The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

Transcription

1 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

2 FOREWORD Planning for this Local Biodiversity Action Plan began two years ago with the production of a booklet entitled Biodiversity: Do a Little Change a Lot in Inverness & Nairn. This booklet highlighted the biodiversity of Inverness & Nairn, and identified some actions that communities, businesses, schools, land managers and agencies could do to help safeguard this precious resource. This, more detailed Plan has been produced by The Highland Council, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Partnership for Rural Inverness & Nairn (PRIN), and forms part of a suite of local biodiversity action plans covering The Highland Council area. A group has been set up to oversee its production and allocate a small biodiversity grant scheme (members listed below). Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Group: Cllr Margaret Davidson (Chair) Cllr Liz MacDonald Ben Leyshon / Anne Murray Jonathan Watt Katy Stirling Malcolm Wield Bill Forrest Janet Bromham The Highland Council The Highland Council Scottish Natural Heritage Inverness Museum The Highland Council Countryside Ranger Inverness Forestry Commission Scotland Partnership for Rural Inverness & Nairn Highland Biodiversity Project This Plan is also available in electronic format on the Highland biodiversity website: SEPTEMBER 2004 Cover photograph: Iain Sarjeant Internal photographs: Janet Bromham, Laurie Campbell, Charlie Phillips, Iain Sarjeant, Scottish Natural Heritage Design, layout and printing: Planning & Development Service, The Highland Council Printed on recycled paper that is made from 100% post consumer waste.

3 SUMMARY Biodiversity is short for biological diversity and means the variety of life or richness of nature. It is all around us, from the top of the Monadhliath Hills down to the bottom of the Moray Firth, from the animals and plants that live in our waters, woodlands, moorlands and grasslands to the flowers, birds and insects that visit us in our gardens. We as humans are reliant on a robust and healthy biodiversity for our food, raw materials, clean air and good health. This Local Biodiversity Action Plan has been prepared for Inverness & Nairn. It builds on the booklet Biodiversity: Do a Little Change a Lot in Inverness & Nairn and aims: To raise awareness of the biodiversity of Inverness & Nairn To identify particular habitats and species which are considered important, and To suggest projects and actions that could be undertaken by individuals, communities and agencies in the next five to ten years. and croft land, woodland, moorland and hill, and urban land. Each chapter highlights some of the key biodiversity features of the broad habitat it covers, summarises the main habitats and species present in Inverness & Nairn, suggests 3 or 4 objectives, lists the main issues and opportunities for biodiversity, and highlights some projects that are already contributing to maintaining or improving the biodiversity of the area. Kessock Bridge from Alturlie, Inverness The Plan then highlights some opportunities for future projects that could be undertaken to encourage biodiversity in the next five to ten years, in the shaded boxes. These future actions are also listed at the back of the document in Chapter 7: Next Steps. Biodiversity: Do a Little - Change a Lot in Inverness & Nairn booklet The Plan is intended to be a working reference document for land managers, communities, agencies, consultants and individuals. Its purpose is to provide information and reference material for those seeking funding for future environmental projects, to help agencies and other funding bodies target resources towards local priorities, and to list the main habitats, species and issues that need to be taken into account when planning new developments. The document is non-statutory, i.e. it is not legally binding. However, with increased emphasis being placed on biodiversity and related issues through the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 and the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, it is widely accepted that such plans will become increasingly important in terms of targeting of resources and setting of priorities. It is divided into six main chapters covering the broad habitats of sea and seashore, freshwater, farm There are people and organisations already working in a relevant field or with responsibility for many of these actions, and they have been suggested as partners in italics after each action. However, it should be noted that this is merely intended as a guide for future work, and as yet no agreement has been sought on who will do what and when. Orange peel fungus This Plan and its partner booklet represent a start to the biodiversity action planning process in Inverness & Nairn, and it is envisaged that the next step in the process will be to approach many of these suggested The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan i

4 partners and encourage them to build these actions into their future work programmes. In many cases, this will require additional funding from government or other sources, but many of the actions are more concerned with retargeting and using existing resources to benefit wildlife. Lists of the national priority habitats and species identified in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, as well as those habitats and species of local importance are given in Chapter 8. suggested that a similar group be formed, meeting on an infrequent basis to oversee the development and implementation of the Plan and help target any future funding towards local biodiversity projects. The lack of linkages between the broad habitats, spread of invasive species, wildlife crime and litter and fly-tipping are also identified as recurring themes, and the Plan goes on to identify a series of more habitat-specific issues and projects in each of the six chapters. Please talk about this Plan in your workplace, in your school, at home, in the pub: outdoors and inside. We hope that you will support the ideas that are in it. Then come up with new ideas for biodiversity and use it to apply for a grant for your project. You can join a group that needs your skills, your strength, your imagination (there s a list at the back). And when in the years to come, you enjoy the birds and butterflies that visit your garden or the scent of bluebells on a spring morning walk; when you look at the patterned landscape or the leaping dolphins in the Firth you ll know that you ve played a part in helping to maintain it! Black grouse lekking In drafting the Plan, a number of common themes and actions emerged: Lack of information: There is a shortage of information on the extent of some of the less wellknown species, as well as the impacts of local issues on them. Projects that improve our collective knowledge of the location and management requirements of priority habitats and species would be welcome. As a start, the Plan suggests that a biodiversity audit is undertaken to pull together existing information and identify gaps in our knowledge. Lack of awareness: There is a lack of general knowledge about the biodiversity on our doorsteps, both amongst children and grown-ups. However, the first consultation exercise flagged up a number of community-led projects that are trying to address this, and further Know Your Own Patch projects are suggested as a means of helping local communities find out more about the wildlife in their area. The Plan recommends that a small, easily accessible grant scheme such as the Partnership for Rural Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Grant Scheme is set up on a more permanent basis to help fund such projects. The funding partners are currently considering the options for a second phase of the Highland Biodiversity Project that will start to deliver some of the actions emerging from the Local Biodiversity Action Plans. For further information, please contact the Highland Biodiversity Officer at the following address: Planning & Development Service The Highland Council Glenurquhart Road Inverness IV3 5NX Tel: Fishing, Loch Beinn A'Mheadhoin, Glen Affric Lack of co-ordination: The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Group was set up under the auspices of PRIN to draft and consult on the Local Biodiversity Action Plan. However, the Group was never intended to be a permanent fixture and it is therefore ii The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Summary i Table of Contents iii Habitat Map iv Introduction 1 Plan Aims & Objectives 2 Recurring Themes 3 Chapter 1: Sea & Seashore Marine mammal conservation Marine litter & pollution Recreation 11 Chapter 2: Freshwater Acidification,nutrient enrichment & catchment management Population decline in Atlantic salmon Invasive non-native species Lack of information on freshwater species Aquaculture 20 Chapter 3: Farm & Croft Land Industry problems Cattle rearing Loss of wet ground Decline in Spring cropping Reduction in boundary habitats 28 Chapter 4: Woodland Woodland fragmentation & absence of tree-line woodlands Restructuring plantation woodlands Red squirrels Black grouse & capercaillie Lack of awareness and involvement 36 Chapter 5: Moorland & Hill Lack of knowledge Grazing Inappropriate burning Hill tracks & footpaths Climate change 42 Chapter 6: Urban Uncertainty over access to the countryside Roadside verges Wildlife gardens Habitat creation Litter and fly tipping Education opportunities 47 Chapter 7: What s Next? 51 Update on Actions from New Actions for Chapter 8: Habitats & Species Lists 63 Priority Habitats 63 Priority Species 64 Rural Stewardship Scheme 69 Annex 1: Contact Details 71 Annex 2: References & Sources of Further Information 80 Annex 3: Glossary 81 Annex 4: Designations Map 84 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan iii

6 HABITAT MAP iv The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

7 INTRODUCTION Inverness & Nairn We are privileged to live in this beautiful, dramatic and diverse area of Scotland. There are many different habitats to enjoy from the southern waters and shores of the Moray Firth with its coastal dunes, mudflats and shingle beaches to the crofts and farms on the steep slopes of the Great Glen. There are small peaty burns and glacial lochans nestling high in the hills, larger lochs lower down rich in plant and animal life and, largest of all, the vast inland waterway of Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal. Beautiful rivers like the Ness, the Beauly and the Nairn pass through our main towns on their way to the sea, bringing wildlife and a green lung into the heart of our urban communities. and animals (the species) and the places where they live (their habitats). It also includes the genetic variation within species. At Rio, 150 countries including Britain signed the Convention on Biological Diversity. This means we in this country are committed to protecting our wealth of plants, animals and habitats. Our Government has asked the people of Britain to identify the habitats and species that make our country rich in biodiversity, and then come up with plans to help protect and improve them. Pearl bordered fritillary Biodiversity Action Planning Loch Ness We have vast, open stretches of moorland and heathland, and there are many areas of semi-natural woodland including the ancient Caledonian pinewoods of Glen Affric and Strathfarrar. All of this is set against the scenic backdrop of the Monadhliath mountains and of Munro grandeur such as Sgurr na Lapaich and Tom a Choinich, the hill of the wild dog near Glen Cannich. These habitats support an amazing diversity of wildlife. We have many internationally important species including bottlenose dolphins, great-crested newts, Slavonian grebes and pearl-bordered fritillary butterflies. Plants such as twinflower, juniper, green shield moss and rare lichens grow in our woodlands and glens, whilst hardy perennials like purple saxifrage cling to rocks high up in the mountains. Biodiversity The term biological diversity, or biodiversity for short, was born in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Biodiversity means the rich mix of plants A group, now called the Scottish Biodiversity Forum, was set up in 1995 to encourage people from all areas of the country to put together plans that would benefit their local species and habitats. More recently, the Scottish Executive published the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act (2004) and the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (2004). These two documents place a duty on all public bodies to further the conservation of biodiversity. In Highland, the Highland Biodiversity Project was created to encourage local people, agencies and organisations to work up plans for biodiversity to identify local priorities and help target resources. Through this route, six Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs) have been produced for the areas of Caithness, Sutherland, Wester Ross, Ross & Cromarty (East), Skye and Lochalsh and Lochaber. Badenoch & Strathspey is already covered by the Cairngorms Local Biodiversity Action Plan. Animals and plants don t recognise these administrative boundaries, but they are a useful means of dividing up the Highland Council area into more manageable units. We hope that together with this Plan for Inverness & Nairn, the Highland LBAPs will improve or raise awareness of biodiversity within our communities and help target resources towards local projects. The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 1

8 This Plan This Local Biodiversity Action Plan lists and describes the special places, plants and animals that live here in Inverness & Nairn. It identifies the main issues or threats to this biodiversity, and suggests ways in which the rich variety of species and habitats can be protected and improved. Of course, many of these issues are not unknown to us, and the Plan also highlights some of the many projects and ongoing work already carried out by agencies, organisations and individuals to add to the beauty and diversity of the area. Many species and habitats in Britain have already had plans written for them that identify the threats to their survival and suggest courses of action that could help conserve or increase their population and range. These Species Action Plans (SAPs) and Habitat Action Plans (HAPs) are good starting points to help identify priorities and target effort and resources. Yellow flag iris PLAN AIMS & OBJECTIVES This Plan aims to ensure that biodiversity issues are given a high priority by local government, agencies, and funding bodies; and to involve school children, communities and land managers in delivering local biodiversity improvements. Each of the six broad habitats chapters contains habitat-specific objectives, but the following general objectives are suggested as over-arching themes to guide our biodiversity work in Inverness & Nairn over the next 5-10 years. Plodda Falls, near Tomich Chapter 7 What s Next? gives us an update on progress since publication of the initial booklet in 2002, and summarises the actions that have been flagged up in the six broad habitats chapters. Our Plan lists the national priority habitats and species that are known to occur in the area in Chapter 8. In addition, we have identified a number of local priorities, habitats and species that, either individually or collectively, make Inverness & Nairn distinctive in wildlife terms. To safeguard the biodiversity of existing habitats. To ensure all future developments take account of local biodiversity. To encourage a holistic approach to the management of land and natural resources that takes account of local biodiversity. To improve access to information about important habitats and species, and their management requirements. To raise awareness of biodiversity and pressures upon it. To identify local opportunities to improve biodiversity and promote positive attitudes from an early age. To maximise the sustainable economic benefit from biodiversity. To establish a mechanism to help deliver the Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan. 2 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

9 RECURRING THEMES In writing this plan, a number of common themes and suggestions for future work emerged. Some are recorded under the most relevant broad habitat, but a number of more general points and suggestions are listed below. 1. Lack of information Issue: There is a general lack of knowledge about the extent and coverage of species within Highland as a whole and in drawing up this Plan, the Group encountered a severe shortage of accessible, up-todate information on the biodiversity of Inverness & Nairn. Whilst some of the better known groups such as birds, mammals or flowering plants are relatively well recorded, information on some of the less wellknown groups, including invertebrates, lichens, fungi, bryophytes and marine species, is sadly lacking. Projects that raise our collective knowledge of the location and management needed for these habitats and species would be welcome. Such work would help us monitor the success of this and other biodiversity plans and projects, and the results will help the funding bodies target their limited resources to where they are most needed. Trust also hold records for particular species groups. The Highland Biological Recording Group is a group of enthusiastic volunteers that collect and submit species records, and there are many surveys and projects where the information collected is not made accessible to other bodies. Future actions: Undertake a biodiversity audit to pull together existing information from local groups and national bodies and identify gaps in our collective knowledge. (Suggested partners: SNH, The Highland Council, Forestry Commission Scotland, RSPB Scotland, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Highland Biological Recording Group, Inverness Museum Records Centre) Initiate an accessible fund for future survey work. (Suggested partners: SNH) Establish a centralised database a new Highland Biological Records Centre to act as a contact point for anyone requiring further information. (Suggested partners: SNH, The Highland Council, Highland Biological Recording Group, Inverness Museum Records Centre) Opportunity: The Local Biological Records Centre at Inverness Museum contains species records, but is currently severely under-resourced. If sufficient funding and resources can be found, the Records Centre could be expanded and used to collate, store and issue information on national and local priority species and habitats within Highland. Inverness Bat Group 2. Lack of awareness Dog lichen, Inverfarigaig Current Projects: Agencies such as Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency collect and store information on habitats and species, and organisations such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Butterfly Conservation The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan Issue: A key theme emerging from the initial consultation exercise was the lack of general knowledge about the wildlife on our doorsteps, both amongst children and adults. Initiatives that raise awareness of biodiversity and land management issues amongst the wider public are essential to the success of this Plan, and should be developed through projects involving schools and community groups. Opportunity: The Highland Biodiversity Project gave a small amount of funding to a number of Know Your Own Patch projects in 2003, which were very successful in involving people in community 3

10 biodiversity projects and surveys. If funding could be found to continue this scheme, more community groups and schools could benefit from small awareness-raising projects. Future actions: Continue the Know Your Own Patch grant scheme, to help community groups and schools raise awareness of biodiversity. (Suggested partners: PRIN, SNH, The Highland Council, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, RSPB Scotland) Develop educational materials for primary, secondary and tertiary courses that focus on local biodiversity and examine the threats and current / future actions relating to specific species and habitats. Examine the primary and secondary curricula (5-14 and Higher Still courses) and identify opportunities to raise awareness about local biodiversity. (Suggested partners: The Highland Council Education & Ranger Services, SNH) Appoint a teacher / biologist to write suitable materials relating to case studies of local biodiversity, identify and integrate with individuals in local agencies who could be approached to talk to pupils and provide data, and identify suitable sites and sources of funding for field trips and projects. (Suggested partners: The Highland Council Education & Ranger Services, SNH) 3. Lack of co-ordination Issue: There is currently no group or forum with sufficient remit or geographical coverage to pick up on the work of the Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Group and help deliver this Local Biodiversity Action Plan. Opportunity: The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Group was set up under the auspices of the Partnership for Rural Inverness & Nairn to draft this Plan, and comprises a number of enthusiastic individuals representing a range of interests. There may be merit in continuing this sub group, perhaps with an extended membership, meeting on an infrequent basis to help deliver the Plan. Future actions: Continue to support the Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Group to raise awareness of community-led environmental projects, share good practice, oversee actions, run events and support awareness-raising projects. (Suggested partners: PRIN, SNH, The Highland Council, group members) Provide training and support to a network of volunteer biodiversity contacts who can advise and support individuals, businesses, schools and community groups willing to carry out biodiversity audits and mapping exercises. (Suggested partners: The Highland Council, SNH) Small blue butterfly 4. Lack of habitat linkages Creeping ladies tresses Issue: Many habitats throughout Inverness & Nairn now exist only as isolated remnants of once larger areas of wetland, woodland or moorland. Wildlife often cannot move between these remnants, and so populations of some species become isolated and more vulnerable to changes in climate, disease, etc. Opportunity: Biodiversity projects could be targeted to improve linkages between such habitats. 4 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

11 Future actions: Undertake projects that re-establish links between isolated habitats through agricultural or forestry grant schemes, or wildlife corridor projects focusing on hedgerows or roadside verges. (Suggested partners: The Highland Council Transport, Environmental & Community Services, BEAR Scotland, SNH, Forestry Commission Scotland, Highland FWAG, Scottish Agricultural College, land managers) 5. Invasive species Issue: Rhododendron ponticum, Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed, Himalayan balsam and signal crayfish are non-native, invasive species that are threatening our native biodiversity. In addition, a number of native species (e.g. ragwort, bracken, gorse, rushes) that often provide good wildlife habitat can become problematic if grazing is removed and the plants are left unchecked. are detrimental when they take over as blanket coverage. (Suggested partners: The Highland Council Transport, Environmental & Community Services, BEAR Scotland, SNH, Highland FWAG, land managers) Run training courses for land managers and road verge maintenance contractors and staff to help with identification of these problem species and raise awareness of how to control and eradicate them. (Suggested partners: The Highland Council Transport, Environmental & Community Services, BEAR Scotland, SNH, land managers) 6. Wildlife crime Issue: There are a number of illegal actions that threaten our biodiversity, including the removal of wild flowers such as bluebells and water lilies from woods or ponds, the collection of rare birds eggs, the deliberate or accidental killing of birds of prey, fishing for pearl mussels and the drowning of dolphins in illegally set monofilament nets or disturbance through inappropriate boat use. Opportunity: The Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime is a multi-agency body comprising representatives of all the organisations involved in wildlife law enforcement in the UK. It promotes the enforcement of legislation and provides opportunities for joint working to address these problems. Future actions: Raise awareness of wildlife crime issues amongst local groups and in schools. (Suggested partners: The Highland Council Education Service, SNH, RSPB Scotland, Northern Constabulary) Japanese knotweed Opportunity: Many of our semi-natural habitats require management through grazing or scrub control, but some non-natives require special attention to eradicate them. Species such as Japanese knotweed can often be unwittingly spread to new locations through machinery or the transfer of topsoil, but such issues can be addressed through training courses and awareness-raising programmes targeted at contractors. Future actions: Take steps to eradicate alien pest species such as Rhododendron ponticum, Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed and Himalayan balsam from water courses and roadside verges. Manage other species such as bracken and gorse, which although beneficial for biodiversity in small areas, Bluebells, Glen Affric The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 5

12 7. Litter and fly-tipping Issue: Marine and land-based litter from fly-tipping or discarded items including farm waste, bags, containers and fishing nets and line can cause problems for mammals and birds in any environment. Plastic items or tin cans can cause particular damage, as they are not always biodegradable. legal restrictions on the control of some species. For management purposes, the Plan advocates promoting biodiversity through a habitat or ecosystem-based approach, rather than managing an area for a particular species alone. Opportunity: There may be opportunities for local action through joint working with national initiatives such as the Think before you flush, Bag it and Bin it and Dumb Dumpers campaigns. Current Projects: Some communities regularly organise clean-ups on beaches, rivers or within woodlands. Future actions: Provide incentives for businesses and communities to minimise the waste they send to landfill through e.g. community composting facilities and agricultrual waste recycling schemes. (Suggested partners: The Highland Council, SNH, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Executive, The Royal Scottish Agriculture Benevolent Institution, businesses, community groups) Pine marten Consider better signage in valuable areas and education within schools. (Suggested partners: The Highland Council Education Service, SNH, Northern Constabulary) Nairn beach 8. Natural conflicts Natural conflicts between different biodiversity interests exist, for example between seals and salmon / trout, pine martens and poultry, and ragwort (a food for insects or a noxious weed for stock?). These conflicts need to be taken into account as there will be different issues in different locations, and there are 6 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

13 Chapter 1: Sea & Seashore Key features: The following list highlights the key features of our marine and coastal biodiversity, the habitats and species that make this area so special and distinct in ecological terms. Part of most important area for wintering wildfowl and waders in Britain, supporting winter duck and goose populations of international significance First and last stop-over in autumn and spring for many long-distance migrant birds Coastal waters used by one of only two known resident bottlenose dolphin populations in the UK Exceptional variety of coastal plant communities, with a large number of rare or local plants occurring at the limit of their northern or southern range Includes part of the largest sand dune system in Britain Outstanding examples of sand and shingle spits enclosing an inter-tidal system of saltings, sand and mudflats Supports large numbers of juvenile fish populations and is a route for returning adult Atlantic Salmon to the rivers Ness and Beauly Photos of: Red shank,sunset over Beauly Firth, Bottlenose dolphin calf, Nairn beach and Common seals. The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 7

