, safety considerations often meant that we had to avoid very steep and dangerous gorges, many of which contained broadleaved woodland remnants. It is anticipated that we will have missed some aspen remnants in these situations.
Use for the Information Gathered
At present, it is extremely difficult to source planting material of native Scottish origin for aspen. There are currently being new procedures devised that will quickly increase the efficiency of both vegetative and seeding propagation of aspen, and a number of root samples will be collected from these records to build up the stock of suitable material that is available for planting out in both Highland Perthshire and the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park area. Given it’s light foliage and the high biodiversity of insect life associated with the species, aspen is an extremely valuable riparian species that does not have the shading and acidification issues associated with alders and conifers, for example, or non-native broadleaves such as beech or sycamore. Focusing on this species allows us to look more closely at the existing species mix in riparian woodlands, and how they might best be managed to provide a more balanced interaction with the water environment. Scottish Native Woods can provide a co-ordinating role on Tayside in all matters relating to the management and promotion of this species.
Accessing the Information
The information gathered on aspen will be added to the National database which will be made more accessible during 2009 through an inter-active mapping facility. Maps for each of the three glens can be obtained from Scottish Native Woods. Information on the inter-active website will be forwarded as this is progressed.
You can see the finer details on any of these maps by clicking on the image.
Summary
An important part of our TWCP survey work involved gathering information on native woodland, and native woodland fragments, and we kept a particular record of rare or minority forest species. One such species was our native aspen.
During the survey, 125 records were obtained in total. Of these, 59 were in Glenlyon, 12 in Glen Lochay and 44 on the Dochart.
120 of these records are new additions to the national database, with 4 records from Glenlyon and one on the Dochart already included. One record from the database, in Glen Lochay, was not located during our survey work.
For each stand, the numbers of trees of different age classes were recorded, and the location recorded by GPS.
Limitations of data
The importance we placed on locating and recording aspen increased in the 2008 survey season, to tie in with an increased interest in the species among many other organizations throughout the country, and the information gathered about each record became more specific, noting the numbers of trees of different age classes present. In the 2007 survey of Glen Lochay and part of the Dochart, aspen was given no greater prominence than other minor tree species. We therefore anticipate that a number of aspen stands will have been missed in 2007 in these areas. It should also be noted that aspen also grows as a non-riparian tree, and that there will be stands in this area not recorded simply because we were only surveying along watercourses. However, anecdotal evidence would suggest that aspen remnants that are removed from watercourses are very much more restricted than on Speyside, for example.
Two of the broadleaved woodland SSSI sites in this area, Glenlyon Woods and Glenlochay Woods, have aspen listed as a significant minor species in their documentation, although our survey transects did not record any. There are several other extensive areas of broadleaved woodland in this area where we did not have any survey transects that are likely to include aspen, such as the woods behind Fortingall at the bottom end of Glenlyon and the extensive woods at Innishewan on the Dochart system.
Finally, safety considerations often meant that we had to avoid very steep and dangerous gorges, many of which contained broadleaved woodland remnants. It is anticipated that we will have missed some aspen remnants in these situations.
Use for the Information Gathered
At present, it is extremely difficult to source planting material of native Scottish origin for aspen. There are currently being new procedures devised that will quickly increase the efficiency of both vegetative and seeding propagation of aspen, and a number of root samples will be collected from these records to build up the stock of suitable material that is available for planting out in both Highland Perthshire and the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park area. Given it’s light foliage and the high biodiversity of insect life associated with the species, aspen is an extremely valuable riparian species that does not have the shading and acidification issues associated with alders and conifers, for example, or non-native broadleaves such as beech or sycamore. Focusing on this species allows us to look more closely at the existing species mix in riparian woodlands, and how they might best be managed to provide a more balanced interaction with the water environment. Scottish Native Woods can provide a co-ordinating role on Tayside in all matters relating to the management and promotion of this species.
Accessing the Information
The information gathered on aspen will be added to the National database which will be made more accessible during 2009 through an inter-active mapping facility. Maps for each of the three glens can be obtained from Scottish Native Woods. Information on the inter-active website will be forwarded as this is progressed.
You can see the finer details on any of these maps by clicking on the image.
