The Reserve Plan Review for Corrie Fee National Nature Reserve

Transcription

1 The Reserve Plan Review for Corrie Fee National Nature Reserve Corrie Fee National Nature Reserve (NNR) is a lscape shaped by retreating glaciers at the end of the last Ice Age around 15,000 years ago. The NNR comprises Corrie Fee, Corrie Sharroch the lower slopes of Craig Rennet. It is important for showing features formed by the action of glaciers, which also left behind calcium-rich rocks soils. These in turn support uncommon arctic-alpine plants which grow on the crags the slopes beneath. A wide range of montane birds, mammals invertebrate species use or live in the NNR. The NNR has many national international nature conservation designations, reflecting the important plant-rich habitats diverse range of montane species present. Angus Council s Angus Glens Ranger Service (AGRS) are based near to Corrie Fee NNR. Lying within the Cairngorms National Park as well as Deeside Lochnagar National Scenic Area (NSA), the NNR has tens of thouss of visitors each year. The footpath through Corrie Fee is popular with hill-walkers, who are often heading for the Munro summits beyond. Corrie Fee is one of ten reserves in the Cairngorms National Park, each with a unique array of wildlife. Corrie Fee is one of more than 40 NNRs in Scotl. NNRs are special places where some of the best examples of Scotl s wildlife are cared for. Nature comes first on NNRs, people are welcome to discover the rich natural heritage of these places to contribute to our knowledge enjoyment of these areas. In 2005, we carried out a public consultation on our future proposals for the management of Corrie Fee NNR. Feedback from the consultation informed the completion of the Reserve Plan , which set out our management for the reserve during that period. We have come to the end of that plan have started to think about the future direction of our management. This report reviews our achievements progress against the management objectives set out in that Reserve Plan. For further information about Corrie Fee National Nature Reserve please contact: Scottish Natural Heritage, Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW Telephone:

2 Contents 1 Our Vision for Corrie Fee NNR 3 2 Natural Heritage Management 4 3 Management for People 9 4 Property Management 11 5 Summary 11 6 The way ahead 12 2

3 1 Our Vision for Corrie Fee NNR Corrie Fee National Nature Reserve is special; the aim is to keep it that way. The Reserve Plan set out our vision for the reserve describing how we wanted it to be in The management we have carried out since 2008 has been framed with this vision in mind. Our Vision for Corrie Fee NNR in 2025 Visitors are struck by the view opening out before them as they walk up through the increasingly open-structured woodl of Glen Doll. Entering the Reserve, they see naturally regenerating upl birch wood with juniper, rowan aspen in the corrie floor. The slopes above this are increasingly covered in montane scrub, including willows juniper. Effective deer management in the area means that healthy populations of arctic willows colourful plants including globeflower wood cranesbill can be seen in summer on the cliffs slopes especially in the exclosure. Soon the exclosure fence will be removed as deer impacts are reduced. Golden eagles, peregrine falcons ravens soar overhead, twite ring ouzels sing nest on the corrie slopes. Patient quiet visitors might even see the shy water vole by the burn. Visitors to the NNR value the special wildlife wild lscape ensure their visit has the minimum impact possible. The Reserve, its interpretation the Ranger Service are key resources for a wide range of educational specialist groups. All management work on the Reserve follows best practice local people identify strongly with the Reserve the contribution it makes locally. Many people are actively involved in securing the future of the area by making suggestions, by volunteering to help with monitoring on the Reserve by setting good examples of responsible access. Corrie Fee is SNH s prototype for the management of the mountains of the Angus Glens, where people can appreciate enjoy the wildlife natural beauty can contribute directly to the area s future welfare. 3