14 Introduction We do not have a vast area of sea and coast in Inverness & Nairn. Our coastline stretches from Culbin Sands east of Nairn to the head of the Beauly Firth, a distance of only 43 km as the oystercatcher flies. However, this distance would be much greater if we were to kayak round all the bays and headlands, and what we lack in quantity we make up for in quality and variety of habitat. Through time, this coastal stretch has supported numerous industries including fishing from Nairn and Inverness harbours, oil rig manufacture at the Ardersier Fabrication Yard, transportation to and from Inverness and, more recently, recreation and tourism. As our population expands, so too do our demands on the marine environment but with increasing legislation, our waters and beaches are becoming cleaner. Sunset over Beauly Firth Habitats & species The Beauly Firth is a shallow, tidal lagoon containing over 1,000 hectares of estuarine marsh and inter-tidal sand and mud, which is exposed by the tide twice a day. At the mouth of the Firth the sea bed is dominated by coarse sand and gravel but as you move west, is becomes more sheltered from severe wind and wave action, resulting in the deposition of soft silt and mud habitats. of these species have shown significant declines over the last 7 years the reasons for this remain unknown. Purple sandpiper & Red shank The intertidal mudflats of Longman and Castle Stuart Bays also support a range of wintering wildfowl and waders including cormorant, wigeon, goldeneye, red-breasted merganser and redshank. High numbers of scaup have also been recorded here during some winters, and the area is also regularly visited by large numbers of teal, oystercatcher and curlew. The coastline of the Inner Moray Firth is fringed in places by saltmarsh, much of which is ungrazed and supports a range of species including the local saltmarsh flat sedge and estuarine sedge. As you move landwards through the upper reaches of the Firth, the habitats move through common reed and bulrush swamp and fen to willow scrub and closed alder carr. Whiteness Head is an excellent example of a sand and shingle spit enclosing an intertidal system of saltings, sand and mud flats, with associated saltmarsh and carseland. It is important as a feeding and roosting area for knot and bar-tailed godwit and in summer, as a breeding site for waders, wildfowl and four species of tern have been recorded here. Its distinctive flora, showing a range of coastal species, is a boon for insects including butterflies. There are large areas where pioneer species typical of northern firths such as glasswort, beaked tasselweed and the nationally scarce eelgrasses, have moved in to colonise these habitats. In addition to plants, the sediments support abundant species of invertebrates which, in turn are food for a wide diversity of wintering waders and wildfowl. Populations of greylag geese are of international importance, and up to 1,000 Canada geese fly up to the Firth to moult during late summer. Red-breasted merganser, cormorant and goosander were also of international significance in the Beauly Firth in the mid 1990 s. However, the overwintering population The largest sand dune system in Britain is at Culbin Sands, on the boundary between Nairnshire and Morayshire. The ancient dunes, which were planted with conifers in the 1920s to stabilise them, were formed by windblown sand and can reach metres in height. Other habitats associated with this system include intertidal flats, standard shingle bars, dunes, dune-slacks, saltmarsh, heath, freshwater bodies, freshwater marshes and scrub woodland. Over 550 species of flowering plant have been recorded from this area 48 of which are at the northern limit of their range, whilst a further 3 are at their southern limit. The diversity of fungi and lichens is also outstanding and the site is nationally 8 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

15 important for its exceptionally rich variety of insect species. The inshore waters of the Moray Firth are home to one of only two known resident populations of bottlenose dolphins to be found in UK waters. Harbour porpoise, white-beaked dolphin, minke whale, pilot whale and orca have all been sighted in the inner Moray Firth, although most of these species are seen further out to sea in the Outer Firth. Common (harbour) seals use the intertidal sandbanks and mudflats of the Beauly Firth as haulouts, and otters use the coastal area to forage for food. Nairn Harbour Main Issues Common seals Below the waves, the Moray Firth holds extensive areas of sand. These sandbanks support a diverse range of species and provide significant feeding areas for seabirds and nursery grounds for fish. The immature stages of commercially important fish species such as herring, which was formerly exploited off the coast by a drift net fishery, and cod use these inshore areas, as do sprats that spawn in deep water and then move inshore to over-winter. In summer, it is not uncommon to see ospreys fishing, and red kites are a familiar site around the Beauly Firth. Objectives To raise awareness of the marine environment within schools, businesses and tourist outlets. To define acceptable levels of coastal development from a biodiversity viewpoint. To encourage organisations to set standards for sewage and industrial waste discharges which safeguard and improve local biodiversity. To minimise disturbance to wildlife caused by those seeking recreation through increased interpretation, signage and promotion of codes of good practice. The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 1.1 Marine mammal conservation Issue: Dolphins are one of the most marketable and enduring images of the Moray Firth, but their survival around these shores is not a certainty. They live at the edge of their range and suffer from a number of pressures such as noise disturbance, pollution or becoming trapped in illegally set nets. Common and grey seals too are a well known and a loved sight around the coast, but there are concerns about the interactions between seal populations and the numbers of salmon and sea trout returning to spawn in our rivers. Current projects: The dolphins and underwater sandbanks are both of European importance, and are the reasons why a large part of the Moray Firth is a candidate Special Area of Conservation. The Moray Firth Management Scheme identifies over 100 projects and actions that individuals and agencies can do to safeguard and improve these interests. For a copy of the Management Scheme, go to The University of Aberdeen and St Andrew s University have been monitoring the presence and behaviour of the Moray Firth dolphins for many years and have identified around 130 animals by individual markings on their fins. 9

16 The Dolphin Space Programme is an accreditation scheme for wildlife tour boats. It promotes operators who Watch how they Watch and who carry out high quality cruises of low environmental impact see for more information. Operation Fish Net is a project undertaken by the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime which seeks to raise awareness of the dolphins of the Moray Firth and the threat of entanglement in illegally set monofilament gill nets. In the two years since the launch of this project, 75 illegal nets have been seized within the Moray Firth. conduct (Dolphin Space Programme, Dolphin Awareness Initiative); avoiding feeding or swimming with dolphins; reporting stranded marine animals to the Scottish Cetacean Stranding Coordinator; reporting illegal salmon nets; adopting a dolphin; joining a dolphin watch group; preventing harmful waste from entering into the sewage system; helping to keep the coast litter free; watching dolphins from the shore or with an accredited boat operator. (Suggested partners: Moray Firth Partnership, Harbour Board, Ships chandlers, boat operators, marine businesses, local communities, individuals) 1.2 Marine litter & pollution Issue: Although the local marine environment is relatively clean by UK standards, improvements can still be made. Marine litter poses a range of risks to species including entanglement and ingestion. Many sources of pollution directly affect species at the lower end of the food web, such as filter feeding bivalves (cockles, mussels, etc) and pollutants may then be passed on up the food chain. Bottlenose dolphin calf Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Executive and the Moray Firth District Salmon Fishery Boards are working together to develop a Seal Management Plan for the Moray Firth. The aim of the plan is to safeguard the integrity of the common seal interest of the Dornoch Firth candidate Common Seal Special Area of Conservation. The plan recognises that seals can predate salmon in freshwater and where they do they will be managed in accordance with the Seal Management Plan. Current projects: Work has already been carried out through the Moray Firth Partnership and to draw attention to dangers to wildlife posed by seaborne litter and to encourage beach clean-ups. Scottish Water Solutions is continuing to upgrade coastal sewage treatment sites. Future actions: Display information leaflets on the protection of dolphins, report any illegal or drifting salmon nets to the dedicated freephone number , and demonstrate good environmental practice by keeping the firths clean and healthy for marine life. (Suggested partners: Moray Firth Partnership, Harbour Board, Ships chandlers, boat operators & marine businesses) Promote positive action to safeguard the Moray Firth dolphins, to support the work of the Dolphin Defenders project currently being run by the Moray Firth Partnership see Possible actions include contacting the police if boats are harassing dolphins; buying only wild salmon or sea trout caught by legal methods; reporting oil spills at sea to the coastguard; following the relevant codes of Inverness Harbour Future actions: Seek sponsorship for and encourage more schools and communities to get involved in beach surveys and clean-ups, and raise awareness of marine litter. (Suggested partners: Moray Firth Partnership, Marine Conservation Society, The Highland Council, Community Groups) Help marine and coastal users recycle or dispose of waste such as litter, old fishing nets or marine 10 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

17 chemicals sensitively by ensuring there are adequate waste disposal and recycling facilities, and by building on existing projects such as the Think before you flush, Bag it and Bin it and Dumb Dumpers campaigns. (Suggested partners: Moray Firth Partnership, Harbour Board, SEPA, The Highland Council Transport, Environmental & Community Services, Ships chandlers, boat operators & marine businesses) Strive to ensure that the standards of discharges from sewage treatment plants in the area take into account and safeguard, or enhance, local biodiversity. (Suggested partners: The Highland Council, SEPA, Scottish Water Solutions, SNH, Moray Firth Partnership, Marine Conservation Society) Increase promotion, interpretation and signage close to habitat improvement projects to raise awareness of the issues, timescales and the need for measures such as fencing. (Suggested partners: SNH, The Highland Council, RSPB Scotland, Highlands of Scotland Tourist Baord, land managers) Investigate the potential for one or two low impact viewing facilities elsewhere around the Firth. (Suggested partners: RSPB Scotland, local communities) 1.3 Recreation Issue: While there is enormous scope for quiet enjoyment of coastal wildlife here, there are also risks of disturbance in certain areas. Inshore use of fast recreational craft in the Inverness Firth or unregulated dog exercising beside mudflats are examples of activities that can be a problem for wildlife and a nuisance to people who wish to enjoy that wildlife. Nairn beach Current projects: Bird watchers monitor the number of waterfowl and waders throughout the winter across the Moray Firth. The Wetland Birds Survey is carried out at low and high tides each year in one of the major inland firths and on the larger inland lochs. The results can be viewed on the Moray Firth Partnership website: The Highland Council, with the help of a grant from Scottish Natural Heritage, has improved the parking, access, viewing facilities and interpretation at the Inverness Bird Hide on Stadium Road. The improved hide is now upgraded to an all-abilities standard, and affords views over the mudflats to North Kessock of wading birds including ringed plover, turnstone, curlew and redshank. The European funded Nortrail Project aims to inform visitors to the Moray Firth about access to its rich coastal heritage. A proposed Hands Across the Firth project, led by the Moray Firth Partnership, will be seeking ideas from communities to celebrate and promote natural heritage links across the area. Future actions: Provide information at a few key points, including encouragement to restrict dog roaming / keep dogs on leads in sensitive areas. (Suggested partners: SNH, RSPB Scotland, local communities, land managers) The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 11

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19 Chapter 2: Freshwater Key features: The following list highlights the key features of our freshwater biodiversity, the habitats and species that make this area so special and distinct in ecological terms. Most important location in the UK for breeding Slavonian grebes Surviving stock of internationally endangered Atlantic salmon Population of internationally important freshwater pearl mussel Rivers running through major settlements, bringing people and riverside wildlife together River gorges where splash, runoff and spray maintain variety of plants and trees Watercourses as corridors and feeding areas for otters, fish and amphibians Lochs containing Arctic char and genetically distinct trout populations Habitats and feeding grounds for birds including osprey Ponds as breeding sites for great crested newts and other amphibians Loch Ness: the largest freshwater body in the UK and an internationally recognised tourist destination Photos of: Slavonian grebe, Loch Ness, Atlantic salmon, Moniack Burn and Great crested newt. The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 13

20 Introduction The mountain ridges and plateaux in the west and south of Inverness-shire are dissected and drained by steep, bouldery burns, remote lochans and long, sweeping water bodies such as Loch Monar, Loch Affric and Loch Cluanie. Many of our rivers and burns, including the Enrick, Coiltie, Moriston and Foyers charge down the slopes of the Great Glen into Loch Ness which, in turn, delivers water to the sea through the River Ness and the Caledonian Canal. Inverness & Nairn holds most of the upper catchment of the River Findhorn, a classic Highland river which starts in the Monadhliath mountains and passes through vast open stretches of moorland and narrow wooded gorges before entering Morayshire. The smaller but equally scenic River Nairn, the river of the alders also rises in the Monadhliaths and passes farmland and forestry before joining the sea at Nairn itself. North of the Great Glen, the three Glens of Affric, Cannich and Strathfarrar are connected by the River Beauly system which, like the Moriston, has been dammed in several places to create hydroelectric power. The construction of dams during the 1950s created large new water bodies and regulated the flows of rivers. These activities have had both positive and negative impacts for biodiversity, with the creation of new habitats and the modification of others. Freshwater pearl mussel Linked to the health of salmon is the freshwater pearl mussel. Once much more widespread but now reduced by pollution and over-fishing, this long-lived mollusc (a century or more is possible) is present within a number of rivers within Inverness & Nairn. It is a high priority species for conservation action, and recent studies indicate that it has a beneficial role to salmon in terms of filtering water and keeping spawning beds clean. The upland fast-flowing rivers are subject to periodic spates after sudden snowmelt or heavy rainfall. Dipper, grey wagtail and common sandpiper breed here. Waders such as redshank and curlew may use damp areas in fields near the rivers. Fast-flowing water running through gorges also indirectly boosts local biodiversity through splash, spray and maintenance of moisture in soil supporting river or burnside trees. Lower plants such as mosses, lichens, liverworts and ferns are particularly favoured in this way. Freshwater corridors are also important for conservation of the water vole, now one of the UK s most endangered mammals. Watercourses of all kinds, from rivers to drainage ditches, provide corridors along which the area s low density population of otters can move and feed. They often catch frogs and toads as they gather for communal mating in Spring. Loch Affric Habitats & species Rivers & burns: Due to the income generated from fishing in our rivers, much work takes place locally to monitor, conserve and maximise the catch of Atlantic salmon. However, the numbers of salmon returning to our rivers has declined dramatically in recent decades. Small burns also support both resident fish like minnows, and migratory fish that return to the burns to spawn, such as sea trout (the migratory form of brown trout) and eels. Otter 14 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

21 Upland lochs: Our upland rocks and soils are generally acidic and poor in nutrients, which in turn influence the rivers, burns and lochs that pass over or sit within them. Such waters are naturally poor in food for aquatic life, termed oligotrophic (nutrient poor) and are typical of upland systems in the Highlands. The invertebrate and fish fauna includes a smaller range of species than waters in central and southern Scotland. Among the few fish species here, members of the salmon family are of prime interest and many of the upland lochs contain brown trout and Arctic char. Some of the larger lochs support ferox trout the cannibalistic form of brown trout and these fish can grow in excess of 20 lbs. The main introduced fish species in the area, pike and perch, are predators on other fish and can have an impact on native fish stocks. Mesotrophic lochs: Due to their richer geology, the uplands surrounding the Great Glen support a number of freshwater lochs with moderate or intermediate nutrient status. Such waters are termed mesotrophic and because they are richer in food, they tend to support a greater range of species than nutrient poor, oligotrophic lochs in the south and west of the area. Examples include Loch Ruthven, Loch Ashie, Loch Knockie and Loch nan Lann, all of which lie in the low hills south-east of the Great Glen. grebes are almost entirely restricted to Highland and Grampian, with Inverness and Nairn being one of the most important areas overall. Some sites also support populations of common and black-headed gull. Slavonian grebe Loch Ruthven is also one of the very few known lochs for a rare type of stickleback, and Loch Ashie is of interest for its freshwater invertebrates including a nationally scarce species of water beetle. Dragonflies benefit from the rich aquatic and fen vegetation to be found in many of our smaller lochans, such as the Balnagrantach loch system above Drumadrochit and Loch Bran, a shallow lochan on the edge of an escarpment on the south side of Loch Ness. Eutrophic lochs: Loch Flemington, near Croy in lowland Inverness-shire, is a good example of a shallow freshwater loch of eutrophic or high nutrient status. It is important locally as a feeding and roosting site for wigeon, mallard and other waterfowl in winter, and as a breeding site for many other waterfowl species in summer, including Slavonian grebe. Loch Ruthven These lochs are rich in vegetation, and some support extensive beds of emergent vegetation including longstalked pondweed as well as sedge beds dominated by bottle sedge and slender sedge. Some, such as Loch Ruthven show a transition from open water through swamp and fen vegetation to sedge-rich wet acidic grassland. They provide important feeding, gathering, moulting and breeding habitats for many species of wildfowl including Slavonian grebe, black-throated diver, tufted duck, mallard, teal, red-breasted merganser, wigeon and coot. In the UK, breeding Slavonian Loch an Airigh Fhraoich Wetlands: Many of the area s lochs and lochans have fens, reedbeds and swamp vegetation around their edges. Such sites are rich in sedges, reeds, mosses The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 15

22 and liverworts, and provide important habitats for breeding waders such as curlew, snipe and the locally rare water rail. Loch Battan contains a rare type of bottle sedge / bryophyte fen, as well as a number of locally rare and nationally scarce plants such as small cranberry and early marsh orchid. At the Loch of the Clans, the shallow open water is gradually silting up and being succeeded by sedge swamp and willow carr. Some wetlands and small ponds in the area are home to colonies of great crested newts, but even tiny patches of marshy ground or standing water can support plants such as ragged robin and provide opportunities for common frogs, toads and palmate newts to spawn or dragonflies and damselflies to breed. To promote the use of best practice guides and professional advice from government agencies, and reduce any negative impacts of forestry, agriculture or other industrial discharges on freshwater habitats. To keep lochs and rivers in as natural a state as possible, with no barriers to fish migration and improved flow rates on dammed river sections. To raise awareness of the importance of wetland and open water habitats, and encourage local pride in the value of the high quality freshwater environment. Although not one of the best areas in Scotland for the great crested newt, Inverness and Nairn represents the northernmost limit of this species natural range. Great crested newt Reservoirs: A number of lochs have been created over the last 50 years by hydro-electric developments. Some of these contain Arctic char and populations of wading birds, although the water levels often fluctuate too much for them to provide good feeding grounds for the latter. These developments have had a huge influence on our biodiversity, e.g. through presenting barriers to the passage of migratory fish, opening up new routes for species transfers, changes in temperatures caused by water transfers, and the loss of natural flood events. Objectives To promote a holistic approach to freshwater conservation by encouraging co-operation between land and water users through the development of catchment management plans and other initiatives. To maintain favourable water quality status in all water bodies and minimise diffuse pollution. Main Issues Whitewater canoeing 2.1 Acidification, nutrient enrichment & catchment management Issue: Agricultural intensification and an increase in building development has resulted in an increase in fertilisers and pesticides reaching our watercourses through run-off from fields and an increase in sewage treatment works and discharges from pipes. Some water bodies in the area, such as Loch Flemington, are suffering from nutrient enrichment as a result of past land management practices and sewage discharges, resulting in blooms of blue-green algae, which can kill other aquatic life. In the past, the planting of large blocks of conifers in the uplands has released soils and silt into the burns and rivers, altering flow rates and causing salmon spawning beds to silt up. In some of the burns, the effect of afforestation has resulted in an increase in the acidity of the water. 16 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

23 Opportunities: The Water Framework Directive encourages the development of catchment management plans, and its implementation through the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) will increase control on pressures affecting water quality, particularly from diffuse pollution sources. Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) are also being promoted in new developments, which will benefit water quality. Farmers and crofters are required to follow the PEPFAA Code (Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Agricultural Activity) and useful information and guides on reducing agricultural pollution are available from SEPA, the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Agricultural College (Dos and Don ts Guide and the Four Point Plan Straightforward guidance for livestock farmers to minimise pollution and benefit your business). The production of farm water management plans as recommended by the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) would give simple, low cost ways in which farmers can make savings on fertilisers and other agrochemicals, reduce pollution and soil loss and also improve wildlife habitats. In particular the creation of buffer strips along water courses give large biodiversity benefits. Buffer strips can reduce erosion by controlling stock to bank sides, and can also trap sediments and chemicals before they are washed into rivers. The Rural Stewardship Scheme (Scotland s agrienvironment scheme, run by the Scottish Executive Environment & Rural Affairs Department, described in more detail in Chapter 3) can fund the creation of buffer strips. Loch Duntelchaig Current projects: SEPA currently monitors the quality of our larger rivers and lochs, and regulates all discharges from water treatment works, farm wastes and industrial effluent. Although much of the pollution in Loch Flemington is a legacy of past activity, including domestic sources, members of the Loch Flemington Catchment Group have been looking for solutions to improve the water quality for many years. The Scottish Agricultural College has undertaken a survey of the Loch Flemington catchment to assess how agricultural operations might impact on the health of the loch and provide advice to minimise agricultural runoff. As a result, most farmers have or are planning to submit applications to the Rural Stewardship Scheme for positive conservation works including nutrient budgeting, which recommends the optimum amount and timing of fertiliser or manure to be applied to the land. Loch Flemington Forestry Commission Scotland and many private landowners are restructuring many plantations to remove conifers from the edges of streams, and all new plantations must adhere to Forest & Water Guidelines, which give best practice for forestry management to protect watercourses. Glen Urquhart Community Council has produced an Integrated Catchment Management Plan for the River Enrick, which identifies a number of potential projects including selected flood mitigation schemes, improved riparian management, a public pathway network with way-markers and signage and recreational facilities based on the natural habitat or archaeology. A community support worker has been appointed and Glen Urquhart Land Use Partnership formed, with funding from the Inverness & Nairn CED programme, SEPA, RSPB and SNH, to help the community find and secure the necessary finance to deliver these projects. Future actions: Ensure water quality improvements are in line with SEPA s targets. (Suggested partners: SEPA, Scottish Water, National Farmers Union Scotland, agricultural and industrial businesses) Continue to promote practical guidance for forestry plantings and new developments taking place near The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 17