Glenlyon Aspen Distribution Map
Glenlyon
Aspen is well distributed throughout the length of the glen, with the most significant stands occurring in the Meggernie area and in the Allt Mor below Schiehallion, with up to 75 trees present at a number of locations. Of the 59 stands recorded, the great majority will comprise 5-15 individuals, with a number of individual trees recorded as well. Probably half of the native woodland remnants in upland gorges in the Lyon catchment will contain a small number of aspen trees, and the age structure is in fact very healthy in these areas, with a high proportion of trees being in the younger age categories. Aspen has undoubtedly been a very significant component of the native woods in the Lyon catchment in the past, with significant remnants surviving through to today.
Aspen is well distributed throughout the length of the glen, with the most significant stands occurring in the Meggernie area and in the Allt Mor below Schiehallion, with up to 75 trees present at a number of locations. Of the 59 stands recorded, the great majority will comprise 5-15 individuals, with a number of individual trees recorded as well. Probably half of the native woodland remnants in upland gorges in the Lyon catchment will contain a small number of aspen trees, and the age structure is in fact very healthy in these areas, with a high proportion of trees being in the younger age categories. Aspen has undoubtedly been a very significant component of the native woods in the Lyon catchment in the past, with significant remnants surviving through to today.
Glen Lochay Aspen Distribution Map
Glen Lochay
The Lochay recorded by far the lowest number of records, but that may be partly due to the increased importance given to recording the species in the other glens the following year. However, extensive native woodland remnants do really only occur in the bottom third of the glen, and in this respect, the Lochay catchment is different to the other two areas. Two significant remnants of approx 60 and 120-150 trees do exist on the Lochay down in Killin, the other records comprising only 2-10 trees. Unrecorded aspen will certainly exist in the Glen Lochay Woods SSSI.
The Lochay recorded by far the lowest number of records, but that may be partly due to the increased importance given to recording the species in the other glens the following year. However, extensive native woodland remnants do really only occur in the bottom third of the glen, and in this respect, the Lochay catchment is different to the other two areas. Two significant remnants of approx 60 and 120-150 trees do exist on the Lochay down in Killin, the other records comprising only 2-10 trees. Unrecorded aspen will certainly exist in the Glen Lochay Woods SSSI.
Glen Dochart Aspen Distribution
Glen Dochart System
Aspen is well distributed throughout the Dochart system, with 44 remnants recorded, and several sites with 50-100 trees. One aspect that appears peculiar to the Dochart is that aspen was recorded in a number of situations were it was the only species present, unlike the other two glens were aspen was almost always growing among other native species. The most significant record and example of this was the sapling aspen found at 2200 ft on Ben Lui, two hundred metres from the symbolic Source of the Tay and over a mile from any other native woodland species. This is among the 2-3 highest records for the species in the UK, and easily the highest in the western half of the country.
Aspen is well distributed throughout the Dochart system, with 44 remnants recorded, and several sites with 50-100 trees. One aspect that appears peculiar to the Dochart is that aspen was recorded in a number of situations were it was the only species present, unlike the other two glens were aspen was almost always growing among other native species. The most significant record and example of this was the sapling aspen found at 2200 ft on Ben Lui, two hundred metres from the symbolic Source of the Tay and over a mile from any other native woodland species. This is among the 2-3 highest records for the species in the UK, and easily the highest in the western half of the country.
Tuesday 24 February 2009
Monday 23 February 2009
More Deer Counting in Breadalbane
These photos were taken from a helicopter in Breadalbane in 2008 by the Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS).
You can expand these 10 images to full screen size to count the deer for yourself. See if you can distinguish stags hinds and calves.
Friday 20 February 2009
Feels like spring.......
This past few days have been very mild, the snow has thawed very quickly, and the little birdies are suddenly singing all over the place. Below is a short video down beside the Tay yesterday.
Thursday 19 February 2009
Wednesday 18 February 2009
Tuesday 17 February 2009
Sunday 15 February 2009
February Moon over Coshieville
Looks a bit like the one that was over Kinnaird last week............!!
(see below)
Friday 13 February 2009
Thursday 12 February 2009
The bench by the Tay in Aberfeldy
This was the scene yesterday. You would not be wanting to sit here today, it is blowing a blizzard just now...........
Wednesday 11 February 2009
Tuesday 10 February 2009
Sunday 8 February 2009
The Moon over Kinnaird on the Tay 1
Amazing that with a digital camera that you can focus in on little oak twigs like this..........
The Moon over Kinnaird on the Tay 2
.........and with a half- press, you can focus on something 93 million miles away.........!!
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