4 2 Natural Heritage Management Objective 1: Safeguard enhance the habitats plants especially those of international or national importance. Projects delivered under Objective 1 during life of plan: 1.1 Continue to manage deer following DCS Best Practice Guidelines. Achieved 1.2 Ensure sheep straying into the NNR are promptly removed. Achieved 1.3 Encourage scrub woodl to develop within the exclosure. Partially achieved 1.4 Monitor habitats rare vascular plants. Achieved 1.5 Commission survey of lichens bryophytes. Not required 1.6 Monitor deer movements numbers. Achieved The reserve is Site Condition Monitored as part of the larger Caenlochan Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Special Area of Conservation (SAC) which it lies within. Overall, in this wider area, all features are in favourable condition except for montane assemblage vascular plant assemblage. Montane assemblage was found to be unfavourable due to overgrazing or trampling, predominantly by deer, in eight out of fourteen habitat types present, with the willow being particularly affected. The remaining six habitat types are less susceptible to high grazing pressure mainly due to their inaccessibility. The vascular plant assemblage was concluded as unfavourable because although many species populations were found to be stable they were not exping; some species populations were also declining. Appropriate grazing levels are key to the conservation of many of the habitats species found at Caenlochan, consequently Corrie Fee. 4

5 The table below summarises the results of the last site condition monitoring visits: SSSI Features SAC Features 2003 Breeding bird assemblage Favourable Maintained 2005 Bryophyte assemblage Favourable Maintained 2004 Dystrophic loch Favourable Maintained 2011 Invertebrate assemblage Favourable Maintained 2010 Lichen assemblage Favourable Maintained 2006 Montane assemblage Unfavourable No change 2011 Quaternary of Scotl Favourable Maintained 2009 Vascular plant assemblage Unfavourable No change 2012 Acidic scree Unfavourable declining 2006 Alpine sub-alpine heaths Unfavourable No change 2006 Base-rich fens Unfavourable No change 2006 Base-rich scree Favourable maintained 2006 Blanket bog Unfavourable No change 2006 Dry heaths Unfavourable No change 2006 Grassls on soils rich in heavy metals Favourable maintained 2012 High altitude plant communities associated with Favourable recovered areas of water seepage 2012 Montane acid grassls Unfavourable No change 2012 Mountain willow scrub Unfavourable No change 2006 Plants in crevices on acid rocks Favourable maintained 2012 Plants in crevices in base-rich rocks Favourable maintained 2006 Species-rich grassl with mat-grass in upl Unfavourable no change areas 2012 Tall herb communities Favourable maintained We also established a monitoring strategy for habitats rare plants in the Reserve. The habitats plants are now monitored on a three yearly cycle. Species Habitat Monitoring The six key habitats in the monitoring programme have been surveyed as follows: Species-rich grassl with mat-grass in upl areas Mountain willow scrub (2009, 2014), High-altitude plant communities associated with areas of water seepage base-rich fens Tall herb communities (2010, 2015), Dry heaths (2011, planned 2016). Seven key plant species have been surveyed at least once in the last five years. Cicerbita alpina (Alpine blue sow thistle), Woodsia ilvensis (Oblong woodsia), Carex norvegica (close-headed alpine sedge) Homogyne alpina (Purple colts-foot) have been surveyed twice. Linnaea borealis (Twinflower), Oxytropis campestris (Yellow oxytropis), Woodsia alpina (Alpine woodsia) have all been surveyed once. Alpine blue sow thistle appears to be generally in good health, although there don t appear to be viable seeds produced; the number of flowering stalks having increased since the 1990s. Oblong woodsia again seems to be holding reasonably steady both in number of locations abundance. Close-headed alpine sedge is less abundant than in the 1990s but seems to have increased in recent years. Twinflower seems to be holding steady, although not flowering. Purple colts-foot is present in two of its 5

6 three main areas numbers seem to have declined. Yellow oxytropis is present in all of its main locations seems to be holding steady. Alpine woodsia seems to be stable in its main locations. Alpine willows are an important feature of the reserve. In 1989 there were 131 bushes in Corrie Sharroch. Since then we have worked with staff from the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh to plant out cuttings willow saplings that they have grown using seed from the reserve. year Numbers planted Seedlings/cuttings woolly willow Salix lanata 15 downy willow S. lapponum 15 dark-leaved willow S. myrsinfolia Seedlings downy willow Seedlings 300 woolly willow Salix lanata S. lapponum 450 dark-leaved willow S. myrsinfolia accessions of 6 months old rooted cuttings of Salix lanata, equalling 300 transplants. Cuttings Figure 1 Willow planting Deer control has been carried out each year, as it has in the wider area, as part of a Section 7 Agreement under the Deer (Scotl) Act 1996, by our contracted stalker on SNH l in the adjoining Forestry Commission ground. He also speaks with local farmers makes sure that sheep that come into the reserve are removed so they do not cause increased grazing. We have also maintained the fence to keep deer sheep out of Corrie Sharroch as much as possible. 6