24 watercourses. Advise businesses on the legal requirements for discharges of substances near or into water, and demonstrate how sustainable practices can make economic sense to businesses. (Suggested partners: Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Executive, SEPA, The Highland Council Planning & Development Service, SNH, SAC, Highland FWAG) Promote adoption of SUDS principles (such as swales, infiltration basins, detention / retention ponds, wetlands, reedbeds) in new developments. (Suggested partners: The Highland Council Planning & Development Service, SEPA, SNH, developers) More locally, hydro schemes have impacted on river flows in the Beauly and Moriston catchments, which have resulted in a loss of spawning areas for salmon and sea trout. In addition, some road crossings have created obstructions to fish migration, resulting in a loss of spawning habitat for migratory fish. Until recently, agricultural prices have meant it was worthwhile to maintain flood banks and field drains, which have canalised rivers and removed potential spawning habitat for salmon and sea trout. Safeguard the nutrient status of Loch Flemington as far as possible by minimising future nutrient inputs; and ensure that good-quality long-term data is available to assess the nutrient status of this and other lochs in the area. (Suggested partners: SEPA, SNH, The Highland Council Planning & Development Service) Produce and enact Farm Waste Water Management Plans for some of the larger agricultural units, following a pilot project undertaken as part of the River Spey Catchment Management Plan project. (Suggested partners: Scottish Executive, SEPA, Highland FWAG, SAC, land managers) Encourage habitat creation and enhancement for developments, particularly those affecting water courses. (Suggested partners: SEPA, SNH, The Highland Council Planning & Development Service, National Farmers Union Scotland, developers) Fisherman, River Ness Opportunity: Those fish that do return to the river where they spawned can be helped by conservation measures within the local area. This could include assessment of the usefulness of existing barriers to fish movement and the feasibility of allowing unrestricted fish access to river reaches that have been inaccessible in recent decades. It is likely that most new large-scale developments will have implications for local biodiversity, but these ought to be identified and addressed through tools such as Project Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment. There is extensive consultation on new hydro schemes to minimise environmental impact and protect biodiversity as far as possible. Opportunities exist to work with Scottish and Southern Energy and other hydro developers to mitigate the effects of hydro development on biodiversity and there is also scope to address the problem of road crossings and other man made obstacles to fish migration and causes of habitat fragmentation. Atlantic salmon 2.2 Population decline in Atlantic salmon Issue: Atlantic salmon has suffered huge declines across its world range in recent decades. Reasons for this are complex but are likely to include factors such as deep-sea trawling at wintering grounds and changes in water temperature and salinity due to global warming that are far beyond the scope of local action for biodiversity. Current projects: The Ness and Beauly District Salmon Fishery Boards have been implementing catch and release programmes, aimed at maximising the numbers of salmon returning to the upper reaches of the rivers to spawn. Scottish and Southern Energy have installed fish passes with counters at their hydro dams. Many farmers and crofters have entered into agrienvironment schemes with water margin options, 18 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

25 which enable them to fence off rivers and streams, provide alternative watering methods for stock and plant trees to stabilise the banks. Habitat works in forests e.g. Boblainy have been undertaken to help improve some spawning burns. Future actions: Restore fish passes and reduce barriers to fish and other wildlife to give access to spawning grounds upstream, including the maintenance of appropriate flow rates in flow-altered rivers. (Suggested partners: Scottish & Southern Energy, District Salmon Fishery Boards, SNH, land managers) Promote and adhere to Government guidance and recognised best practice for road crossings and river engineering projects. (Suggested partners: The Highland Council, BEAR Scotland, SEPA, SNH, land managers) They can also undermine river bank stability by burrowing into the banks. Opportunity: There should be an opportunity for partnership working to remove or control invasive plant and animal species through tools such as catchment management planning, and current legislative changes are strengthening the law on invasive, non-native species. Current projects: The Glen Urquhart Land Use Partnership (GULUP) have recognised the problem of invasive species such as Japanese knotweed on the rivers Coiltie and Enrick. A programme to eradicate this species is underway and this will continue in the years ahead. Mink trapping takes place on the River Farrar. Develop fishery and catchment management plans for each river system in the region, and carry out a demonstration project on river and loch bank management, including the use of fencing buffer strips and planting of broadleaves to prevent bank erosion. (Suggested partners: SEPA, SNH, The Highland Council Planning & Development Service, District Salmon Fishery Boards, WWF) Raise awareness of the issues surrounding river management for salmon amongst anglers and land managers. (Suggested partners: District Salmon Fishery Boards, land managers, angling groups) 2.3 Invasive non-native species Issue: Some non-native plant species such as Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam and giant hogweed are very invasive and choke out native vegetation. These species often spread along rivers, making them particularly difficult to control on an individual basis. Some tributaries of the River Nairn in particular, are experiencing severe problems with the poisonous, invasive giant hogweed, and Japanese knotweed is a problem at the mouths of the Rivers Enrick and Coiltie. American mink have spread throughout the Highlands and prey on small mammals like water voles. Non-native fish introductions could be a problem should pike fishing with live bait become popular in the area. Genetic issues relating to the introduction of native but not locally sourced species may be as significant as non-native introductions. Signal crayfish were recently recorded in the river Nairn. This species can have significant and detrimental impact on river ecosystems and the native species they support including salmonids. The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan Japanese knotweed Future actions: Devise a strategy for the survey and then eradication or control of invasive non-native plant species such as Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam and giant hogweed at river catchment level. (Suggested partners: SNH, District Salmon Fishery Boards, land managers) Develop a strategy for controlling mink, and investigate the impacts of mink on the water vole population. (Suggested partners: SNH, RSPB Scotland, land managers) Continue to support the prohibition of any future introductions of non-native species such as signal crayfish and pike, and investigate the popularity and extent of fishing with live bait in the area. (Suggested partners: SNH, District Salmon Fishery Boards, fishery managers, fishing clubs & tackle shops) 19

26 2.4 Lack of information on freshwater species Issue: There is a lack of information on the presence, extent and management requirements of freshwater plants, mammals, invertebrates and fish within the area. Opportunity: The Water Framework Directive encourages greater monitoring of freshwater habitats and species, and sharing of data through tools like Catchment Management Planning. SNH, SEPA, District Salmon Fishery Boards, Inverness Sub Aqua Club) Raise awareness of the biodiversity value of our rivers and lochs. (Suggested partners: SNH, The Highland Council RangerService, District Salmon Fishery Boards) Raise awareness of habitat management for species such as water vole and great crested newts through workshops and field visits. (Suggested partners: SNH, The Highland Council Ranger Service, land managers) Encourage volunteers to survey and map road crossings for e.g. frogs, toads and otters, and install suitable signage to warn drivers of the hazard to wildlife in these areas. Blocked culverts can obstruct safe passage and make animals risk road crossings, and should be reported to the Council or BEAR Scotland to enable them to be unblocked. (Suggested partners: SNH, The Highland Council Transport and Ranger Services, BEAR Scotland, local community groups) Golden ringed dragonfly Current projects: Several freshwater lochs have been surveyed and designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest by Scottish Natural Heritage and their predecessor, the Nature Conservancy Council. Scotland s freshwater pearl mussel population has been surveyed and SNH uses the results to guide river engineering works requiring planning permission. SNH have been undertaking surveys on water vole and great-crested newt populations, and have developed management plans for ponds containing great-crested newts in recent years. Scottish Environment Protection Agency currently monitors the larger watercourses in the area for invertebrates, though data is at Family level only. Under the requirements of the Water Framework Directive, SEPA s monitoring of freshwater flora and fauna is likely to increase, particularly to cover lochs much more than at present. Future actions: Undertake a freshwater inventory of existing survey data to encourage sharing of data between agencies and to highlight the needs for additional data gathering. Make use of electronic map data technology to link data sets wherever possible. Once the gaps have been identified, find funding to help fill them and translate the information into habitat creation or management works. (Suggested partners: Pond dipping, Coire Loch, Glen Affric 2.5 Aquaculture Issue: Aquaculture has the potential to impact on local biodiversity through abstractions and discharges to rivers and the siting of fish farm cages in lochs. There is concern that discharges to rivers and lochs as a result of the fish farming process may have a detrimental effect on the environment. The potential impact of escapee fish on wild stocks through inter-breeding and loss of inherited traits, the transmission of disease, and competition for food and habitat have also been identified as issues. Opportunity: The Water Framework Directive establishes an integrated approach to the protection, improvement and sustainable use of the freshwater environment. The Directive will regulate abstraction from watercourses and introduces broad ecological objectives designed to protect and, where necessary, restore the structure and function of aquatic 20 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

27 ecosystems. It works to protect the water environment and particular uses of it from the effects of pollution. Depending on their size and location, new aquaculture developments may require an Environmental Impact Assessment, which must address the concerns identified above. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency regulates and monitors the impacts of all fish farms to safeguard the environment. Current projects: Marine Harvest Scotland has worked with SEPA and SNH to develop customised screens for fish farm outflows and procedures to prevent escapes. A Salmon LIFE project has been approved for the River Moriston. Future actions: Undertake research into the impacts of aquaculture on local habitats and species. (Suggested partners: SEPA, SNH, Aquaculture industry, Scottish Quality Salmon, District Salmon Fishery Boards) Undertake measures to minimise the risk of impacts on the natural environment from fish farms. This includes effective outflow screens to prevent escapes, maintenance of equipment and ensuring SEPA s discharge consent conditions are met. (Suggested partners: SEPA, SNH, Aquaculture industry, Scottish Quality Salmon) Water lobelia The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 21

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29 Chapter 3: Farm & Croft Land Key features: The following list highlights the key features of our agricultural biodiversity, the habitats and species that make this area so special and distinct in ecological terms. Major feeding area for internationally important flocks of greylag geese, pink-footed geese and whooper swans Habitat for a range of arable plants such as cornflower, now scarce in other parts of Britain and Ireland Only known breeding population of corn bunting in the Highlands is found around a small area of organic farms at Gollanfield Mixed farms support nationally declining starlings (helped by cattle-grazed pasture), finches and buntings (helped by availability of seeds in brassica crops) Drystone dykes and other long-established boundaries, providing habitat for plants such as ferns and corridors for movement of small mammals Patches of gorse and scrub woodland, giving cover for Scottish wildcats and small birds Uncultivated field margins, supporting grey partridges and giving feeding opportunities for invertebrates such as butterflies Photos of: Ploughing arable farmland, Greylag goose, Raggid robin, Cattle on rough grazing and Gorse flowers. The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 23

30 Introduction The lowlands that flank the inner parts of the Moray Firth support some of the best arable land in Scotland. Within the farm and croft areas, there are important concentrations or occurrences of nationally valued species, and echoes of a long history of linkage between the area s agriculture and wildlife. People have farmed here since Neolithic times, some 6,000 years ago. The old smallholdings, with their mixed oat, brassica and grass fields and their reliance on livestock have all but disappeared from the area. They have been replaced with larger units and bigger fields, growing arable crops and silage. This change has reduced the habitats available for many species. Greater efficiency in weed control and harvesting methods leaves less and less food for over-wintering farmland birds such as buntings and finches. There have been major changes in the patterns of production within the area s farmland and croftland since the middle of the 20 th century. Prior to the 1950s, oats were the most widely grown crop, in a local farmscape that included a large acreage of rotational grass, turnips and swedes, barley, some wheat and other crops. Now organic vegetables, winter cereals, oil seed rape, pasture and silage fields predominate. There has been concern recently over the possible introduction of Genetically Modified crops. The Highland Council currently opposes the planting of GM crops in the area. The impact GM crops could have on local biodiversity may need to be investigated in the future should it arise as an issue for the area. for a range of invertebrates and birds. Despite these changes, the farmland and croftland of Inverness & Nairn retains a significant wildlife interest, with potential for increase and expansion in the future. Recent changes in the Common Agricultural Policy have provided greater emphasis and funding for environmental schemes so that managing farmland for wildlife has become financially beneficial once again. Local farmers have been quick to take up the opportunity to increase biodiversity on their holdings through the Rural Stewardship Scheme and other incentives. Arable farmland, Inverness-shire Habitats & species Arable farms, with fields used either as pasture or for barley, wheat or oilseed rape (with smaller amounts of potatoes, turnips and other brassica crops) is a feature of much of the coastal lowlands and eastern rim of the area, stretching up the main river valleys of the Nairn, Ness and Beauly. Some of the larger farms along the A96 corridor have converted to organic production of vegetables, grain and other crops such as oilseed rape. Croftland is sparsely distributed on poorer, steeper ground on valley sides, and so is more associated with bog, moor and hill areas than are other kinds of farming. Croftland can also provide diversity because of its small inbye fields and less intensive nature. Ploughing, arable farmland Farm units and fields have become larger, while wet areas have been reduced through drainage. This has reduced the variety and extent of both habitats and feeding opportunities for farmland wildlife. At the same time, herbicides and pesticides have depleted arable weeds and further reduced food availability Among the plants associated with the farmed lowlands, a number of species that could be classed as arable weeds stand out as having national importance. Once widespread, such species have slumped in many areas due to changing patterns of farming and use of modern herbicides. Yet they can often provide striking colour within fields and a source of food for seed-eating birds and farmland invertebrates, such as beetles and butterflies. Cornflower is one of these arable weeds that still clings on in the area. Although not native, it is an 24 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

31 archaeophyte, known to have been present in Britain since the Iron Age, more than 2,000 years ago. Weed seeds within farm and croftland are a particular benefit to small birds such as finches and buntings. The only breeding population of corn bunting in the Highlands is found around the organic farms at Gollanfield. Corn bunting were once common in the area. Reasons for their decline are likely to include a loss of habitat diversity within farm and croft land, leading to a restriction of winter food sources, notably winter stubble. The linnet is more dependent on weed seeds than other finches. It is widespread and fairly common in the eastern farmland, as is the yellowhammer. Goldfinch, which rely on thistles as a main food source, are currently increasing in number. Large flocks of twite also benefit from these habitats during the winter months. partridge, which is still present in small numbers throughout most of the farmed eastern lowlands here, is one native species that benefits. The population of brown hares has fluctuated in recent years, and farmers cutting silage or hay should be encouraged to cut from the inside out rather than the outside in, to allow the hares to escape the mower. Barn owl Old buildings & dykes are also an important biodiversity resource. Bats, barn owls, swallows and house martins use old buildings to roost and nest in, and great crested newts use old dykes, walls and stone heaps to shelter in. Greylag goose Availability of stubbles that still hold some grain is also important for the internationally significant numbers of greylag geese that use the area. Together with Icelandic pink-footed geese, the greylags feed extensively within farmland stubbles, and so could be adversely affected by changes in stubble availability. At the same time, increasing numbers of grey geese place extra demands on local farmers through their consumption and trampling of winterand spring-sown cereals and some permanent grasslands. Within the lifetime of older farmers in the area, both black grouse and capercaillie used oat stooks left standing at the edge of fields with wooded margins. Corncrake also used to breed in the area up until the mid-20 th century, but now sadly has disappeared. Whilst hedgerows are not a particularly prominent or frequent part of the local farming and crofting scene, they are present in some areas e.g. along road verges throughout Nairnshire. Road verges cut late in the growing season (early August onwards) can in effect be small linear meadows containing remnants of wildflower habitats. Dykes, hedgerows, roadside verges, drainage ditches, burns, lines of trees and riparian woodland can all be important habitats within agricultural landscapes that link up existing areas of biodiversity value, making them more valuable to wildlife. These habitats are sometimes referred to as wildlife corridors. Improved drainage of farmland in the area has been another feature of recent decades which, in turn, has reduced feeding and breeding opportunities for wading birds such as lapwing, curlew, snipe and redshank. Work in different parts of Britain has demonstrated the value of both uncultivated field margins and road verges to farmland birds and to plants. The grey Gorse The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 25

32 Objectives To implement whole farm plans that combine business and environmental objectives. To reward good management (best practice) through better-funded and more flexible agrienvironmental schemes, and through the market place by securing a premium for locally produced goods. To target conservation schemes at species most under threat. To provide alternative roosting and nesting sites for species which will be displaced by the development of old and ruined buildings in and around Inverness. To raise awareness of the very real link between agricultural activity and environmental protection The current agri-environment scheme, the Rural Stewardship Scheme (RSS), is a competitive scheme operating on a Scotland-wide basis. In addition, because of State Aid Rules it is tremendously difficult to secure public funding for agriculture-related project, despite the fact that many of the suggested projects do not provide any financial benefits or marketing advantages for the farmers concerned. Opportunity: Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Reform will break the link between farming support payments and the production of food. Together with the requirement for farmers to keep land in good agricultural and environmental condition, this could provide opportunities within an area like Inverness & Nairn, which already has important farmland qualities. Farmland, Loch Ruthven Marsh thistle Main issues 3.1 Industry problems Issue: Due to the current economic problems facing the agricultural industry, the rural population is declining and with it we are experiencing a closure of rural services, reduction in work force and loss of traditional land management skills. Fields and indeed farms themselves have got bigger, and with it we have seen a reduction in the diversity of crops grown and animals reared, which has reduced the number of habitats available to wildlife. Current projects: The Rural Stewardship Scheme supports habitat creation and management, and is open to farmers and crofters throughout Scotland. Like its predecessor the Countryside Premium Scheme, the RSS is competitive and the number of entrants is restricted by the overall budget. However, ranking incentives to keep plan costs below 20,000 have led to a greater number of farmers and crofters gaining entry to the scheme. Organisations such as Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) and Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) provide advice on agri-environmental projects and schemes to farmers and crofters in the area. Future actions: Raise awareness of existing RSS management across the area, and use this information to target future efforts on neighbouring units to increase connectivity and maximise biodiversity benefit. (Suggested partners: Scottish Executive, Highland FWAG, SAC, SNH, farmers & crofters) Increase links between statutory agencies so that 26 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

33 support for biodiversity on land is co-ordinated and any conflicts of interest minimised. (Suggested partners: SEPA, SNH, Scottish Executive) Produce local guidelines to allow the best targeting of RSS prescriptions for priority habitats and species. Highlight areas where the RSS is failing to deliver at a local level and feed this information back to the Scottish Executive. (Suggested partners: Highland FWAG, SAC, SNH, farmers & crofters, Scottish Executive) 3.2 Cattle rearing Issues: One environmental concern arising out of the CAP Reform is a further shift away from cattle rearing through alterations in subsidy. At present, cattle within the area help to maintain pastures and coastal grazings that can be important habitat for a range of flowering plants and grasses. Traditionally, the insects that feed on cattle dung have benefited birds such as starlings, swallows and martins, although this is less true if powerful worm and skin parasite treatments are used. Opportunity: Detailed survey to identify parts of the area that hold good numbers of the above species could help to direct appropriate subsidies. Future actions: Raise awareness of the link between cattle rearing and biodiversity, and support farmers to remain in livestock where this benefits biodiversity through the Rural Stewardship Scheme and Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme. (Suggested partners: Scottish Executive, Forestry Commission Scotland, Highland FWAG, SAC, National Farmers Union Scotland, Scottish Crofting Foundation, farmers & crofters) 3.3 Loss of wet ground Issue: Reduction in wet ground through drainage and tree planting to take advantage of grants is associated with a loss of plants such as marsh orchids, ragged robin and cuckooflower. It also reduces the amount of nesting cover and feeding opportunities for wading birds and ducks and habitat for amphibians. Opportunity: In many cases, restoration of small wetland areas is relatively simple and produces huge bonuses for wildlife. In the wake of CAP reform, appropriately directed agri-environment subsidy, allowing for larger schemes where feasible, could be an appropriate way of boosting the area s farmland biodiversity. Current projects: Some farmers in the area have taken advantage of the wetland creation options within the Rural Stewardship Scheme. Farmers within the Loch Flemington catchment have received assistance from the Scottish Agricultural College to submit RSS applications. Future actions: Encourage farmland wader populations by habitat creation and management in the Straths and Glens. (Suggested partners: Scottish Executive, SNH, SAC, Highland FWAG, farmers & crofters) Discourage farmers from planting boggy areas with trees. (Suggested partners: Forestry Commission Scotland, Highland FWAG, SAC, farmers & crofters) Ragged robin 3.4 Decline in Spring cropping Cattle on rough gra ing Issue: Local comment suggests that the amount of winter stubble has been declining in the area, with an increasing amount of winter ploughing and sowing. This should be quantified, since it has important implications for the area s populations of wintering finches and geese, as well as the corn bunting population. The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 27

34 Opportunity: There are unharvested crops and Spring cropping options within the Rural Stewardship Scheme and, with further funding, there is potential to greatly expand the area available to over-wintering birds in Inverness & Nairn. Current projects: With some funding from the Partnership for Rural Inverness & Nairn and the Highland Biodiversity Project, Highland FWAG led a project in 2002 and 2003 to plant farm fields across Inverness & Nairn with winter cover for birds. Each farm contributed one to two hectares and ten hectares in total were covered. Future actions: watercourses. (Suggested partners: Scottish Executive, SAC, Highland FWAG, farmers & crofters) Local wildlife enthusiasts could be well placed to advise on potentially rich verges (as has been done elsewhere in Scotland) and to work with farmers and Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group to help establish wildlife-friendly stretches. (Suggested partners: local wildlife enthusiasts, Highland FWAG, farmers & crofters) Ensure local biodiversity is taken into account in local verge mowing and hedge flailing regimes. (Suggested partners: The Highland Council Transport, Environmental & Community Services, BEAR Scotland, Highland FWAG) Undertake a Wild Bird Cover / Game Crops project where small areas of Spring-sown cereals such as Quinoa are left unharvested as a source of winter cover and food for over-wintering birds such as finches, brambling and yellowhammer. (Suggested partners: Highland FWAG, SAC, RSPB, farmers & crofters) Roadside verge, Inverness-shire 3.5 Reduction in boundary habitats Scottish wild cat Issue: Uncultivated field margins and road verges are important linear assets to biodiversity, which will vanish or be greatly reduced through cultivation up to field edges, leaching of farm chemicals into watercourses and early mowing or roadside verges. Opportunity: Linkages between different patches of habitat, such as pockets of woodland, can be made easier for many kinds of wildlife by the provision of corridors. There are many opportunities for small changes in farming practice in Inverness & Nairn that would produce large benefits for wildlife at field margins and road edges. Future actions: Encourage farmers and crofters to leave buffer strips when cultivating land or spraying crops near 28 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

35 Chapter 4: Woodland Key features: The following list highlights the key features of our woodland biodiversity, the habitats and species that make this area so special and distinct in ecological terms. One of the largest remaining native pinewoods in Scotland Resident populations of capercaillie, black grouse and Scottish crossbill Widespread populations of red squirrel and pine martin Many areas of ancient and semi-natural broadleaved woodland, including a relatively large area of ancient oakwood Gorge woodlands rich in lower plants such as mosses, liverworts and lichens Diverse communities of woodland plants including large numbers of epiphytic lichens Excellent example of a swamp alderwood Extensive area of mature juniper scrub on lowland glacial deposits Photos of: Red squirrel, Birch bracket fungus, Birchwood near Dores, Black grouse and Forestry at Daviot. The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 29

36 Introduction In Inverness & Nairn, much of our lowland scenery is dominated by woodland broadleaved trees and some conifers extend along the valleys of the main river systems and burns, and form a green connection between many of the upland straths and glens in the west of the area. Remnants of Caledonian pine forest in Glen Affric, Glen Strathfarrar and Glen Cannich provide a valuable ecological link between east and west Highland, showing characteristics of both western (oceanic) and eastern (continental) pinewoods. Conifer plantations throughout the area provide additional wildlife habitat for many pinewood species. Inverness & Nairn is well placed to enhance forest and woodland biodiversity through sensitive management of the existing native woodland relics and mature plantations, the developing post-war plantations and the recently established native woodlands. The nature and structure of our woodlands reflect national forest policies and land use issues spanning more than a century. These include the clearance of native woodland for grazing throughout the 19 th century, the increased popularity of deer stalking and grouse shooting in Victorian times, the development of plantations on private estates, the call to establish a strategic timber reserve following World War One, tax incentives for afforestation during the mid to late 20 th century and the introduction of grants to encourage the establishment of new native woodlands in the 1990s. Scots pine, Glen Affric Habitats & species Tor Point, Loch Ness at sunrise A large proportion of the area s woodland is managed under a long established regime for timber production and contributes significantly to the economy of the area by providing employment in woodland management, harvesting and haulage. As well as providing the raw material for a range of wood processing companies both locally and outwith the Highland area, these woodlands have provided a crucial habitat for woodland species. Many of the woods and forests in and around the Inverness & Nairn area are heavily used for recreation, and those juxtaposed to housing provide a valuable resource for enjoyment of woodland wildlife and for education. Glen Affric and Glen Strathfarrar represent two of the finest stands of native pinewood remaining in Scotland. Scots pine is the dominant tree cover over most of these Glens, but other tree species are present including birch, wych elm, hazel, alder, willow, aspen, rowan, oak, bird cherry, holly and juniper. Both areas also have clearings and open ground with moorland vegetation and transitions to sub-alpine heath including species such as dwarf birch, alpine bearberry and dwarf cornel. The woodlands support a rich flora and fauna characteristic of native pinewoods, including several species of wintergreen, creeping ladies tresses and lesser twayblade, pine marten, red squirrel, crested tit, Scottish crossbill, black grouse and capercaillie. Glen Affric and Strathfarrar are extremely important native pinewood sites for lichens, with Strathfarrar containing 173 epiphytes, including 28 rarities, and 222 species of lichen recorded in Glen Affric. Over 125 species of higher plants have also been recorded in Strathfarrar, with several rare or locally distributed species. In Glen Affric these are also extensive, with many pinewood specialists present including 30 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

37 twinflower and creeping ladies tresses. In terms of insects, 7 species of dragonfly have been recorded in Strathfarrar, including one vulnerable species on the edge of its range; and 43 species of butterflies and moths are present. Glen Affric holds the most important dragonfly population of the area with 14 species recorded, 4 of which are nationally rare; and 117 species of butterfly and moth are present. Tarff, Moniack Gorge and Dalroy Gorge. Tree species present include birch, oak, ash, wych elm and alder, with a shrub layer with hazel, bird cherry, holly and goat willow. As well as flowering plants like small cow-wheat, these are important habitats for many kinds of ferns, mosses, liverworts and epiphytic lichens that thrive in moist, shaded conditions. Indeed, Moniak Gorge / Reelig Glen is one of only 3 known sites in Britain for the green shield moss. The insect fauna on these sites is also of great importance in biodiversity terms, including some rarities and beetles characteristic of ancient forest. Inverfarigaig, Inverness-shire Lichen on branch The majority of woodlands in the area are conifer plantations of predominately Scots pine, which have important populations of red squirrels and other characteristic pinewood species. Black grouse or blackcock and capercaillie are two of the fastest declining birds in Britain, but the Highlands of Scotland is still a stronghold and in Inverness & Nairn we have retained a healthy population. During mating season the males and females gather early in the morning for a communal courtship display known as a lek. Upland birch and mixed pine/birch woods with ash and oak are present in many glens to the west and south of the area, including Glen Strathfarrar and the Easter Ness Forest, covering a seven mile stretch of steep, north west facing slopes along the shores of Loch Ness. Some of the trees in such woods can be over two hundred years old, with tree holes and dead wood providing shelter, breeding and feeding opportunities for a wide range of creatures, fungi, ferns and mosses. Mixed broadleaved woodlands still survive along many river gorges such as at Inverfarigaig, Glen Cawdor Wood is one of the best broadleaved woodlands in north east Scotland, and is outstanding for its relatively large area of ancient oakwood, its diverse ground flora and rich lichen and bryophyte communities. Over 225 species of vascular plant and 121 species of lichen have been recorded from the site, including a number of rarities. There are few similar ancient woods remaining in the UK with a relatively dry continental climate that are not now in zones of significant air pollution. The wood supports a rich woodland bird community of passerines including redstart, spotted flycatcher and siskin, with occasional blackcap and chiff-chaff. Woodcock, capercaillie, Scottish crossbill and great spotted woodpecker are also present. Levishie Wood in Glen Moriston is the largest and finest example of birch/juniper woodland in Inverness & Nairn, supporting a good range of tree species and ground flora types. The wood also boasts a rich community of breeding birds, including numbers of redstart, wood warbler and tree pipit, and a large number of butterflies including Scotch argus can be seen in the glades and clearings during late summer. A stand of mature juniper scrub covers the south west ridges of the Kildrummie Kames, a fluvioglacial feature lying north of the River Nairn between Ardersier and Cawdor. Some plants reaching five metres in height, and they grow with whin, broom The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 31

38 and a few Scots pine. There is also an important area of coastal scrub woodland on the sand bar, dunes and dune heaths at Culbin. Juniper Urquhart Bay Woods, formed on an alluvial delta at the confluence of the Rivers Enrick and Coiltie as they flow into Loch Ness, is the best example of a floodplain alderwood in the district. This type of wet woodland is dominated by alder on the wetter ground, with lowland broadleaved stands of ash, gean, rowan, wych elm, white willow and bird cherry on the gradually rising, drier areas. The ground flora is typical of a northern wet broadleaved woodland, and there are characteristic transitions to swamp and open water habitats. The site also supports a good woodland and wetland bird community, and characteristic insect fauna. Woodant nest, Strathfarrar Objectives To protect, enhance and expand semi-natural woodland areas, including the formation of a natural tree-line in many upland areas. To support restructuring within plantations, to create areas of open space and broadleaved trees, particularly near watercourses, and to leave some large trees and standing and fallen deadwood. To support the use of locally sourced timber materials for developments. To encourage opportunities for the greater enjoyment of woodlands, and greater local involvement in woodland management through community woodland groups. Main Issues 4.1 Woodland fragmentation & absence of treeline woodlands Lungwort, Urquhart Bay Policy woodlands, such as Cawdor Wood may contain old and veteran trees, and some of the larger trees provide excellent nesting habitat for birds of prey. Old trees, as well as standing and fallen deadwood within both semi-natural and planted woods, are a very important biodiversity resource, providing different habitats for a range of lichen, fungi, bryophyte, invertebrate and bird species. Issue: On the whole, the woodlands of Inverness & Nairn are reasonably well connected. However, woodland types are fragmented and many of the surviving havens of native woodland biodiversity in the area are isolated: oakwood remnants, coastal scrub and woodland, riverine and floodplain alderwoods, are often separated from each other by farmland. This makes it difficult for wildlife to pass between the woods, and so reduces the number of species that each area can support. 32 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

39 There are very few woodlands in the area that grow at the upper altitudinal limit for their tree species in Scotland. The montane scrub usually associated with these tree-line woodlands is also absent. Only scattered groups or individual trees in areas inaccessible to large browsing mammals represent a formerly much more widespread habitat. Opportunity: The area has huge scope for creation of forest habitat networks by linking existing woodlands that have surviving elements of native biodiversity. Work towards this has already begun in some state and privately-owned forests through the area, for example through removal of exotic conifers and encouragement of native trees along major watercourses. managers, with support from Forestry Commission Scotland s Woodland Grant and Woodland Improvement Grant Schemes (now incorporated into the Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme (SFGS)). The European Union LIFE Capercaillie Project is helping to create and manage existing pinewood habitats to conserve the Highland capercaillie population. Future actions: Expand current forest habitat network by creating linkages with estate woodlands and encouraging some corridors of farmland and moorland to convert to new native woodlands. (Suggested partners: Forestry Commission Scotland, SNH, Scottish Executive, woodland advisers & managers) Encourage the safeguarding and expansion of scrub species such as juniper, willows and dwarf birch through improved funding and increased uptake of the SFGS and RSS. (Suggested partners: Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Executive, woodland & agricultural advisers, land managers) Birchwood, near Dores Creation of forest habitat networks in the area could also involve restoration and creation of new native woodlands on ground that is at present moorland, grassland or under crops. However, the desire to create woodland networks has to be tempered with the need to maintain open-habitat networks too, so that their biodiversity value is also protected where appropriate. Restoration of tree-line woodlands and montane scrub, and thus provision of opportunities for colonisation by bird and invertebrate species normally associated with such habitats, would represent both a major biodiversity achievement and a significant landscape enhancement. There are options within the new Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme (SFGS) and the Rural Stewardship Scheme (RSS) to expand scrub cover (up to 20% of cover in native woodland schemes under the SFGS). For this habitat to expand through natural regeneration, a much lower density of grazing animals will be required through fencing (where appropriate) and deer management. Current projects: Semi-natural woodlands across the area are being expanded and brought into positive management for biodiversity benefit by land Forestry, Daviot 4.2 Restructuring plantation woodlands Issue: Due to market demands, depressed timber prices and site conditions, some plantations in the area are managed on a clear-fell system whereby blocks of land are planted with one or two conifer species, and then thinned and felled at the same time. These blocks are often large in size and when the The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 33

40 trees are felled, there is a lack of continuity of habitat for the species that have come to inhabit the forest. In the past, conifers were planted next to watercourses and little internal space or deadwood was left within the forest, both important features for biodiversity. Opportunity: Re-structuring of forestry plantations as mature stands are harvested can provide one opportunity for within-site action. Greater diversity can be created within some of the rather uniform plantations in terms of age structure, species and finally in silvicultural systems, such as a move away from clear-fells towards smaller scale felling coups and continuous cover forestry where appropriate. The Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme can help fund such fine-tuning of woodland management for wildlife. Increased provision of deadwood standing or fallen could be part of this restructuring, and woodland managers are encouraged to plant broadleaved trees near to watercourses and leave some large trees and internal spaces within forests for their biodiversity benefit. already practising continuous cover forestry. Future actions: Encourage woodland managers to move towards smaller felling coups and a continuous cover system where appropriate; and to restructure existing woodlands to incorporate native broadleaves along water courses, areas of internal open space, tall trees as potential nesting sites and some standing and fallen deadwood through schemes such as the SFGS. (Suggested partners: Forestry Commission Scotland, woodland advisers, woodland managers) 4.3 Red squirrels Issue: North American grey squirrels are not currently in the area. However, they have been recorded close to The Highland Council s south and eastern boundaries and are known to be moving north. Corridors of large seeded broadleaved woodland will aid the grey squirrel s progress north, and many wildlife enthusiasts and land managers advocate altering the management of woodlands to the south of the area to discourage their spread. Opportunity: The Highland Red Squirrel Group, with some funding from the Highland Biodiversity Project, has produced a Species Action Plan which highlights a number of actions that could help the conservation of the Highland red squirrel population. Birch bracket fungi Current projects: Some Forestry Commission Scotland woodlands are being restructured to incorporate the elements mentioned above, and are moving towards a continuous cover system. In addition, Forest Plans for private woodlands are now also being drawn up to include smaller scale felling areas and continuous cover forestry. Many woods in the east of the area are receiving a number of thinnings and the woodland managers are Red squirrel Current projects: The Highland Red Squirrel Group was recently reformed with a broader membership, and is currently seeking funding for an officer to help progress some of the actions outlined in the Species Action Plan. The Highland Biodiversity Project installed some road signs, with help from the Council Roads and Ranger Services, to warn motorists of the presence of 34 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

41 squirrels, and Forestry Commission Scotland has erected rope bridges in suitable locations around Inverness & Nairn. Future actions: Undertake actions in line with the Highland Red Squirrel Species Action Plan. (Suggested partners: Forestry Commission Scotland, Highland Red Squirrel Group, woodland advisers, land managers) use clearings and rides when the plantations are in the young pre-thicket stage, these habitats become unsuitable as the canopy closes. Planting Scots pine, European larch and birch in small clumps on the outer edge of new softwood plantations would create good feeding and roosting areas for black grouse, which feed on the early buds of these trees. 4.4 Black grouse & capercaillie Issue: Numbers of black grouse and capercaillie are currently declining in Scotland, linked to changes in habitat and weather conditions. In Inverness & Nairn, many woodlands have been encouraged to regenerate naturally by removing grazing through deer fencing or heavy culls. Whilst this is necessary for the establishment of young trees, these birds also require short ground vegetation for lekking and rearing their young particularly during wet Spring weather. In addition, black grouse and capercaillie have been known to fly into fences, which has led to a range of measures to make them more visible to the birds. Other threats include loss of habitat through overgrazing, an increase in the number of predators and disturbance at leks. Scots pine flower Current projects: At Corrimony Nature Reserve, RSPB Scotland is trying to restore black grouse numbers through changes in land management. Members of Abriachan Forest Trust are undertaking a black grouse management project. Land managers of both State owned and private woodland are incorporating conditions for black grouse and capercaillie into their woodland management practices. Future actions: Black grouse lekking Opportunities: Forestry Commission Scotland provides grant aid for the expansion of semi-natural woodlands and the establishment of new woodlands through the SFGS. Black grouse and capercaillie are taken into consideration in all new forestry schemes receiving Forestry Commission Scotland grant aid. The joint policy on fencing now requires the full range of options to be considered before fencing is used, and public funding is only allowed if the impacts have been sufficiently mitigated. Continue to incorporate objectives for black grouse and capercaillie into woodland management. (Suggested partners: Forestry Commission Scotland, woodland advisers, land managers) Minimise disturbance at leks by providing additional viewing facilities and encouraging owners to keep dogs on leads. (Suggested partners: Forestry Commission Scotland, land managers, Ranger Services) New woodland plantations can provide short-term habitat for black grouse. However, whilst they can The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 35

42 Caledonian pine forest, Strathfarrar 4.5 Lack of awareness and involvement Issue: There is a keen interest but general lack of awareness about forest and woodland management and biodiversity amongst the general public. Forestry Commission Scotland and others are seeking to involve more communities in the way that forests are managed. In addition, we do not know the specific biodiversity value of many of our non-designated woods, which makes it more difficult to manage them for wildlife. Opportunity: Increasingly, woodlands are seen as being managed for multi-purpose use, and grants are given for enhancing access and encouraging community input to woodland management through tools like Forestry Commission Scotland s Forest Design Plans. There are also more opportunities for communities to buy local woodlands or enter into management agreements with owners, all of which will help raise awareness and involvement. Current projects: Abriachan Forest Trust has undertaken a number of environmental projects in and around their community-owned woodland including the installation of a number of trails with different types of interpretation, and the building of two tree-houses and a wildlife hide. Several open days have been held, and the Trust currently employs a woodland officer to manage the land. Moniack Burn Future actions: Develop trails, interpretation panels and links with outdoor organisations both in the commercial and the public sector, and ensure biodiversity issues are taken into consideration in the planning of new routes. (Suggested partners: Forestry Commission Scotland Ranger Service, The Highland Council Ranger Service, land managers, Highland Mountain Biking Association, walking groups, community groups) Encourage forest users to take access responsibly, and especially to keep dogs on leads where requested for the sake of nesting birds. (Suggested partners: Forestry Commission Scotland, SNH, RSPB Scotland, land managers, community groups) The Strathnairn Community Woodland Group is currently working on an environmental education strategy for the woodland, incorporating a wooden xylophone project and a nest box with a camera to transmit pictures to neighbouring Farr Primary School. Forestry Commission Scotland has involved the local community in the management of its woodland at Reelig Glen, Moniack. Rock climbing by Loch Duntelchaig 36 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

43 Chapter 5: Moorland & Hill Key features: The following list highlights the key features of our upland biodiversity, the habitats and species that make this area so special and distinct in ecological terms. Extensive areas of blanket bog of international importance Important mountain systems for alpine and sub alpine vegetation communities and invertebrates Territories for golden eagle, merlin and other birds of prey Populations of breeding birds (dotterel, ptarmigan) on the high summits Habitat for nationally rare montane plants Distinctive upland and snowbed plant communities Upland red deer herds valued as an economic and recreational resource Hill-slopes highly visible from roads and settlements within the area, giving a distinctive sense of the closeness to the mountain wilds Photos of: Ptarmigan, Heather & lichen, Red deer hinds & calves, Golden eagle and Glen Affric. The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 37

44 Introduction In contrast to the accessible urban and arable areas of Inverness & Nairn, the largest expanse of land described within this biodiversity action plan is isolated mountain and moorland, which is dissected only by occasional roads and hill tracks. Upland, typically with acid soils, stretches from the relatively low-lying Nairnshire hills in the east, up Strath Dearn through the northern Monadhliath mountains and, on the other side of the Great Glen, up Glen Moriston and the Affric-Cannich hills to the boundary with Skye & Lochalsh. under snow cover. Mosses and liverworts predominate in late lying patches, for example, while early-melting patches are dominated by alpine lady s mantle and grasses such as mat grass. Golden eagles, though less numerous than in the Western Highlands, still breed here and range widely over mountains and glens, and ptarmigan breed on high-level ground. The climate shift from the eastern lowlands to these higher inland territories can be extreme, from warm and moderately dry at the coast to very cold and wet on the mountains. Wind speed is also dramatically different on the tops, which on average experience three times the wind speed of the more sheltered coasts. Ptarmigan Glen Affric In terms of biodiversity, this mix of upland and lowland makes the area special. Not only is Inverness & Nairn rich in lowland species, it also has a good range of upland species. The majority of the area s mountains have nutrient-poor, acidic soils but calcareous soils also occur. The Affric-Cannich hills are particularly important for the diversity and extent of upland vegetation communities which include montane acid grassland, willow scrub, and heath. As a rule the variety of species is less in the uplands than in the coastal lowlands, but within that smaller tally are species that are highly valued in different ways whether for their rarity, beauty or economic worth. Habitats & species A wide range of snow-bed vegetation in the Monadhliaths and the Affric and Cannich hills support some nationally rare plant species. Different communities develop according to the length of time Blanket bog, dominated by bog-moss (Sphagnum) species is widespread across a broad altitudinal range in the Monadliaths and the western uplands, and there are large areas of upland heath and grassland mosaics to the west of the area. A variety of grass, heath and flush communities occur, changing with altitude and drainage. The lower slopes are dominated by a ling heather/hares-tail cotton grass community grading with increasing altitude through to a crowberry-blaeberry heath. The highest areas show an interesting mix of oceanic and continental heaths, with lichen-rich heath occurring on the same areas as grassland that is woolly-hair moss rich. The area s large upland plateaux provide excellent breeding and hunting ground for a range of upland bird species including a number of raptors together with some uncommon waders such as dotterel and golden plover. A wide range of species occur along the lower glen sides including dipper, ring ouzel and wheatear. Elsewhere, moorland on midlevels of the hill ground is nowhere as extensive as in the Cairngorms area or southern Highlands. However, it is still an important habitat for birds such as merlin and red grouse. Indeed, management for red grouse can help maintain this habitat for other moorland species. It is also important for the greatly reduced number of black grouse that use heathland close to woodland edges. 38 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

45 The heather-dominated plant communities support the black mountain moth, which is nationally rare and has only been recorded in the central Highlands of Scotland. Golden eagle Main Issues Heather & lichen Distinctive communities of upland plants, including heather-lichen mixtures and moss-rich grassland grow extensively on some hills. Herds of red deer roam extensively over hillsides and mountains, and the names of deer forests in the area carry a long history of association with the hunting of this, Britain s largest land mammal. Red deer are tremendously important to the local economy (through stalking and tourism), and have had an important influence on the area s upland vegetation for a long time. Red deer herds coupled with the influence of sheep grazing have a major influence on the mix of shrubs present. Light grazing favours dwarf woody shrubs including heather and trees such as willows, while heavier grazing favours coarse grasses. The near absence of montane scrub on our hillsides and confinement of tall herb communities to ledges may reflect pressure from these combined influences. Objectives To reduce grazing pressure to levels that avoid damage and permit recovery of damaged habitats, where appropriate. To ensure adherence to the Muirburn Code. To avoid damage to blanket bog by not draining land, and confining all-terrain vehicle use where possible to drier ground. To promote better understanding of the upland environment and its sensitivity to change or damage, especially from recreational use. 5.1 Lack of knowledge Issue: Beyond national and international designations, there is no indication of the location of prime moorland areas from a biodiversity viewpoint, and there is a perception that areas of open ground could be lost for example to forestry or new development. In addition, we do not know the location, extent and management requirements of many of our national and local priority moorland species. With a push for increased use of renewable energy, there could be further proposals for wind generation (and small-scale hydro-schemes) in the area s uplands. Since these developments can typically involve creation of extensive broad tracks in places that were previously trackless, great care should be taken in agreeing sites of future renewable schemes. Certain developments on open land will require planning permission but where permission is required, often the planners do not have sufficient knowledge of the habitats or species that are likely to be affected by a new development to judge the impact upon the area s biodiversity. Opportunity: Land use change to forestry is regulated by Forestry Commission Scotland, and large scale afforestation schemes and new forest tracks require the applicants to provide an Environmental Impact Assessment which should identify and mitigate against any negative impacts on local biodiversity. There are opportunities to raise awareness of biodiversity issues with planners through forthcoming legislation covering biodiversity issues and new tools like Strategic Environmental Assessment. Any potentially negative impacts of large new developments should be identified through the Environmental Impact Assessment process. The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 39