7 We did not monitor lichen bryophytes within the reserve. This was considered a lower priority as it is not one of the natural features that the reserve is considered important for. Objective 2: Safeguard enhance the habitat for native fauna help water vole to re-establish. Projects delivered under Objective 2 during life of plan: 2.1 Detect mink control by live trapping. Achieved 2.2 Monitor for the presence of water voles. Achieved 2.3 Monitor golden eagles, peregrines other breeding birds record any disturbance caused by people. Achieved 2.4 Survey butterflies in the NNR using the national BMS. Not achieved 2.5 Promote Corrie Fee as a site for training events on butterflies. Not achieved Mink are monitored in Glen Clova, Glen Doll in Corrie Fee itself, by the Angus Council Ranger Service our deer control contractor. No mink have been detected in the time of the plan. Signs of small water vole populations have been seen some years. The Ranger Service has also monitored the breeding peregrines ravens. Moth trapping has been carried out since 2012 by Paul Brooks, Moth Recorder for Angus. He reported excellent results, probably helped by the wide range of habitats 7

8 Objective 3: To commission, support encourage appropriate research, survey monitoring on the Reserve Projects delivered under Objective 3 during life of plan: 3.1 Write an issues paper on options for future management of willow. Achieved 3.2 Write an issues paper on the future management of rare plants including translocation, reintroduction small-scale localised fencing options. Partially achieved 3.3 Organize an event on the future management of willows rare plants. Achieved 3.4 Commission encourage research. Achieved 3.5 List projects on under-recorded species for students volunteers. Not achieved 3.6 Commission a consultant to develop a monitoring strategy for Corrie Fee. Achieved We wrote an issues paper considering the options for future management of the downy woolly willow e.g. whether to create suitable areas/conditions for establishment. This informed what we did lead to us planting out willow saplings in Corrie Sharroch. We held a day at Corrie Fee with some key staff experts to consider the management, reintroduction or translocation of some species, for example willows the alpine blue-sow thistle, with the focus on species that have become locally extinct or are becoming very scarce. This work is now being followed up. There has been some progress on monitoring of the under-recorded aspects of the reserve as moths are now being regularly monitored, but it would be good to get a lower plant survey done too (mosses liverworts, lichens fungi). We developed a monitoring strategy for Corrie Fee which will review the results of the existing monitoring programme. 8

9 3 Management for People Objective 4: Provide opportunities for visitors to enjoy, appreciate better underst the natural heritage management of the Reserve Projects delivered under Objective 4 during life of plan: 4.1 Encourage visitors to act responsibly follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code to help us look after the rare plants the rest of the reserve s natural heritage. 4.2 Maintain the footpath through Corrie Fee count numbers using the path, including monitoring any erosion caused by visitors leaving the path. Achieved & Achieved & 4.3 Develop interpretation in liaison with AGRS, FCS CNP. Achieved 4.4 Develop a self-guided trail leaflet. Achieved 4.5 Disseminate information on the reserve, including the new NNR leaflet. Achieved & Figure 2 Ranger Base in Glen Doll The ranger service continues to run a programme of guided walks in the area every year including into the reserve. The Angus Council leads the annual Angus Glens Walking Festival which involves several walks into Corrie Fee, one of which an SNH staff member attends. We have been providing some specialised walks for photography, deer geology, where attendees are accompanied by a professional photographer, our professional deer contractor a geologist. The Angus Glen Ranger Service is now housed in a new base at the Glen Doll car park, built in 2010, which we contributed to financially by donating the site. Working in partnership with AGRS, Forestry Commission Scotl the Cairngorms National Park Authority, we have provided interpretation within Glen Doll Forest leading up to the reserve. We have erected a new NNR sign just before the reserve entrance as visitors preferred this option when consulted. We monitor the condition visitor use of the Corrie Fee path to ensure that it is fit for purpose meets visitor requirements. 9