46 Future actions: Identify the most important areas of open ground through survey and local consultation, and feed this into the planning process through Strategic Environmental Assessment. (Suggested partners: SNH, Scottish Wildlife Trust, local recorders and community groups, Forestry Commission Scotland, The Highland Council Planning & Development Service, land managers) grazing pressure on lowland sites, and Scottish Natural Heritage have entered into agreements with some land managers on designated sites. Deer Management Groups meet annually to discuss deer numbers and cull targets. The Deer Commission for Scotland acts in an advisory capacity to these groups and through a priority site process, deals with deer damage to natural heritage, woodland or agricultural interests. The Deer Commission for Scotland, Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department have produced a joint agency statement and guidance on deer fencing which will aid land managers on its use, impacts and means of mitigating against those impacts. This guidance can be viewed at final%20fencing%20 policy.pdf. Corrieyarrick 5.2 Grazing Issue: Grazing by sheep and deer has a major influence on the area s hill vegetation. Some sensitive species have been confined to inaccessible locations such as cliffs by overgrazing, and overgrazing prevents the regeneration of woodland and montane scrub. In some areas, undergrazing too can cause problems, as some plant communities need a level of grazing to thrive. Red deer hinds & calves Future actions: Opportunities: Following mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy there may be opportunities for a reduction in sheep numbers and payments for environmentally sensitive farming. Deer management groups have a key role to play in terms of balancing economic, social, and natural heritage objectives. These objectives help inform deer management plans which draw together information on deer numbers and grazing impacts. These plans advise on the numbers of deer the land can support and therefore the number of deer that need to be culled each year to maintain an optimum deer density. Habitat Impact Assessments are a useful tool to help determine optimum deer densities. These assessments also present land managers with an opportunity to achieve nature conservation and other land management objectives alongside deer stalking. Current projects: The Rural Stewardship Scheme and Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme pay grants to reduce Encourage land managers to reduce, maintain or, in some cases, increase numbers of grazing animals (including deer, sheep and cattle) to levels that permit the survival and expansion of grazing-sensitive species while enhancing the welfare and quality of the remaining, smaller deer population. (Suggested partners: DCS, Deer Management Groups, Scottish Rural Property & Business Association, Highland FWAG, SAC, Scottish Crofting Foundation, Scottish National Farmers Union, land managers) 5.3 Inappropriate burning Issue: Controlled strip burning of heather moorland and heathland can benefit grouse and some other species of moorland birds (e.g. meadow pipit, skylark). However, burning of habitats such as blanket bog, scree and woodland can cause lasting damage, and if fires are not managed they can spread into neighbouring habitats, often with disastrous effects. 40 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

47 Opportunity: Good practice guides such as The Muirburn Code (Scottish Executive, 2001) and its supplement Prescribed burning on moorland give advice on the times and conditions for burning, and present information on where not to burn, e.g. on blanket bog and steep sided valleys. Current projects: The Rural Stewardship Scheme also pays grants for sensitive muirburning and bracken control. Future actions: Encourage adherence to good practice guides such as those mentioned above, and give thought to whether burning is required at all in some locations. (Suggested partners: Scottish Rural Property & Business Association, SNH, land managers) Provide education and training for those involved in heather management, in particular muirburning, through formal and informal routes. (Suggested partners: Highland Rural Business Services, Scottish Rural Property & Business, Highlands & Islands Fire Brigade) The increasing value placed upon upland areas as a recreational resource emphasises the importance of providing and maintaining sustainable tracks and paths. Current projects: The 10 Glens Mountain Biking Group have purchased a trail building toolkit for community use and a group of volunteers regularly meets to build and maintain sustainable mountain bike trails. Remedial works were recently carried out on the Corrieyarrick Pass which crosses the hills from Fort Augustus to Laggan. The route was badly damaged and dangerous in places but recent work has lead to damaged sections being resurfaced, drainage works being carried out and walls being repaired. The route was re-opened on 22 May 2004 with a celebratory walk across the pass. Cyclist, Corrieyarrick Pass Loch Ness 5.4 Hill tracks & footpaths Issue: Hill tracks and footpaths, particularly at high altitude can cause erosion of fragile, irreplaceable soils. The use of all terrain vehicles, quad and trail bikes can cause severe erosion and loss of important habitats on upland areas where re-growth is slow. Increased visitor activity can cause disturbance to breeding birds, deer and plants, and dogs sometimes chase and catch chicks or frighten birds off nests. Opportunity: The new Access legislation provides opportunities for joint working to address some of these concerns. Future actions: Restrict all-terrain vehicles to drier ground where possible and prevent illegal access by powered vehicles to upland areas. (Suggested partners: land managers) Prevent recreational damage by path repair and construction where appropriate, and take biodiversity into account when planning new routes. (Suggested partners: The Highland Council, SNH, Forestry Commission Scotland, land managers, user groups) Raise awareness amongst businesses involved in activities using hill tracks and paths (e.g. cycling, hill walking and running). (Suggested partners: The Highland Council, SNH, land managers, user groups) The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 41

48 Interpret appropriate tracks to help manage public access and inform people of upland habitat management. (Suggested partners: land managers, The Highland Council Access & Ranger Services, SNH) 5.5 Climate change Issue: Climate change, due to global warming is likely to influence the vegetation of the area s mountains. In particular, a reduction in the amount and duration of snow cover will have an impact on snowbed plant communities (initially working against ones where mosses and liverworts are common). Warming might also allow more grass-dominated plant communities to spread further uphill, perhaps at the expense of grasslands that are woolly fringe moss rich. Red deer stag Opportunity: Whilst there is not much that can be done within the scope of this Plan to counteract global warming, there are opportunities to monitor and model changes in our vegetation, and manage our habitats accordingly. We don t know a lot about the ecology of the high mountain species and if we find out more, we might be able to determine how they will react to changes in our climate. Current projects: Scottish Natural Heritage and some of the country s research organisations are monitoring and modelling climate change to help predict the impacts on the UK s biodiversity and feed into international debates. Future actions: Continue to undertake monitoring and modelling experiments, feed the results into habitat management practices and inform The Highland Council Sustainable Development Committee of implications for the area. (Suggested partners: SNH, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, land managers, The Highland Council ) Raise awareness of the impacts of climate change on sensitive snow bed and upland communities. (Suggested partners: SNH, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, land managers) 42 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

49 Chapter 6: Urban Key features: The following list highlights the key features of our urban and built environment, the habitats and species that make this area so special and distinct in ecological terms. Healthy populations of house sparrow and swift, common urban birds that are declining elsewhere in the UK Good population of badgers in and around Inverness and along the A96 corridor Close proximity between human dwellings and wildlife (otters, seals, dippers, goldeneye, redbreasted merganser & goosander are seen regularly in the City Centre) Strong linkages between town and country, and a growing desire for more countryside access within the urban population Linear oases for plants and animals along rivers & burns, roadside verges, hedges and field boundaries Photos of: Bird cherry blossom, River Ness, Red admiral, Torvean golf course and Otter. The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 43

50 Introduction The population of Inverness & Nairn is 77,647, and the great majority of these people live in Inverness, Nairn and the surrounding small villages and hamlets. Inverness itself has a number of excellent habitats for wildlife in the river and canal corridors, coastal fringe including the Longman Landfill Site, woods (e.g. Craig Phadrig, Torvean, Lochardil), golf courses, parks, cemeteries and areas of open land, not to mention the many smaller wildlife habitats created by people in their gardens. Nairn too has a river running through the heart of the town, as do Drumnadrochit, Invermoriston, Fort Augustus and, on its fringes, Beauly. In addition, strong linkages between town and country are evident in every main settlement. Farmland or woodland stretches to part or most of the edge of the built-up area in each case, and several towns and villages are located on the coast. Even in an area with a predominantly rural landscape such as Inverness & Nairn, gardens can boost biodiversity. One crucial way they can do this is through provision of ponds (without tadpoleeating goldfish) with gently sloping edges and some emergent vegetation. Garden ponds provide important habitat for local amphibians common frogs, toads, and palmate newts and will also be used by water beetles, diving beetles, pond snails and (sometimes) dragonflies and damselflies. Drainage of marshy parts of farmland in recent decades has reduced the breeding habitat for these small wetland creatures, and so provision of garden ponds can make a real contribution to their well-being. In contrast to many other urban areas where the bulk (more than 80 per cent) of Scotland s population dwells, the people of Inverness & Nairn have a flying start in terms of appreciation and perception of wildlife close to home. Building on this appreciation could be more about making access to nearby habitats easier, rather than planning how (beyond gardens) to bring wildlife into town. Quite simply, towns and villages here have visible, audible, enjoyable wildlife just beyond the doorstep. Bird cherry blossom Bellfield Park, Inverness Habitats & species Gardens: Wildlife-friendly gardening techniques can make a huge contribution to local biodiversity. This has been quantified in detail, for example, in Edinburgh, where a range of species is recorded only in gardens and where gardens represent a major expanse of wildlife-rich green space within the city limits. Providing winter food for birds may also have a positive impact beyond a garden and into the wider countryside. Reduction in availability of seedbearing plants through agricultural changes has a bearing on the survival of birds such as locally breeding yellowhammers, chaffinches, goldfinches and linnets. Bird-table seeds can benefit the first two species; seeding garden thistles benefit the second two. Otherwise, provision of bird food is an excellent way for people of whatever age to get close views of small, wild creatures. As such, it can be both a boost to personal well-being and an important educational resource. For butterflies, Buddleia bushes and other flowering plants provide an excellent nectar source in gardens. Otherwise, provision of native tree species and plants such as rowan, bird cherry and gean can give food and/or shelter to a wide range of birds and invertebrates. Often untidy gardens, with overgrown hedges and trees, long grass, nettles, seeding thistles and dandelions provide excellent 44 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

51 habitats for birds, butterflies and other garden wildlife. Road verges: Some stretches of boundary wall, hedges or roadside verges are already linear oases for plants and other species, and others could make a much greater contribution to local biodiversity than they do at present. It is possible in different parts of the area to see remnants of former farmland, heathland or woodland vegetation along roadsides, for example, with native plants such as orchids, ox-eye daisies, ling heather, ferns and bedstraws that are absent from adjacent fields or gardens. These species are dependant on the later mowing of verges and, whilst it may not always be possible for safety reasons, roadside biodiversity could be improved by postponing the mowing of these areas until August. Torvean Golf Course Main issues 6.1 Uncertainty over access to the countryside Issue: There is a need to ensure that local residents have easy access to the areas of farmland, river, woodland or coast that surround the settlement areas. This should not compromise the economic activities of surrounding land but at the same time it should allow quiet recreation with minimal disturbance to wildlife. Red admiral Objectives To raise awareness of biodiversity in and around settlements. To foster linkages between towns and villages and their surrounding countryside through the creation and maintenance of path networks, whilst ensuring that any new path developments take account of biodiversity. To encourage positive action through wildlife gardening projects, local recording initiatives and school-based projects. To consider biodiversity as part of the maintenance of public parks, cemeteries and roadside verges. To encourage further developments to take biodiversity into account at an early stage in the planning process and design appropriate new housing developments with biodiversity in mind. Opportunity: Good path networks already exist around some of the area s settlements. These must continue to be promoted and opportunities to create further linkage between them and to new footpaths and multi-user networks should be realised. There is scope to further survey the existing path network alongside their biodiversity assets so that the recreational and health benefits of outdoor access can be combined with greater interpretation and appreciation of the local biodiversity. Current projects: The Inverness Local Advisory Group have undertaken and completed many projects within the lifespan of the Highland Access Project. These include improved footpaths at Daviot; the pathsinverness leaflet detailing 14 signposted routes in and around the city of Inverness; improved signage at Abriachan Forest; path construction and signage at the Aird, Kirkhill; leaflets promoting Paths Around Drumnadrochit, Invermoriston and Fort Augustus; signposting and promotion at Cannich (including mountain bike routes); promotion of Paths Around Foyers; pathworks and signage in Tradespark Wood; new link path between Auldearn and Nairn. There has also been investigation into further promotion at the Longman to link into an Ardersier/Fort George Coastal Path and other potential routes have been identified in the City Centre itself as the Southern Distributor Route extends. The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 45

52 Future actions: Review the extent of access routes linking settlements with wildlife areas that could be visited with minimal disturbance. (Suggested partners: SNH, The Highland Council Ranger & Access Services) Incorporate the sympathetic management of roadside verges for biodiversity into road verge maintenance contracts where feasible and not conflicting with other issues such as safety. (Suggested partners: The Highland Council Transport, Environmental & Community Services, BEAR Scotland) Link features such as woodlands (currently separated from settlement edges by fields) to the settlements by new green corridors, extend existing paths and create hides to offer better viewing facilities for wildlife watching. (Suggested partners: SNH, The Highland Council Ranger & Access Services, land managers) Otter 6.2 Roadside verges Issue: For safety and tidiness reasons, road verges throughout the area are often cut early in the season, before the wild flowers and grasses have time to set seeds, which will gradually result in the loss of these species in favour of rank grasses. Using mowers that tear hedge plants weakens their structure and allows disease to set in, and annual cutting of hedges removes a source of food and shelter for wintering birds. Opportunity: Identifying species-rich verges and hedges through local knowledge and survey would be a useful project in many areas, so that this information can be fed to the road verge maintenance contractors in order that they can be left uncut until after August or, in the case of hedges, left uncut in alternate years. Future actions: Conduct a community council-level survey to identify plant-rich sections of verges and hedges, and find other areas where plant variety could be boosted. (Suggested partners: Field Clubs, Highland Biological Recording Group, Scottish Wildlife Trust, The Highland Council Ranger Service, SNH) Wild dog rose 6.3 Wildlife gardens Issue: Wildlife gardens provide us with an excellent opportunity to provide food and shelter for our native wildlife, whilst enabling us to find out more about them. Opportunity: Scottish Natural Heritage provides small grants for wildlife gardening projects, and will also advise on the types of plants to grow. The Highland Council Rangers also provide a valuable input to the siting and design of features in many school and community gardens around the area. Current projects: The Junior Ardersier & Petty Environmental Society (JAPES) were recently awarded a Community Garden Grant by the BBC s Beechgrove Garden to create a wildlife garden at Ardersier. They designed a wildlife garden including a set of toad ponds, and even appeared on the Beechgrove Garden! Future actions: Conduct an assessment of the availability of locally appropriate wildflower seed mixes for meadow habitat in both gardens and verges, and raise awareness of the issues surrounding non-local mixes. 46 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

53 (Suggested partners: SNH, The Highland Council Ranger Service, Gardening Centres and Clubs) Provide locally relevant information on the creation of wildlife-friendly ponds and other wildlife gardening issues through training days, demonstration gardens and the employment of specialist wildlife gardeners. (Suggested partners: SNH, The Highland Council Ranger Service, Gardening Centres and Clubs) Modify parts of school grounds to improve them for wildlife in schools that do not yet have wildlife gardens. (Suggested partners: Highland Council Education Service & Ranger Services, SNH) Encourage the incorporation of wildlife gardening into the annual gardening competitions held in Inverness & Nairn. (Suggested partners: The Highland Council, PRIN, SNH, Nairn Green & Beautiful, Gardening Centres and Clubs) Planning & Development Service, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, local groups and field clubs) Reduce strimming of marginal vegetation along some parts of City Centre riverbanks to give cover for otters and various birds. (Suggested partners: The Highland Council) 6.5 Litter and fly tipping Issue: Fly tipping of litter and garden waste can damage biodiversity. Discarded items such as bags, containers and fishing line can cause problems for mammals and birds in any environment. Plastic items and tin cans are particularly damaging, as they are not biodegradable. The issue of invasive plants is also particularly concentrated around towns and villages, some of which results from unauthorised dumping of garden waste. Current projects: Krikhill & Bunchrew Community Council have set up a recycling centre at Kirkhill. The Highland Council is developing a facility to compost garden waste from the Inverness area, and is currently composting material in open windrows on the Longman Landfill site, which it is hoped will discourage fly-tipping. The Council is collecting this waste in two ways: members of the public can bring garden waste for composting to the Council s depot on Henderson Drive and a small pilot kerbside collection scheme is currently operating in parts of the city, and in Beauly. The Council will shortly expand its kerbside collection operation to other parts of the Inverness area. River Ness 6.4 Habitat creation Issue: There are a number of disused structures and areas of waste ground that could be transformed into wildlife-friendly sites with community involvement. However, care must be taken in doing so to avoid tidying up areas of scrub, deadwood, weeds and long grass, which are natural features although they can be perceived as messy. Current projects: Cawdor Estate has created a pond to improve habitat for great crested newts. The project was led by the Cawdor Estate Ranger Service, and Cawdor Hoglets helped undertake some of the works. Future actions: Encourage local communities to identify areas that they would like to turn into a community wildlife resource, and help them to undertake the work. (Suggested partners: SNH, The Highland Council Future actions: Raise awareness of the implications on wildlife of litter and fly-tipping of garden waste, and encourage communities to use recycling and composting facilities as far as possible. (Suggested partners: SEPA, The Highland Council Transport, Environmental & Community Services, local groups) 6.6 Education opportunities Issue: There is a lack of awareness about biodiversity and sustainable development in the Highlands amongst school children, their parents and local authority / agency staff. Projects that encourage people to find out more about their local wildlife and the environment in general should be encouraged. Current projects: The Highland Council and other Ranger Services visit schools and arranges field trips for local people so that they have a greater The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 47

54 understanding of the interactions between plants, animals and humans. The area around Inverness city supports a significant population of badgers. Development around the city can conflict with badger social groups foraging areas and setts. A study was commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage, The Highland Council and key development companies in the Inverness area to identify badger setts, key pathways, feeding areas and sites where badgers were being killed on the road. The findings of the study will form the basis of a Badger Strategy to help developers take these creatures fully into account as development progresses in and around Inverness over the coming years. The Inverness Field Club hold regular field excursions to woodlands, country estates, riverside walks and hill climbs when environmental aspects are examined and discussed. Their Young Naturalists Group are also active in the field, carrying out detailed studies of rural and coastal habitats, and producing high quality reports on their findings. The Inverness Botany Group is involved in recording sites of botanical interest. Badger road casualty At Culduthel Mains, local developers Tullochs have worked with Scottish Natural Heritage and The Highland Council to develop a badger mitigation plan for the site which included constructing an artificial sett. This best practise work will help to inform future badger mitigation works. The newly formed greeninverness Partnership sets out to implement the elements of Inverness City Vision that relate to open space. It has commissioned a GIS-based audit of open space in the city and its surrounds. The audit, which is due for completion in November 2004, will inform the production of a City of Inverness Green Space Strategy and project programme. An officer has been appointed to lead these developments and work closely with the Biodiversity Action Plan. In the longer term the view is to create a Trust to take forward future green space initiatives. Bogbean Moray based environmental charity, Wild Things, are running day and residential trips to Glen Affric for 7 to16 year olds. The aim of the three year programme is to provide an opportunity for young people to learn about natural heritage in a fun and practical way. The programme also offers insight into how natural resources were used traditionally and raises youngsters awareness of both biodiversity and sustainable development. Conservation Service Volunteers Scotland s Action for Sustainability Project will provide a one stop shop for all Highland schools to be able to access one source of information, resources and advice to assist in their work in subjects relating to education for sustainable development. They will provide learning opportunities, resources and practical help to support children and young people across the Highlands to understand, care for and improve their natural environment. There are a number of curriculum linked educational resources available from Scottish Natural Heritage including the Moray Firth edition of Boats, Barnacles and Basking Sharks and the School Grounds Box. (Contact the SNH Dingwall Office for more information.) 48 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

55 Future actions: Pull together a list of tools and materials available to schools, and identify projects and local biodiversity studies that fit in with the curriculum. (Suggested partners: The Highland Council Education Service, Forestry Commission Scotland Ranger Service, SNH) Undertake local bird surveys with school children to assess populations and provide biodiversity information of relevance to local schools, perhaps linked with a nest box camera project such as that carried out in Skye & Lochalsh last year. (Suggested partners: RSPB Scotland, The Highland Council Ranger Service, Forestry Commission Scotland Ranger Service, SNH, The Highland Council Education Service) Undertake urban wildlife surveys and investigate historical records to find out what is, was and could be present. (Suggested partners: Field Clubs, Highland Biological Recording Group, SNH, Forestry Commission Scotland Ranger Service) Develop a Forest School to raise awareness of woodland and general biodiversity issues. (Suggested partners: Forestry Commission Scotland, SNH, The Highland Council) Crested tit The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 49

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57 Chapter 7: What s Next? Update on Actions from 2002 The Biodiversity: Do a Little Change a Lot in Inverness & Nairn booklet highlighted a number of actions for communities, businesses, schools, land managers and local authorities & agencies. Here s how we re doing so far. COMMUNITY ACTIONS Encourage others to come and enjoy your local environment by building path networks, holding identification days or inviting experts to come and inspire the community to do more. Ardersier & Petty Environmental Society have created a path with bird sounds along the sea front. They also organise litter picks on the beach. The Community Council with PRIN assistance are in the process of creating a high standard footpath along the high shore line to link Ardersier and Fort George, improve car parking and provide appropriate signage. Nairn River Community Council with PRIN funding have recently upgraded the River Walk between the Jubilee and Firhall Bridges. Stratherrick and Foyers Community Council are constructing a community wildlife area in Gorthleck with wildlife viewing shelters and a wild flower garden with funding from SNH and CED. Set up a community mapping project so people can learn and show others what is special about their own patch. Boleskin Environmental Network and Foyers Primary School are undertaking a mapping project A Year in the Life of Loch Bran. This project will produce displays and a report for display in the local area and can be used as an example of good practice. Dores Community Council and Aldourie Primary School are designing a wildlife Notice Board to be sited at the Dores Inn. Scottish Wildlife Trust with PRIN funding have produced a City Wildlife Leaflet and Display. Recycle, reduce and reuse what we use in and around the home. The South Kessock Environmental Group encourage visitors to stop, take an interest and care for the local environment while enjoying views over the Moray Firth. PRIN are organising a series of sustainability seminars including Network 21, Waste Management for Communities and linking with Highland Council objectives. Reduce transport costs by buying local goods and supporting Farmers Markets. The Inverness Farmers Market runs on the first Saturday of the month through the year at the Eastgate. Set up or get involved in a local biodiversity forum. The Loch Ness Partnership Ltd has established a Heritage and Environmental Sub-group to promote, inform and educate the communities, businesses and visitors to the area, and provide information on a wide range of environmental and biodiversity topics. The PRIN Biodiversity Group encompasses a wide range of interests and members will be encouraged to implement the outcomes of this LBAP through demonstratable projects with communities. Contact the Partnership for Rural Inverness & Nairn for advice and funding for community environmental projects. The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 51

58 In the two years since the booklet was first produced, 64 communities contacted PRIN for advice and funding, and of them 21 projects received funding through the Small Environmental Grants Scheme. This year, PRIN has secured some additional funding for a small Biodiversity Grant Scheme and so far, 8 projects have received funding from this scheme. BUSINESS ACTIONS Survey your site, learn what lives in the area, ensure the habitat is not being spoiled invite local experts to help your staff with audits. Hold team building conservation activities to improve habitats. Set up staff award schemes and use their environmental actions to improve morale and create good publicity. Create links with local community groups and school grounds projects support in kind or offer some funding. Become a Biodiversity Champion of a local species or habitat, e.g. Tesco champions the skylark. Register with the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), which aims to reward organisations that strive to improve their environmental performance. Strive to achieve ISO accreditation by minimising your environmental impacts. CLASSROOM ACTIONS Get involved in recording survey birds at the bird table, when you see the first hazel catkin... has an eye-catching recording format suitable for all ages. Share information about successful projects some schools take turns in writing environmental news on their websites or in their newsletters. Invite local rangers and environmentalists to lead activities regularly get involved in Scottish Biodiversity Week during September. The Highland Council, Forestry Commission and Cawdor Estate Rangers continue to lead activities with schools. Scottish Biodiversity Week has moved to a day in early Summer, and there are other national biodiversitytype events held throughout the year, e.g. National Moth Night, Big Garden Bird Watch. Start School Grounds projects have an outdoor classroom. Scottish Natural Heritage offer advice and funding. In the last two years, SNH have directly assisted schools with advice and funding for wildlife gardening projects in their grounds. Other projects have received funding under PRIN s small Environmental Grant Scheme. A number of projects have been awarded funding this summer under the PRIN Biodiversity Grant, for which SNH, INE and CED provide funding and other assistance. Projects which received funding are: o Glenmoriston High School, will plant a Wildlife Garden on the slopes between the playing fields and the school. o Aldourie Primary School, (Dores Community Council), will erect a Wildlife Notice Board at the Dores Inn and provide information on the local biodiversity. o Nairn Millbank School, are building a Wildlife Garden in the playground with assistance from the Cawdor Ranger Service. o Crown Primary School, are putting the finishing touches to a new wildlife garden in the school grounds. o Foyers Primary School (Boleskin Environmental Group), A Year in the Life of Loch Bran project involves recording and monitoring Loch Bran biodiversity. 52 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

59 LAND MANAGEMENT ACTIONS Keep woodland edges open, leave standing dead wood and old strainer posts as perches for birds of prey, nesting sites for crested tits and woodpecker grub sources. Replant some areas of conifer plantations with native hardwoods, e.g. birch, and manage for timber and biodiversity. Manage river banks to benefit wildlife, improve fishing and prevent erosion. Link wet field margins by creating new ponds and deciduous plantings to maximse biodiversity. Maintain an open mind to managing land for biodiversity! The Rural Stewardship Scheme provides funding for all of the above agricultural actions. 34 Rural Stewardship Scheme plans were approved by the Scottish Executive Environment & Rural Affairs Department between 2001 and 2003, and a further 33 plans are expected to be approved under the 2004 round. In the Inverness & Nairn area, Forestry Commission Scotland has directly funded 24 woodlands for biodiversity work through the Woodland Improvement Grant of the Woodland Grant Scheme. In addition, adding value for biodiversity is taken into account during the processing of applications for grant schemes, Long Term Plans and Felling Licences as well as in the management of Forestry Commission woodlands. In the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme, which has replaced the Woodland Grant Scheme in Scotland, biodiversity is a key theme of the Stewardship grants available. This will encourage further work for biodiversity to be undertaken. LOCAL AUTHORITY & AGENCY ACTIONS Set up and support a local biodiversity network to raise awareness of community-led environmental projects, share good practice, oversee actions, run events and support awareness-raising projects in Inverness & Nairn. Although no network has been set up as such, the Partnership for Rural Inverness & Nairn has held two local heritage workshops for community groups in the last two years: one in Fort Augustus in 2002 and one in Nairn earlier this year. Many local groups are members of the Partnership for Rural Inverness & Nairn, the Loch Ness Partnership and the Highland Environmental Network which, to some extent, already perform this function. Employ a part-time biodiversity officer for a year to support the above group in its initial stages and help local communities and businesses to undertake biodiversity projects. Funding, as always, is difficult to come by for such posts and as yet, only one biodiversity officer has been employed in Highland. Provide training and support to a network of volunteer biodiversity contacts, who can advise and support individuals, schools and community groups willing to carry out community mapping exercises. Organise a scientific audit of the biodiversity of Inverness & Nairn to act as a source of information and starting point for biodiversity monitoring. Employ an ecologist to ensure this information and other ecological advice is available for developers and planners. The Highland Council is producing guidance for developers on designing for sustainability, which will offer advice on safeguarding and enhancing biodiversity. It is also trying to secure funding for such a strategic post to advise on environmental legislation and policy matters, including Strategic Environmental Assessment. The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 53

60 Produce a series of local case studies and contacts, which can be used to demonstrate and publicise the variety of community actions for biodiversity already achieved. A series of local case studies is contained within this Plan. Create a biodiversity display and starter pack for communities to use in the initial stages of a project. The Scottish Wildlife Trust, Inner Moray Firth Members Centre has worked with the Inverness & Great Glen Ranger, the Highland Biodiversity Officer and SNH to produce a City Wildlife leaflet and display to mark the 50 th anniversary of the Trust. Produce a Highland-wide biodiversity website containing the above information, that local groups and schools can feed into. A Highland biodiversity website has been set up by the Highland Biodiversity Project: Initiate an award scheme for different sectors of the Inverness & Nairn community, e.g. small & large businesses, farmers, nurseries, schools, community groups to reward environmental achievements. There is no award scheme as such, but PRIN has initiated a small Biodiversity Grant Scheme for community-led biodiversity projects. Provide incentives for businesses and communities to minimise the waste they send to landfill this could be community composting facilities. The Highland Council has developed the following facilities for members of the public to recycle waste in the Inverness and Nairn Areas: o Paper recycling: All schools in Inverness city have been supplied with paper recycling bins. These are for use by pupils, staff, and their families. In addition, members of the public can bring paper for recycling to the Council s depot on Henderson Drive, Inverness. o Bottle recycling: The Council has located a number of bottle banks at convenient locations around the City of Inverness for members of the public to dispose of glass. o Garden materials, metals, household appliances etc are received at the Balbair Recycling Depot in Nairn on Saturdays. o The Council is running a small pilot kerbside collection scheme in Beauly and parts of Inverness city to uplift paper, garden waste and metal cans (both steel and aluminium). The Council will shortly expand its kerbside collection operation to other parts of the Inverness Area. Embed sustainability in all departments, grant programmes and the awarding of external contracts, e.g. the grass cutting of roadside verge & public parks should be carried out with biodiversity, as well as safety and tidiness, in mind. The Partnership for Rural Inverness & Nairn are hosting a series of seminars on sustainability in the coming months aimed at the needs of rural communities. Through the Network 21 project, the Highland Council has supported the development of a Sustainability Checklist for use by communities when planning projects to attract funding from grant authorities. Network 21 is a partnership of the Highland Wellbeing Alliance involving public bodies from the Highland Community Planning Partnership (The Highland Council, Scottish Natural Heritage, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and NHS Highland), the voluntary sector and local communities. The checklist is available on the Network 21 website: 54 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

61 New Actions for This Local Biodiversity Action Plan suggests a number of additional actions that could be undertaken to improve or raise awareness of local biodiversity within Inverness and Nairn in the next five to ten years. These are listed in the highlighted boxes through the main report, and summarised below for ease of reference. It is recognised that there are already a number of organisations, groups and individuals working in these fields and where appropriate, partners have been suggested who might be in a position to take this forward either as part of their existing work programme or as a new project that they could lead. It should be noted however, that no agreement has been sought from these suggested partners on who, what and when, and it is envisaged that these discussions will form part of the next phase in the Biodiversity Action Planning process. This Plan has been prepared by The Highland Council, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Partnership for Rural Inverness & Nairn. It forms part of a suite of Local Biodiversity Action Plans that have been produced for The Highland Council area by the Highland Biodiversity Project. The Highland Council and Scottish Natural Heritage are currently working on a Highland-wide project that will look at delivering some of the main priorities emerging from the Local Biodiversity Action Plans. In the meantime, it is hoped that the partners listed below will consider which of these actions they might be able to take forward within the next five years, and to start to implement them. Suggested action: Suggested partners: 1.1 Marine mammal conservation Display information leaflets on the protection of dolphins, report any illegal or drifting salmon nets to the dedicated freephone number and demonstrate good environmental practice by keeping the firths clean and healthy for marine life. Promote positive action to safeguard the Moray Firth dolphins, to support the work of the Dolphin Defenders project currently being run by the Moray Firth Partnership see Possible actions include contacting the police if boats are harassing dolphins; buying only wild salmon or sea trout caught by legal methods; reporting oil spills at sea to the coastguard; following the relevant codes of conduct (Dolphin Space Programme, Dolphin Awareness Initiative); avoiding feeding or swimming with dolphins; reporting stranded marine animals to the Scottish Cetacean Stranding Coordinator; reporting illegal salmon nets; adopting a dolphin; joining a dolphin watch group; preventing harmful waste from entering into the sewage system; helping to keep the coast litter free; watching dolphins from the shore or with an accredited boat operator. Moray Firth Partnership, Harbour Board, Ships chandlers, boat operators & marine businesses Moray Firth Partnership, Harbour Board, Ships chandlers, boat operators, marine businesses, local communities, individuals 1.2 Marine litter & pollution Seek sponsorship for and encourage more schools and communities to get involved in beach surveys and clean-ups, and raise awareness of marine litter. Help marine and coastal users recycle or dispose of waste such as litter, old fishing nets or marine chemicals sensitively by ensuring there are adequate waste disposal and recycling facilities, and by building on existing projects such as the Think before you flush, Bag it and Bin it and Dumb Dumpers campaigns. Moray Firth Partnership, Marine Conservation Society, The Highland Council, Community Groups Moray Firth Partnership, Harbour Board, SEPA, The Highland Council Transport, Environmental & Community Services, ships chandlers, boat operators & marine businesses The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 55

62 Suggested action: Strive to ensure that the standards of discharges from sewage treatment plants in the area take into account and safeguard, or enhance, local biodiversity. Suggested partners: The Highland Council, SEPA, Scottish Water Solutions, SNH, Moray Firth Partnership, Marine Conservation Society 1.3 Recreation Provide information at a few key points, including encouragement to restrict dog roaming / keep dogs on leads in sensitive areas. Increase promontion, interpretation and signage close to habitat improvement projects to raise awareness of the issues, timescales and the need for measures such as fencing. Investigate the potential for one or two low impact viewing facilities elsewhere around the Firth. SNH, RSPB Scotland, local communities, land managers SNH, The Highland Council, RSPB Scotland, Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board land managers RSPB Scotland, local communities 2.1 Acidification, nutrient enrichment & catchment management Ensure water quality improvements are in line with SEPA s targets. Continue to promote practical guidance for forestry plantings and new developments taking place near watercourses. Advise businesses on the legal requirements for discharges of substances near or into water, and demonstrate how sustainable practices can make economic sense to businesses. Promote adoption of SUDS principles (such as swales, infiltration basins, detention / retention ponds, wetlands, reedbeds) in new developments. Safeguard the nutrient status of Loch Flemington as far as possible by minimising future nutrient inputs; and ensure that good-quality long term data is available to assess the nutrient status of this and other lochs in the area. Produce and enact Farm Waste Water Management Plans for some of the larger agricultural units, following a pilot project undertaken as part of the River Spey Catchment Management Plan project. Encourage habitat creation and enhancement for developments, particularly those affecting watercourses. SEPA, Scottish Water, National Farmers Union Scotland, agricultural and industrial businesses Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Executive, SEPA, The Highland Council Planning & Development Service, SNH, SAC, Highland FWAG The Highland Council Planning & Development Service, SEPA, SNH, developers SEPA, SNH, The Highland Council Planning & Development Service Scottish Executive, SEPA, Highland FWAG, SAC, land managers SEPA, SNH, The Highland Council Planning & Development Service, National Farmers Union Scotland, developers 2.2 Population decline in Atlantic salmon Restore fish passes and reduce barriers to fish and other wildlife to give access to spawning grounds upstream, including the maintenance of appropriate flow rates in flow-altered rivers. Promote and adhere to Government guidance and recognised best practice for road crossings and river engineering projects. Scottish & Southern Energy, District Salmon Fishery Boards, SNH, land managers The Highland Council, BEAR Scotland, SEPA, SNH, land managers 56 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

63 Suggested action: Develop fishery and catchment management plans for each river system in the region, and carry out a demonstration project on river and loch bank management, including the use of fencing buffer strips and planting of broadleaves to prevent bank erosion. Raise awareness of the issues surrounding river management for salmon amongst anglers and land managers. Suggested partners: SEPA, SNH, The Highland Council Planning & Development Service, District Salmon Fishery Boards, WWF District Salmon Fishery Boards, land managers, angling groups 2.3 Invasive non-native species Devise a strategy for the survey and then eradication or control of invasive non-native plant species such as Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam and giant hogweed at river catchment level. Develop a strategy for controlling mink, and investigate the impacts of mink on the water vole population. Continue to support the prohibition of any future introductions of non-native species such as pike, and investigate the popularity and extent of fishing with live bait in the area. SNH, District Salmon Fishery Boards, land managers SNH, RSPB Scotland, land managers SNH, District Salmon Fishery Boards, fishery managers, fishing clubs & tackle shops 2.4 Lack of information on freshwater species Undertake a freshwater inventory of existing survey data to encourage sharing of data between agencies and to highlight the needs for additional data gathering. Make use of electronic map data technology to link data sets wherever possible. Once the gaps have been identified, find funding to help fill them and translate the information into habitat creation or management works. Raise awareness of the biodiversity value of our rivers and lochs. Raise awareness of habitat management for species such as water vole and great crested newts through workshops and field visits. Encourage volunteers to survey and map road crossings for e.g. frogs, toads and otters, and install suitable signage to warn drivers of the hazard to wildlife in these areas. Blocked culverts can obstruct safe passage and make animals risk road crossings, and should be reported to the Council or BEAR Scotland to enable them to be unblocked. SNH, SEPA, District Salmon Fishery Boards, Inverness Sub Aqua Club SNH, The Highland Council Ranger Service, District Salmon Fishery Boards SNH, The Highland Council Ranger Service, land managers SNH, The Highland Council Transport and Ranger Services, BEAR Scotland, local community groups 2.5 Aquaculture Undertake research into the impacts of aquaculture on local habitats and species. Undertake measures to minimise the risk of impacts on the natural environment from fish farms. This includes effective outflow screens to prevent escapes, maintenance of equipment and ensuring SEPA s discharge consent conditions are met. SEPA, SNH, Aquaculture industry, Scottish Quality Salmon, District Salmon Fishery Boards SEPA, SNH, Aquaculture industry, Scottish Quality Salmon The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 57

64 Suggested action: Suggested partners: 3.1 Industry problems Raise awareness of existing RSS management across the area, and use this information to target future efforts on neighbouring units to increase connectivity and maximise biodiversity benefit. Increase links between statutory agencies so that support for biodiversity on land is co-ordinated and any conflicts of interest minimised. Produce local guidelines to allow the best targeting of RSS prescriptions for priority habitats and species. Highlight areas where the RSS is failing to deliver at a local level and feed this information back to the Scottish Executive. Scottish Executive, Highland FWAG, SAC, SNH, farmers & crofters SEPA, SNH, Scottish Executive Highland FWAG, SAC, SNH, farmers & crofters, Scottish Executive 3.2 Cattle rearing Raise awareness of the link between cattle rearing and biodiversity, and support farmers to remain in livestock where this benefits biodiversity through the Rural Stewardship Scheme and Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme. Scottish Executive, Forestry Commission Scotland, Highland FWAG, SAC, National Farmers Union Scotland, Scottish Crofting Foundation, farmers & crofters 3.3 Loss of wet ground Encourage farmland wader populations by habitat creation and management in the Straths and Glens. Discourage farmers from planting boggy areas with trees. Scottish Executive, SNH, SAC, Highland FWAG, farmers & crofters Forestry Commission Scotland, Highland FWAG, SAC, farmers & crofters 3.4 Decline in Spring cropping Undertake a Wild Bird Cover / Game Crops project where small areas of Spring-sown cereals such as Quinoa are left unharvested as a source of winter cover and food for over-wintering birds such as finches, brambling and yellowhammer. Highland FWAG, SAC, RSPB, farmers & crofters 3.5 Reduction in boundary habitats Encourage farmers and crofters to leave buffer strips when cultivating land or spraying crops near watercourses. Local wildlife enthusiasts could be well placed to advise on particularly or potentially rich verges (as has been done elsewhere in Scotland) and to work with farmers and Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group to help establish wildlife-friendly stretches. Ensure local biodiversity is taken into account in local verge mowing and hedge flailing regimes. Scottish Executive, SAC, Highland FWAG, farmers & crofters local wildlife enthusiasts, Highland FWAG, farmers & crofters The Highland Council Roads Department, BEAR Scotland, Highland FWAG 58 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

65 Suggested action: Suggested partners: 4.1 Woodland fragmentation & absence of tree-line woodlands Expand current forest habitat network work by creating linkages with estate woodlands and encouraging some corridors of farmland and moorland to convert to new native woodlands. Encourage the safeguarding and expansion of scrub species such as juniper, willows and dwarf birch through improved funding and increased uptake of the SFGS and RSS. Forestry Commission Scotland, SNH, Scottish Executive, woodland advisers & managers Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Executive, woodland & agricultural advisers, land managers 4.2 Restructuring plantation woodlands Encourage woodland managers to move towards smaller felling coups and a continuous cover system where appropriate; and to restructure existing woodlands to incorporate native broadleaves along water courses, areas of internal open space, tall trees as potential nesting sites and some standing and fallen deadwood through schemes such as the SFGS. Forestry Commission Scotland, woodland advisers, woodland managers 4.3 Red squirrels Undertake actions in line with the Highland Red Squirrel Species Action Plan. Forestry Commission Scotland, Highland Red Squirrel Group, woodland advisers, land managers 4.4 Black grouse & capercaillie Continue to incorporate objectives for black grouse and capercaillie into woodland management. Minimise disturbance at leks by providing additional viewing facilities and encouraging owners to keep dogs on leads. Forestry Commission Scotland, woodland advisers, land managers Forestry Commission Scotland, land managers, Ranger Services 4.5 Lack of awareness & involvement Develop trails, interpretation panels and links with outdoor organisations both in the commercial and the pubic sector, and ensure biodiversity issues are taken into consideration in the planning of new routes. Encourage forest users to take access responsibly, and especially to keep dogs on leads where requested for the sake of nesting birds. Forestry Commission Scotland Ranger Service, The Highland Council Ranger Service, land managers, Highland Mountain Biking Association, walking groups, community groups Forestry Commission Scotland, SNH, RSPB Scotland, land managers, community groups 5.1 Lack of knowledge Identify the most important areas of open ground through survey and local consultation, and feed this into the planning process through Strategic Environmental Assessment. SNH, Scottish Wildlife Trust, local recorders and community groups, Forestry Commission Scotland, The Highland Council Planning & Development Service, land managers The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 59

66 Suggested action: Suggested partners: 5.2 Grazing Encourage land managers to reduce, maintain or, in some cases, increase numbers of grazing animals (including deer, sheep and cattle) to levels that permit the survival and expansion of grazing-sensitive species while enhancing the welfare and quality of the remaining, smaller deer population. DCS, Deer Management Groups, Scottish Rural Property & Business Association, Highland FWAG, SAC, Scottish Crofting Foundation, National Farmers Union Scotland, land managers 5.3 Inappropriate burning Encourage adherence to good practice guides such as those mentioned above, and give thought to whether burning is required at all in some locations. Provide education and training for those involved in heather management, in particular muirburning, through formal and informal routes. Scottish Rural Property & Business Association, SNH, land managers Highland Rural Business Services, Scottish Rural Property & Business, Highlands & Islands Fire Brigade 5.4 Hill tracks & footpaths Restrict all-terrain vehicles to drier ground where possible and prevent illegal access by powered vehicles to upland areas. Prevent recreational damage by path repair and construction where appropriate, and take biodiversity into account when planning new routes. Raise awareness amongst businesses involved in activities using hill tracks and paths (e.g. cycling, hill walking and running). Interpret appropriate tracks to help manage public access and inform people of upland habitat management. land managers The Highland Council, SNH, Forestry Commission, land managers, user groups The Highland Council, SNH, land managers, user groups land managers, The Highland Council Access & Ranger Services, SNH 5.5 Climate change Continue to undertake monitoring and modelling experiments, and feed the results into habitat management practices and inform The Highland Council Sustainable Development Committee of implications for the area. Raise awareness of the impacts of climate change on sensitive snow bed and upland communities. SNH, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, land managers, The Highland Council SNH, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, land managers 6.1 Uncertainty over access to the countryside Review the extent of access routes linking settlements with wildlife areas that could be visited with minimal disturbance. Link features such as woodlands (currently separated from settlement edges by fields) to the settlements by new green corridors, extend existing paths and create hides to offer better viewing facilities for wildlife watching. SNH, The Highland Council Ranger & Access Services SNH, The Highland Council Ranger & Access Services, land managers 60 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