10 We also created a self-guided trail leaflet for visitors to refer to when they are in the NNR, then took the decision to amalgamate it with the general reserve leaflet. We make sure that news information about the reserve is available up-todate on the NNR website, but increasingly Facebook Twitter have been used to publicise promote events news about the reserve. Objective 5: Improve facilities for educational groups to enjoy appreciate the Reserve Projects delivered under Objective 5 during life of plan: 5.1 Encourage education groups of all ages to visit the reserve supported by the ranger service. 5.2 Develop web based educational materials, including showing the value of the NNR for tertiary secondary education groups how the reserve could be used to support the curriculum. Achieved & Not required The improved facilities at the Ranger Base offer fantastic opportunities for visitors educational groups to use the reserve whilst recognizing the travel time type of roads means that Corrie Fee is not always suitable for primary school education trips. The focus by Angus Council Ranger Service has been on secondary tertiary groups (for example Manchester University now uses the reserve for their physical geography undergraduate course). Objective 6: Involve the local community users in the Reserve. Projects delivered under Objective 6 during life of plan: 6.1 Continue the posts of honorary warden support those who would like to become honorary wardens Continue to support the study group encourage those from the local community others who are interested to participate. Not required Not required We had two honorary wardens, but neither now carries out the role, this role is no longer seen as necessary. The study group stopped operating when the Ranger who led the group left. 10

11 4 Property Management Objective 7: Carry out the necessary estate management maintenance works responsibly following recognised best practice. Projects delivered under Objective 7 during life of plan: 7.1 Liaise with neighbours. Achieved & 7.2 Continue to co-operate with our neighbours over management work. Achieved & 7.3 Use local contractors or suppliers where possible. Achieved & 7.4 Maintain the infrastructure. Achieved & Our staff carry out regular formal infrastructure checks, the deer contractor rangers report any issues they see to ensure that the property is safe. Repairs maintenance works are done as necessary either by our staff or the contractor. We regularly check the fences, stiles gates, maintain repair them as necessary to ensure they remain deer-proof are safe for people to use. We have taken down the entry gate stile as it was quite unsightly serving little purpose. Visitor feedback has been very positive about this. We continue to liaise with neighbours, are a paid member of the East Grampian Deer Management Group, attend Angus Glens Management Group. 5 Summary Having a regular stalker a deer ( sheep)-proof fence has improved conditions for the habitats associated plants in the reserve. Of particular note, the species rich grassl tall herb communities have become progressively more diverse, both in terms of structure diversity. Many dwarf willows were planted to supplement those few which were regenerating naturally. The monitoring strategy which we put in place will soon provide enough results to be able to compare findings. We have seen signs of water vole in the absence of mink. We improved the vista when you arrive at the reserve by removing all extraneous infrastructure some conifer trees. We have helped encourage visitors to get to the reserve by providing signal posts as a countdown to arrival erecting a sign to tell people they are about to arrive. 11

12 The footpath through the reserve, which was upgraded in 2004, is wearing well, with only minor maintenance. We anticipate that it may require some more major work in the next plan period. The new ranger base has provided a focus for visitors for the reserve the surrounding area. Its presence has improved liaison interpretative provision for the public, including acting as a hub for a programme of events throughout the year where visitors can also pick up our up-to-date reserve leaflets gazetteers. Numbers of visitors to the Glen Doll area have increased during the plan period which has increased takings for parking, all of which goes back into the AGRS. The deer exclosure fence was installed in 1991 with an anticipated life span of 15 year. With regular repair, it has continued to remain largely stock proof well beyond this time. 6 The way ahead We will now draft a new ten year management plan for the reserve taking account of feedback we have had during the course of the plan, what we have learnt from our past management what we still need to continue with to ensure we fulfil our vision for Corrie Fee NNR. Making the most out of social modern forms of media, keeping the emphasis going that we have started to create with our educational support work with volunteers will be key to our interaction with visitors to the reserve. We will carry out a public consultation on our management proposals, use this feedback to inform the production of the next Corrie Fee NNR management plan. 12