67 Suggested action: Suggested partners: 6.2 Roadside verges Conduct a community council-level survey to identify plant-rich sections of verges and hedges, and find other areas where plant variety could be boosted. Incorporate the sympathetic management of roadside verges for biodiversity into road verge maintenance contracts where feasible and not conflicting with other issues such as safety. Field Clubs, Highland Biological Recording Group, Scottish Wildlife Trust, The Highland Council Ranger Service, SNH The Highland Council Transport, Environmental & Community Services, BEAR Scotland 6.3 Wildlife gardens Conduct an assessment of the availability of locally appropriate wildflower seed mixes for meadow habitat in both gardens and verges, and raise awareness of the issues surrounding non-local mixes. Provide locally relevant information on the creation of wildlifefriendly ponds and other wildlife gardening issues through training days, demonstration gardens and the employment of specialist wildlife gardeners. Modify parts of school grounds to improve them for wildlife in schools that do not yet have wildlife gardens. Encourage the incorporation of wildlife gardening into the annual gardening competitions held in Inverness & Nairn. SNH, The Highland Council Ranger Service, Gardening Centres and Clubs SNH, The Highland Council Ranger Service, Gardening Centres and Clubs The Highland Council Education Service & Ranger Services, SNH The Highland Council, PRIN, SNH, Nairn Green & Beautiful, Gardening Centres and Clubs 6.4 Habitat creation Encourage local communities to identify areas that they would like to turn into a community wildlife resource, and help them to undertake the work. Reduce strimming of marginal vegetation along some parts of City Centre riverbanks to give cover for otters and various birds. SNH, The Highland Council Planning & Development Service, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, local groups and field clubs The Highland Council 6.5 Litter and fly tipping Raise awareness of the implications on wildlife of litter and fly tipping of garden waste, and encourage communities to use recycling and composting facilities as far as possible. SEPA, The Highland Council Transport, Environmental & Community Services, local groups 6.6 Education opportunities Pull together a list of tools and materials available to schools, and identify projects and local biodiversity studies that fit in with the curriculum. Undertake local bird surveys with school children to assess populations and provide biodiversity information of relevance to local schools, perhaps linked with a nest box camera project such as that carried out in Skye & Lochalsh last year. The Highland Council Education Service, Forestry Commission Scotland Ranger Service, SNH RSPB Scotland, The Highland Council Ranger Service, Forestry Commission Scotland Ranger Service, SNH, The Highland Council Education Service The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 61

68 Suggested action: Undertake urban wildlife surveys and investigate historical records to find out what is, was and could be present. Develop a forest school to raise awareness of woodland and general biodiversity issues. Suggested partners: Field Clubs, Highland Biological Recording Group, SNH, Forestry Commission Scotland Ranger Service Forestry Commission Scotland, SNH, The Highland Council 62 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

69 Chapter 8: Habitats & Species Lists Introduction This chapter contains lists of national and local priority habitats and species for the Inverness & Nairn area. Please note that these are not intended to be comprehensive lists of all the habitats and species present in the area, but they include those habitats and species that have been identified as having national or local importance. The habitats and species used for Rural Stewardship Scheme applications in the East Highland area are detailed separately on page 69. Priority Habitats: Table 1 lists the national and local priority habitats. The national priority habitats (N) are the habitats occurring in Inverness & Nairn that have been selected by the UK Biodiversity Steering Group. Habitat Action Plans (HAPs) or Statements have been prepared for these habitats, and are available on the website Additional local priorities (L), which are not covered by the national categories but are nonetheless important habitats in their own right, are also listed here. Table 1: Priority Habitats Chapter: Habitat type: Notable occurrence: Sea & Coast Coastal salt marsh (N) Whiteness Head and Culbin Sands Coastal sand dunes (N) Culbin Sands Mudflats (N) Moray and Beauly Firths Seagrass beds (N) Beauly Firth, Longman and Castle Stuart Bays Sublittoral sands and gravels (N) Moray Firth csac Coastal waters (L) Inner Moray Firth River, Loch & Wetland Eutrophic standing waters (N) Loch Flemmington Mesotrophic lakes (N) Glen Doe Lochans, Knockie Lochs, Loch Ashie, Loch Bran, Loch Ruthven, Lochs at Balnagrantach Dubh Lochs, Loch Battan Reedbeds (N) Beauly Firth Floodplain (L) Urquhart Bay Woods River gorges (L) Moniack Gorge, Inverfarigaig Gorge Spawning burns (L) River Farrar Wetlands and ponds (L) Urquhart Bay Woods Farm & Croft Land Cereal field margins (N) Farmland Purple moor grass and Upland farm and croftland rush pastures (N) Cattle-grazed pasture (L) Farm and croft land in east Drystone dykes and long established Farmland field boundaries (L) Gorse and scrub woodland (L) Coastal sites, roadsides & field margins Unsprayed and uncultivated Farmland field margins (L) Winter brassica fields & stubbles (L) Farm and croft land in east Forest & Woodland Native pinewood (N) Glen Affric, Glen Strathfarrar, Liatrie Burn. Juniper Scrub Kildrummie Kames Upland oakwood (N) Easter Ness Forest Wet woodland (N) Urquhart Bay Wood Upland birch (N) Easter Ness Forest Aspen stands (L) Glen Strathfarrar The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 63

70 Riparian woodland (L) Along the lower reaches of the River Tarff, Coiltie, Enrick and Farrar and many other burns. Bog, Moor & Hill Blanket bog (N) Upland west of area Lowland heathland (N) Upland heathland (N) Hillsides in upland Montane scrub (L) Affric/Cannich Hills (willow scrub) Rock faces & ledges (L) Upland west area Snow-bed vegetation (L) Monadhliath, Affric & Cannich hills Town & Village Wildlife-friendly private & Gardens throughout area, public parks and public gardens (L) cemeteries Potentially flower-rich roadside Roadside verges throughout area verges (L) Priority Species: Table 2 identifies the national and local priority species that are known to occur in Inverness & Nairn. The national priority species are those shaded. These species have been identified by the UK Biodiversity Steering Group, and Species Action Plans (SAPs) or Statements have been prepared for their conservation and enhancement. These Plans and Statements are available on the website and further details of nationally important species are available from Scottish Natural Heritage. Inverness & Nairn contains a number of additional species that are rare or scarce in either Highland or Britain as a whole, and these local priority species are also listed in the table (un-shaded). We have included a number of species that although not rare or scarce nationally, are rare or particularly valued by local people. Table 2: Priority Species Scientific name Common name Habitat Amphibians Bufo bufo common toad freshwater Rana temporaria common frog freshwater Triturus cristatus great crested newt open water, grassland, woodland and hedge Triturus helvetica palmate newt freshwater Ants Formica aquilonia Scottish wood ant coniferous, native pine and broad-leaved woodland Formica lugubris northern wood ant coniferous, native pine and broad-leaved woodland Bees Bombus monticola bilberry bumblebee upland moorland with blaeberry Bombus muscorum moss carder bee associated with wet heath which contains cross leaved heath Bombus soroeensis broken-belted bumblebee widespread throughout LBAP area Osmia inermis a mason bee upland calcareous grassland and moorland Osmia uncinata a mason bee open native pine woodland and sand dune Beetles Donacia aquatica a reed beetle open water Dyschirius angustatus a ground beetle river shingle and sandy shores Rhynchaenus testaceus a jumping weevil wet woodland Thinobius newberyi a rove beetle river shingle Birds Acanthis flavirostris twite upland moorland (breeding), farmland and coastal (winter) 64 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

71 Accipiter gentilis goshawk coniferous forests Alauda arvensis skylark rough pastures, heaths, farmland and coastal grasslands Alcedo atthis kingfisher lowland rivers, canals and lochs (breeds on the Ness) Anus penelope wigeon moorland lochans (breeding) and estuaries (winter) Anser anser greylag goose farmland, lochs and estuaries Anser brachyrhyncus pink-footed goose farmland (feeding), lochs and estuaries (roosting) Apus apus swift urban areas Aquila chrysaetos golden eagle Arenaria interpres turnstone rocky shorelines Asio flammeus short-eared owl wetlands, moorland, heaths and sand dunes Bucephala clangula goldeneye nests in holes close to lochs and rivers, winters on inland lochs and sheltered estuaries. Calidris canutus knot estuaries Carduelis cannabina linnet farmland scrub and lowland heath Charadrius morinellus dotterel montane Circus cyaneus hen harrier upland heather moorland (breeding) Crex crex corncrake low intensity mixed farmland e.g crofting areas with cropping Cygnus cygnus whooper swan farmland, lochs and estuaries Delichon urbica house martin urban areas and some cliff nesting colonies Emberiza citronella yellow hammer farmland Emberiza schoeniclus reed bunting scrub and farmland Falco columbarius merlin upland heather moorland Falco peregrinus peregrine falcon nests on rocky cliffs, quarry faces and buildings Gallinago gallinago snipe wet grassland and saltmarshes Gavia arctica black throated breed on fresh water lochs, lochans and winters in coastal areas diver Gavia stellata red-throated diver breed on small fresh water lochs, lochans and winters in coastal areas Hirundo rustica swallow farmland Jynx torquilla wryneck mature open deciduous woodland Larus ridibundus black-headed gull breed on upland lochans and winter in coastal areas Limosa lapponica bar-tailed godwit estuaries Loxia scotica Scottish crossbill native pinewood Loxia curvirostra crossbill Scots pine, spruce and larch trees, especially mature forest or old plantations. Loxia pytryopsittacus parrot crossbill rare vagrant, possibly breeding Melanitta nigra common scoter freshwater loch and inshore waters Mergus merganser goosander nests near fast flowing rivers or streams and upland lochs, also nests in riparian woodland in holes. Mergus serrator red breasted breeds on lakes, rivers, sheltered inlets and estuaries, winters on merganser coastal waters. Miliaria calandra corn bunting farmland Milvus milvus red kite woodland and farmland Muscicapa striata spotted flycatcher woodland and wooded farmland Numenius arquata curlew blanket bog, wet meadows (breeding) and estuaries (winter) Pandion haliaetus osprey favour bog woodland for nesting, feed in freshwater and coastal areas. Parus cristatus crested tit native pinewood Passer domesticus house sparrow urban areas, around buildings in rural areas Passer montanus tree sparrow lowland wooded farmland Perdix perdix grey partridge farmland with cover Pernis apivorus honey buzzard woodland with wasps nests Phalacrocorax carbo cormorant coastal cliff nesting birds Plectrophenax nivalis snow bunting montane (breeding), coastal (winter) Pluvialis apricaria golden plover upland areas of moorland, blanket bog and grassland Podiceps auritus Slavonian grebe lochs (breeding), coastal (winter) Pyrrhula pyrrhula bullfinch broad-leaved woodland, hedgerow and arable Scolopax rusticola woodcock damp woodland Somateria mollissima eider coastal Sterna paradisaea arctic tern open coastal areas with sand or shingle, winter at sea. The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 65

72 Sterna hirundo common tern coastal areas with shingle beaches, rocky islands and saltmarshes, also found inland nesting on islands in gravel pits and rivers. Tetrao tetrix black grouse upland heath, young plantations and farmland Tetrao urogallus capercaillie mature mixed woodland with bilberry Tringa nebularia greenshank blanket bogs Tringa totanus redshank lowland wet grassland and salt marshes (breeding), estuaries (winter) Turdus philomelos song thrush gardens, woodlands and wooded farmland Tyto alba barn owl farmland Vanellus vanellus lapwing upland and lowland wet grassland Butterflies Aricia artaxerxes northern brown mainly coastal grassland with rock rose argus Boloria euphrosyne pearl-bordered woodland clearings or unimproved grassland with scrub or fritillary bracken Coenonympha pamphilus small heath white beaked sedge beds Cupido minimus small blue meadows Pararge aegeria speckled wood woodland Crustacean Cancer pagurus edible crab rocky seabed Homarus gammarus common lobster coastal fringes Nephrops norvegicus Norway lobster muddy/fine silt seabed Fish Anguilla anguilla common eel burns, rivers, ponds, lochs, and marine Salmo salar Atlantic salmon freshwater/marine Clupea harengus herring marine Gadus morhua cod marine Lampetra fluviatilis river lamprey rivers and the sea Lampetra planeri brook lamprey watercourses Merlangus merlangus whiting marine Petromyzon marinus sea lamprey rivers and the sea Pleuronectes platessa plaice marine Pollachius virens saithe marine Raja batis common skate marine Salmo trutta brown/sea trout freshwater/marine Scomber scombus mackerel marine Tracharus trachurus horse mackerel marine Fungi Bankera fuligineoalba drab tooth fungus native pine wood and conifer plantations Hydnellum caeruleum blue corky spine native pine wood fungus Hydnellum ferrugineum reddish-brown native pine wood corky spine fungus Hydnellum peckii brown corky spine native pine wood and conifer plantations fungus Hygrocybe spp. waxcaps grassy meadows Sarcodon glaucopus green footed spiny-cap fungus native pine wood Sarcodon imbricatus scaly tooth fungus broad-leaved / coniferous plantation Lichens Schismatomma speckled script well-lit ancient woodlands and wood pasture, on bark of oak graphidioides lichen and beech. Bryoria furcellata forked hair lichen found growing on trees in woodlands Pannaria ignobilis Caledonian Caledonian pine woods pannaria 66 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

73 Gyalecta ulmi elm gyalecta calcareous rock outcrops Liverworts Marsupella stableri stabler s rustwort gullies and late-snow areas Mammals Arvicola terrestris water vole open water, grassland, bog, ditch and marsh Delphinus delphis common dolphin firth Felix silvestris wild cat Highlands and Lowlands Halichoerus grypus grey seal firths Lepus europaeus brown hare arable, grassland and hedge Lepus timidus mountain hare mountain areas Lutra lutra European otter rocky coast, open water, reed bed and marsh Martes martes pine marten woodland and farmland Meles meles badger woodland and farmland Mus muscuilus house mouse farmland and settlements Mustela putorius polecat widespread in farmland and woodland Myotis daubentoni Daubenton s bat hunt over rivers and water Myotis nattereri natterer s bat rivers, streams, open water, riparian vegetation, broadleaved / mixed woodland, hedgerows, other linear features, buildings and gardens Neomys fodiens water shrew rivers and canal banks Phoca vitulina common (harbour) seal firths Phocoena phocoena harbour porpoise firths Plecotus auritus brown long-eared bat rivers, streams, open water, riparian vegetation, broadleaved / mixed woodland, hedgerows,other linear features, buildings and gardens Pipistrellus pipistrellus pipistrelle bat rivers, streams, open water, riparian vegetation, broadleaved / mixed woodland, hedgerows, other linear features, buildings and gardens Pipistrellus pigmaeus soprano pipistrelle bat rivers, streams, open water, riparian vegetation, broadleaved / mixed woodland, hedgerows, other linear features, buildings and gardens Sciurus vulgaris red squirrel coniferous and broad-leaved woodland Tursiops truncatus bottlenose dolphin firths Molluscs Buccinum undatum common whelk coastal fringes Cerastoderma edule common cockle firth especially inner firth Eledone cirrhosa lesser octopus firths Littorina littoria edible periwinkle coastline Loligo forbesii common squid firths Margaritifera margaritifera freshwater pearl mussel freshwater rivers with salmonoids present Mytilus edulis edible mussel firths Pecten maximus great scallop firths Mosses Buxbaumia viridis green shield moss decorticated wood in sheltered, humid gorge Moths Epione parallelaria dark-bordered beauty wet and lightly wooded heathland Hemaris tityus narrow-bordered bee woodland, grassland, bogs and moorland with Succisa hawk-moth pratensis. Noctua orbona lunar yellow underwing grassland Paradiarsia sobrina cousin German associated with birch woods and old Caledonian pine forest with widely spaced trees and bilberry ling ground flora. Semiothisa carbonaria netted mountain moth open moorland and mountainsides Xestia alpicola alpina northern dart montane, larvae mainly feed on Empetrum nigrum Xylena exsoleta sword grass uplands and moorlands The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 67

74 Reptiles Anguis fragilis slow worm grassland and open woodland Lacerta vivipara common lizard grassland, open woodland and open moorland Vipera berus adder grassland, open woodland and open moorland Vascular plants Anthemis arvensis corn chamomile grassland Centaurea cyanus cornflower grassland and fields Chrysanthemum segetum corn marigold grassland and fields Corallorhiza trifida coralroot orchid two forms - coniferous woodland and sand dune slacks Euphrasia heslop-harrisonii an eyebright grassland Hyacinthoides non-scripta bluebell woodlands Juniperus communis juniper pine wood and heath Linnaea borealis twin flower pine woodland Lychnis flos-cuculi ragged robin grassland flushes Lycopodiella inundata marsh clubmoss wet heaths on bare peaty soil and occasionally loch margins Melampyrum sylvaticum small cow-wheat open birch woodland on grassy slopes Moneses uniflora flowered open pinewood wintergreen Oxytropis halleri purple oxytropis upland Pilularia globulifera pillwort pond and loch edges Populus tremula aspen riparian woodland and where it is protected from grazing pressure Potentilla neumanniana spring cinquefoil grassland Potomogeton rutilus Shetland lochs pondweed Saxifraga granulata meadow saxifrage grassland Sorbus aria whitebeam woodland Viola arvensis field pansy fields and roadsides Wasps Chrysura hirsuta a ruby-tailed parasite of Osmia which lives in upland calcareous grassland, parasitoid of Osmia spp. wasp moorland, open native pine woodland and sand dune 68 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

75 Rural Stewardship Scheme: The Rural Stewardship Scheme (RSS) incorporates a list of 30 locally important habitats and species, that have been drawn up jointly by agricultural and conservation interests. There are different lists for different areas throughout Scotland, and Inverness & Nairn falls under the East Highland list, which is shown below. This list is not to be confused with the national and local priority habitats and species above, as it is used specifically for RSS applications and is updated by the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department on an annual basis. Habitat 1. Acid grassland 2. Marshy grassland and rough pasture 3. Lowland meadows 4. Neutral grassland 5. Purple moor grass & rush pasture 6. Watercourses (rivers and streams) 7. Rushes & Marginal vegetation (including species-rich rush pasture) 8. Wetland margins 9. Wet heath 10. Dry heath 11. Overwintering crops 12. Arable field margins 13. Riparian woodland 14. Scrub woodland (upland scrub) 15. Non species-rich hedgerows Species 16. Common eyebright 17. Blaeberry 18. Ragged robin 19. Greater woodrush 20. Devil s bit scabious 21. Common orchid 22. Knapweed 23. Corn marigold 24. Bird s foot trefoil 25. Brown trout 26. Barn owl 27. Lapwing 28. Snipe 29. Goldfinch 30. Yellowhammer The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 69

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77 Annex 1: Contact Details Organisation / Group: What they can help with / Interest : Contact details: Aigas Field Centre Arbriachan Forest Trust Ardersier & Petty Environmental Society Bat Conservation Trust BEAR Scotland Biological Recording in Scotland Botanical Society of the British Isles British Dragonfly Society British Trust for Conservation Volunteers British Trust for Ornithology British Waterways Run programmes for schools, individuals, groups and organisations to learn about a wide variety of aspects relating to the Highland environment. A community owned and managed woodland with improving biodiversity as one its main aims. Initiate environmental projects such as Beechgrove Community Garden in Ardersier and encourage young people protect their environment. Information on bats, bat habitats, bat boxes and conservation. Manages and maintains the trunk roads of North West and North East Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Executive. Promote the gathering of environmental data, initiate projects and circulate information to help the recording community in Scotland. Holder of the botanical records for the area. Information on dragonfly habitats, training of volunteers in identification & collation of dragonfly records. Volunteer participation in practical conservation activities, can work with communities to deliver local environmental projects & provide insurance for such works. Investigate the populations, movements and ecology of wild birds, organise annual breeding and winter bird surveys locally. A public corporation responsible for managing and caring for the Claedonian canal amongst other UK waterways. Aigas Field Centre, Near Beauly IV4 7AD Tel: Mr J Kay, 49 Stewart Street, Ardesier IV2 7RU Inveralmond Road, Inveralmond Industrial Estate, Perth PH1 3TW Tel: Millbank Road, Munlochy, Inverness IV8 8ND Tel: Canal House, Applecross Street, Glasgow G4 9SP Tel: The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 71

78 Organisation / Group: What they can help with / Interest: Butterfly Conservation (Scotland) Encourage surveying and monitoring of butterflies and moths, and advise on habitat management for priority species. Contact details: Balallan House, Allan Park, Stirling FK8 2QG Tel: Cantraybridge Rural Skills College Cantraybridge Trust Cawdor Hoglets / Cawdor Estate Rangers Cill Chumein Heritage Group Community Toolkit Craigmonie Woodland Association Deer Commission Scotland A Rural Skills College for up to 30 young people with a disability. Its aim is to enable them to acquire the necessary skills in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, fresh water fisheries, gamekeeping and other related outdoor activities in order to gain employment. The objectives of the trust are to - Enhance the environmental and scenic beauty of the area - Ensure continued public access - Promote planting of a mixed native woodland - Stimulate community and local job creation - Encourage interest in and education about this unique Highland environment. The Hoglets are youth nature club which meets every Saturday morning between April October. Activities include waste management, replanting, habitat enhancement for Great Crested Newts Protects and enhances the cultural and natural heritage of the area around Ft Augustus. Can help organisations find solutions to a range of problems and issues. Specifically designed for community groups and is based on common themes identified by local voluntary groups from around Inverness and Nairn. Work in partnership with Forestry Commission to maintain and upgrade the facilities in Craigmonie Woodland. Provide advice on deer management and welfare issues. Cantraybridge College, Cawdor, Nairn, IV12 5XT. Tel: Joanna McGregor, Mill of Cantray, Cawdor, Nairn IV12 5XT Derek Hamilton, Cawdor Ranger, Cawdor Castle, Nairn. IV12 5RD Tel: Brian Steptoe, Secretary, Ardachy, Fort Augustus Mrs Anne Bell, Chair, Eastlea, Drumnadrochit, Inverness-shire IV63 6TX Tel: Knowsley, 82 Fairfield Road, Inverness IV3 5LH Tel: The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

79 Organisation / Group: What they can help with / Interest : District Salmon Fishery Boards The Fishery Boards have statutory powers to control and manage salmon fisheries and stocks. Contact details: Beauly District Salmon Fishery Board, J Wotherspoon, MacAndrew & Jenkins WS, Solicitors and Estate Agents, 5 Drummond Street, Inverness, IV1 1QF Nairn District Salmon Fishery Board, EMBLarby, Finlayson Hughes, 45 Church Street, Inverness IV4 1DR Ness District Salmon Fishery Board, F Kelly, Messrs Anderson, Shaw & Gilbert, Solicitors, York House, 20 Church Street, Inverness IV1 1ED Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) Forestry Commission Scotland Friends of Moray Firth Dolphins Froglife Provide advice to farmers, crofters and landowners on conservation projects and agri-environmental grants. Administer the Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme, which provides woodland management and expansion incentives for private woodland owners, and regulate and control works through Felling Licence and Environmental Impact Assessment regulations. Responsible for managing Scotland s national forests within district areas. Provide opportunities for watching and learning more about dolphins, gather data on the Moray Firth dolphins and are involved in awareness raising. Provide habitat advice about amphibians and reptiles in gardens and the wider countryside, and encourage their recording. Fran Lockhart, Glaikmore, North Kessock, Inverness IV1 1XD Tel: Woodlands, Fodderty Way, Dingwall IV15 9XB Tel: Inverness Forest District, Tower Road, Smithton, Inverness IV1 2NL Tel : Fort Augustus Forest District, Strathoich, Fort Augustus, Inverness-shire PH32 4BT Tel : Moray Forest District, Balnacoul, Fochabers IV32 7LL Tel: Craigview, Banffshire AB56 4QF The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 73

80 Organisation / Group: What they can help with / Interest: Glen Urquhart Rural Community Association Developing and supporting initiatives to improve Glen residents quality of life - since Contact details: Sandra Bardwell, Secretary Tel: Grounds for Learning Henry Doubleday Research Association Highland Biodiversity Project Highland Biological Recording Group Highland Birchwoods Highland Council Ranger Service Highland Council Sustainable Development Officer Highland Council Waste Strategy & Management Team Provide advice, contacts, programmes, grant and award schemes tailored for Scottish schools, for the improvement of school grounds for education, biodiversity and enjoyment. Dedicated to researching and promoting organic gardening, farming and food. Responsible for the preparation and implementation of Local Biodiversity Action Plans in Highland. Record biological information individually and through coordinated atlas projects, surveys, field trips and events. Works through a partnership to deliver: local economic, environmental and social benefits; integrated forest management and product innovation; new resource information to support strategic rural development. Run a programme of environmental education events and guided walks, run practical conservation projects, and give advice on access and conservation issues. Provides advice on sustainability issues and appropriate community action. Provides information on the correct disposal of waste and hazardous substances. Ryton Organic Gardens, Coventry, Warwickshire CV8 3LG Highland Biodiversity Officer, The Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness IV3 5NX Tel: c/o Inverness Museum & Art Gallery, Castle Wynd, Inverness IV2 3EB PandIEVANS@aol.com Littleburn, Munlochy, Ross-shire IV8 8NN Tel: The Highland Council Countryside Ranger Inverness, Planning & Development Service, Town House, Inverness IV1 1JJ Tel: katy.stirling@highland.gov.uk or john.orr@highland.gov.uk Great Glen Way Ranger Service, Auchterawe, Fort Augustus PH32 4BA Tel: greatglenway@highland.gov.uk Una Lee, The Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness Tel: Ross House, High Street, Dingwall IV15 9RY Tel: The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

81 Organisation / Group: What they can help with / Interest : Highland Environmental Network Regional environmental education forum for the Highland Council area. Exists to promote and support environmental education and awareness raising. Contact details: Education Centre, Castle Street, Dingwall IV15 9XB Highland Mountain Biking Association Highland Ringing Group Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board Inverness & Nairn Enterprise Inverness Bat Group Inverness Botany Group Inverness Field Club Membership is free and is open to official agencies and the public. A large club dedicated to off-road cycling in all its forms, equal access to the countryside, and sustainable trail building. Comprises volunteers in the inner Moray Firth area who monitor bird populations in the area. Most of the monitoring work is done via bird ringing on behalf of the British Trust for Ornithology. Shorebirds, seabirds, raptors and farmland species are currently all monitored by the group. Provides, for visitors, details of places to go, activities, events, maps, guides to areas with the Scottish Highlands, the definitive listing of accommodation in the area, and travel, transport and car hire information. Provide advice and support for environmental projects and community-led works. The group aims to promote interest, investigate and protect these remarkable, but endangered, mammals through survey and educational work and runs a programme of bat walks, talks and other activities throughout the year, membership is free and open to anyone fascinated by bats. The study and enjoyment of the local flora and botany in general through meetings and outdoor excursions. Interests include natural history, geology, archaeology and local history. These are reflected in extensive lecture and excursion programmes. Steve Brown Tel: (evenings) or Steve MacDonald at Square Wheels in Strathpeffer Tel: (days) Secretary: Bob Swann, 14 St Vincent Road, Tain, Ross-shire IV19 1JR bob.swann@freeuk.com Peffery House, Strathpeffer IV14 9HATel: The Green House, Beechwood Business Park North, Inverness IV2 3BL Jonathan Watt, c/o Inverness Museum and Are Gallery, Castle Wynd, Inverness IV2 3EB jonathan.watt@highland.gov.uk Margaret Barron Tel: Tel: invernessfieldclub@btinternet.co.uk The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 75

82 Organisation / Group: What they can help with / Interest : Inverness Museum Records Centre Holds a wide range of data on Highland wildlife, with particular emphasis on mammals and invertebrates. The survey work of the Highland Biological Recording Group is the source of the bulk of centre s records. The centre offers: an enquiry service, an extensive library, reference collections and access to a network of local expertise. Contact details: Jonathan Watt, Inverness Museum & Art Gallery, Castle Wynd, Inverness IV2 3EB Tel: Kirkhill & Bunchrew Community Trust Marine Conservation Society Moray Firth Partnership National Farmers Union of Scotland National Trust for Scotland Northern Constabulary Plantlife Kirkhill and Bunchrew Community Trust is a registered charity and Company Limited by Guarantee set up to carry out, promote and encourage educational, environmental, economic and recreational activities within the area of Kirkhill and Bunchrew. Run a number of volunteer coastal and marine projects including beachwatch and seasearch. Provide advice on management of marine and coastal habitats in the Moray Firth, and run a small environmental scheme. Provide information on agricultural matters and representation on behalf of members. A conservation charity that protects and promotes Scotland s natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations to enjoy. Responsible for enforcement of wildlife conservation legislation and combating wildlife crime. All concerns regarding wildlife crime should be reported to the local police station first. Acts to stop common wild plants becoming rare in the wild, to rescue wild plants on the brink of extinction, and to protect sites of exceptional botanical importance by practical conservation work, and influencing policy and legislation. Erik Lundberg, Pilgrim Cottage, Wardlaw Road, Inverness IV5 7BN erik.lundberg@tesco.net Calum Duncan, 3 Coates Place, Edinburgh EH3 7AA Tel: Ardconnel Terrace, Inverness IV2 3AE Tel: Balnain House, 40 Huntley Street, Inverness IV3 5UR Tel: Wildlife Crime Officer, Inverness Area Command, Burnett Road, Inverness IV1 1RL Tel: The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

83 Organisation / Group: What they can help with / Interest : Partnership for Rural Inverness & Nairn (PRIN) The partnership brings local people, agencies, the voluntary sector, private and public bodies together to promote and coordinate the sustainable development of rural Inverness and Nairn. Contact details: Bill Forrest, c/o Planning & Development Service, The Highland Council, Town House, Inverness IV1 1JJ Tel: bill.forrest@highland.gov.uk Paths for All Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Scottish Agricultural College Scottish & Southern Energy Scottish Crofting Foundation Scottish Environment Protection Agency Scottish Executive Environment & Rural Affairs Department An Initiative to create local path networks throughout Scotland for the enjoyment of local people and visitors, to achieve a significant increase in well-managed and welcoming paths close to where people live, and to promote their use. Provides advice and assistance on the conservation of wild birds and their habitats, especially declining, threatened or rare species. Provide advice to farmers, crofters and land owners on wildlife habitat improvement, and help prepare and submit Rural Stewardship Scheme applications. Energy company involved in the generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity to industrial, commercial and domestic customers; energy trading; gas marketing; electrical and utility contracting and telecommunications. Promotes the benefits that Crofting brings to its communities, as well as to the wider public. Regularly monitor and classify coastal waters, rivers and lochs, deal with pollution incidents and provide advice and, through its Habitat Enhancement Initiative, provides guidance and support on the creation and best management of wildlife habitats. Advises on and implements policy relating to agriculture, rural development, food, the environment and fisheries. Paths for All Partnership, The Green House, Beechwood Business Park North, Inverness IV2 3DL Tel: Etive House, Beechwood Park, Inverness Tel: Gillian McKnight, Drummondhill, Stratherrick Road, Inverness Tel: Inveralmond House, 200 Dunkeld Road, Perth PH1 3AQ Old Mill, Broadford, Isle of Skye IV49 9AQ Tel: Graesser House, Fodderty Way, Dingwall IV15 9XB Tel: hour pollution emergency number: The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 77

84 Organisation / Group: Scottish Native Woods Scottish Natural Heritage Scottish Ornithologists Club Scottish Rural Property & Business Association Scottish Water Scottish Wildlife Trust Strathnairn Community Woodland Project Strathglass Community Development Group The Mammal Society What they can help with / Interest : Dedicated to the conservation of native woodlands in Scotland. Key activities: securing the sustainable management of native woodlands; increasing awareness and understanding of native woodlands; strengthening the contribution made by native woodlands to the economy; advising and influencing government policy. Provide advice and assistance on protected species and designated areas, grant-aid practical biodiversity and awarenessraising projects. Brings together amateur birdwatchers, keen birders and research ornithologists with the aims of documenting, studying and enjoying Scotland s varied birdlife. Formerly Scottish Landowners Federation. Representative body for rural property owners and land-based businesses in Scotland. Provides water and waste water services to household and business customers across Scotland. Provide advice on habitat management, identification of areas of high biodiversity and conservation volunteer activities. Aim to conserve, regenerate and promote the restoration of the prodominatnly native woodland of Strathnairn. Have purchased the School Wood at Farr and Milton Wood. Aims to develop the environmental and economic potential of the area for local people and visitors to the area. Organise mammal surveys and work to protect British mammals, to halt the decline of threatened species. Contact details: John Parrott, The Old School, Errogie, Inverness-shire IV2 6UH Fodderty Way, Dingwall Business Park, Dingwall IV15 9XB Tel: Harbour Point, Newhailes Road, Musselburgh EH21 6SJ Tel Stuart House, Eskmills Business Park, Musselburgh EH21 7PB Tel: info@srpba.comwww.slf.org.uk Unit 4A, 3 Carsegate Road North, Inverness IV3 8DU Tel: Duncan Scott, Pennyghael, Farr, By Inverness, IV2 6XJ duncan@mfib.co.uk Maeve Ryan, Secretary, Mid Main, Struy, Strathglass, Inverness IV4 7JR 78 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

85 Organisation / Group: What they can help with / Interest : The Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society Dedicated to the conservation and welfare of all whales, dolphins and porpoises. Run the Moray Firth adopt a dolphin project. Contact details: Brookfield House, 38 St Paul Street, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN15 1LY Tourism & The Environment Forum Trees for Life Woodland Trust Scotland World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) A partnership of public and private organisations set up to promote sustainable tourism in Scotland. A Scottish conservation charity dedicated to the regeneration and restoration of the Caledonian Forest in the Highlands of Scotland Protect native woodlands by acquiring woodland sites, sympathetically managing woodland for wildlife and public enjoyment, replacing those woods that have been lost to landscape and create more new native woodland and influencing others who are in a position to improve the future of native woodland. WWF s mission in Scotland is to build long-term solutions to environmental problems for the benefit of people and nature. Thistle House, Beechwood Park North, Inverness Tel: The Park, Findhorn Bay, Forres IV36 3TZ Tel: Glenruthven Mill, Abbey Road, Auchterarder, Perthshire PH3 1DP Tel: WWF Scotland, 8 The Square, Aberfeldy, Perthshire PH15 2DD Tel: The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 79

86 Annex 2: References & Sources of Further Information Scottish Executive (2004) Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act. The Stationary Office Bookshop, Edinburgh Scottish Executive (2004) Scotland s Biodiversity, It s In Your Hands: A strategy for the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity in Scotland. The Stationary Office Bookshop, Edinburgh Scottish Biodiversity Forum (2004) An Overview of the Implementation Plans, The Stationary Office Bookshop, Edinburgh Scottish Executive (2003) Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture. The Stationary Office Bookshop, Edinburgh Scottish Executive (2003) The Rural Stewardship Scheme. The Stationary Office Bookshop, Edinburgh Scottish Biodiversity Forum (2003) Towards a Strategy for Scotland s Biodiversity: Indicators for the State of Scotland s Biodiversity. The Stationary Office Bookshop, Edinburgh Scottish Biodiversity Forum (2003) Towards a Strategy for Scotland s Biodiversity: Scotland s Resource & Trends. The Stationary Office Bookshop, Edinburgh Scotland s Moorland Forum (2003) Principles of Moorland Management. The Stationary Office Bookshop, Edinburgh Preston, CD, Pearman, DA & Dines, TD (Eds) (2002) New Atlas of the British & Irish Flora. Oxford University Press Scottish Natural Heritage (2002) Natural Heritage Futures documents The Scottish Biodiversity Group (2001) A Flying Start: Local Biodiversity Action in Scotland. The Stationary Office Bookshop, Edinburgh Scottish Executive (2001) The Muirburn Code: A Guide to Best Practice. The Stationary Office Bookshop, Edinburgh The Scottish Biodiversity Group (2000) Action for Scotland s Biodiversity. The Stationary Office Bookshop, Edinburgh The Scottish Biodiversity Group (1999) Local Biodiversity Action Plans: A Manual and Guidance Notes. CoSLA, Edinburgh The Scottish Biodiversity Group (1997) Biodiversity in Scotland: The Way Forward. The Stationary Office Bookshop, Edinburgh Joint Nature Conservation Committee (1996) Coasts and Seas of the United Kingdom, Region 3 North-east Scotland: Cape Wrath to St Cyrus. Coastal Directory Series Joint Nature Conservation Committee Directory of the Celtic Coasts and Seas The UK Government (1994) Biodiversity: The UK Action Plan. HMSO, London The UK Government (1994) Sustainable Development: The UK Strategy. HMSO, London The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute (1993) The Land Cover of Scotland 1988 (LCS88) UK Biodiversity Action Plan Tranche 2 Action Plans. English Nature, Peterborough Index to the Tranche 2 Action Plans Volume I: Vertebrates and Vascular Plants Volume II: Terrestrial and Freshwater Habitats Volume III: Plants and Fungi Volume IV: Invertebrates Volume VI: Terrestrial and Freshwater Species and Habitats 80 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

87 Annex 3: Glossary A acoustic agri-environment all-terrain vehicle amphibian aquatic arthropod B biodegradable biodiversity brackish bryophyte C calcareous catchment cetacean clearfell coarse fish coastal defences common grazing community conifer crustacean culvert D deciduous Deer Management Plan diffuse diurnal diversification dredging E ecosystem electrofishing environment epiphyte eutrophic extensive of sound or hearing linkage between the rearing of crops and livestock and the surrounding environment light vehicle with many low pressure tyres or caterpillar tracks that spread the weight and make it easier to cross boggy areas a vertebrate, such as a newt, frog or toad, that lives on land but breeds in water growing or living in water a creature, such as an insect or spider, which has jointed legs and a hard case on its body capable of being decomposed by natural means biological diversity, the variety of all living things slightly salty a moss or liverwort of or containing calcium carbonate the area of land draining into a river, basin or reservoir member of an order of aquatic mammals having no hind limbs, front limbs modified into paddles, and a blowhole for breathing, includes whales, dolphins and porpoises an area where all the trees have been felled any freshwater fish that is not of the salmon family natural or man-made barriers to slow down or halt erosion from the sea piece of rough grazing land shared between two or more people a group of independent plants and animals inhabiting the same region a tree or shrub bearing cones and evergreen leaves, such as pine, spruce, fir or larch usually aquatic arthropod with a hard outer shell and several pairs of legs, such as the lobster, crab or shrimp a drain or covered channel that crosses under a road or railway a tree or shrub which sheds its leaves annually, such as birch or oak a plan drawn up by the local Deer Management Group to agree culling targets amongst neighbouring estates spread out over a wide area (diffuse pollution: no single point source) in or of day / daytime to vary products or operations in order to spread risk or expand the process of scooping or sucking up material from the seabed or a riverbed a system involving the interactions between a community and its non-living environment method of surveying fish by stunning them with an electrical pulse the external surroundings in which a plant or animal lives, which influence its development a plant growing on another plant without gaining any nutrition from it (e.g. lichens, mosses & liverworts growing on trees) describes lochs with high nutrient levels (agricultural context) widespread, designed to spread impacts over a large area F fauna fen The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan all the animal life of a given place or time peatland that receives water and nutrients from the soil, rock and groundwater as well as from rainfall 81

88 fence marking fertiliser flora Forest Habitat Network fry G genetic purity genus geomorphology Gulf Stream H habitat hatchery herbicide hybrid I in-bye Indicative Forest Strategy insecticide inshore intensive interpretation invasive invertebrate L ley M mammal mesotrophic mollusc muirburning the act of making a fence more visible to avoid bird collisions from e.g. black grouse any substance, such as manure, added to soil to increase its productivity all the plant life of a given place or time a concept to link forest habitats for the benefit of woodland species the young of various species of fish where the internal characteristics of an organism come from one source alone a group into which a family of animals or plants is divided and which contains one or more species the study of the shapes and processes of the earth a warm oceanic current originating in the gulf of Mexico that travels northeast as the North Atlantic Drift to warm the west coast of Scotland the natural home of an animal or plant place where fish eggs are hatched to produce fry or parr for restocking a chemical that destroys plants, especially weeds an animal or plant resulting from a cross between two different types of animal or plant grazing or arable land, usually close to the croft or farm steading a planning tool used by local authorities and agencies to help site new woodlands away from sensitive areas a substance used to destroy insect pests in or on the water but close to the shore (inshore fisheries: within 12 miles of the shore) (agricultural context) designed to increase production from a particular area explanation provided by the use of original objects, visual display material, etc. spreading uncontrollably, taking over, replacing natural community any animal without a backbone, such as an insect, worm or mollusc land temporarily under grass any warm-blooded vertebrate animal, the female of which produces milk to feed her young describes lochs with intermediate nutrient levels an invertebrate with a soft, unsegmented body and often a shell (group includes snails, slugs, clams, mussels and squid) the controlled strip-burning of heather moorland to create new shoots for grouse, deer or sheep to eat N natural regeneration non-native nutrient budgeting nutrient enrichment O oligotrophic out-bye overgraze seeding of plants, especially trees, without direct interference by man a non-indigenous animal or plant, not of local origin the allocation of nutrients (especially fertilisers) to particular areas for particular purposes, to minimise wastage and environmental impacts an increase or improvement in the substances providing nourishment to a water body, sometimes resulting in a change in the chemistry and corresponding loss in naturally occurring species describes lochs with low nutrient levels, such as the dubh lochans in the peatlands rough grazing land, usually far from the croft or farm steading to graze land too intensely so that it is damaged and no longer provides nourishment or (if an area is managed for woodland) so that trees cannot regenerate or grow 82 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan

89 P parasitic parr passerine pest pesticide plankton plateau R raptor recreation reedbed reseed riparian roost S salmonid sea lice second rotation sessile sheep dip siltation silviculture Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) smolt spawning beds Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Special Protection Area (SPA) species standing deadwood U upland V vertebrate W wader waterfowl weed wildfire wildfowl woodland restructuring the process of one animal or plant living in or on another from which it obtains its nourishment the intermediate stage of a salmonid fish between fry and smolt a songbird or perching bird any organism that damages crops, or irritates livestock or man a chemical used for killing pests, especially insects organisms inhabiting the surface layer of a sea or loch, consisting of small drifting animals or plants a wide mainly level area of elevated land a bird of prey refreshment of health or spirits by relaxation and enjoyment, or an activity that promotes this wetland dominated by stands of the common reed Phragmites australis, where the water table is at or above ground level for most of the year a crop, especially grass, that has been sown of or on the bank of a river or stream a place, such as a perch, where birds rest or sleep fish from the salmon family (includes salmon, trout & char) a fish parasite the second crop of trees grown on a plantation a plant with flowers or leaves but no stalk / an animal fixed in one position a liquid disinfectant and insecticide in which sheep are immersed to fill or choke up with silt (a fine sediment of mud or clay deposited by moving water) the cultivation of forest trees an area designated under UK legislation for its nature conservation interest young salmon at the stage when it migrates from freshwater to the sea the location where fish, amphibians or molluscs lay eggs an area designated under European legislation (the Habitats Directive) for its nature conservation interest an area designated under European legislation (the Birds Directive) for its wild bird interest any of the groups into which a genus is divided, the members of which are able to interbreed dead trees left standing or lying to support fungi and invertebrates an area of high or relatively high ground any animal with a backbone, such as a mammal, fish, bird or amphibian a long-legged bird that lives near water or in a wetland bird that lives on or near water, especially one that swims such as a duck or swan any plant that grows wild and profusely, especially one that grows among cultivated plants out-of-control fire started accidentally or through out-of-control muirburning, which can rage over vast areas and threaten woodlands, roads or even houses any game bird the process of changing the structure of a woodland to allow more internal space and diversity of tree species The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan 83

90 Annex 4: Designations Map 84 The Inverness & Nairn Biodiversity Action Plan