SNH Area News
Strathclyde and Ayrshire Correspondents: Deborah Sandals, Dave Long, Arthur Kellar
Making connections
Some species are able to move through suitably managed land between habitat areas. So, for example, a playing field might provide a connection between nearby areas of woodland habitat for a red admiral butterfly, whereas larger areas of open ground, or a more difficult terrain, would present a barrier. So this playing field provides the connection that is part of a habitat network. Working with partners we’ve mapped habitat networks for the whole of Central Scotland. The network maps, used along with local knowledge, show us where to protect and manage networks and where we could work to re-establish connections. We can also use the maps to see where we can change land management to help species dispersal. For example by changing mown grass areas to wildflower margins or meadow, to increase biodiversity. The maps have been used in the
Gartloch Gartcosh Seven Lochs Wetland Park Masterplan in the north east of Glasgow. The masterplan strategy, for the creation of the park, will protect and enhance existing habitats on the site and create new water bodies, wetlands and other habitats to expand existing habitat networks. You can find the mapping at www.
snh.gov.uk/land-and-sea/managing- the-land/spatial-ecology/habitat- networks-and-csgn/map-viewer
www.snh.gov.uk
Quality grassland
A wildflower meadow at Whinnerston, Renfrewshire has been recognised as one of the country’s most important through its confirmation as a new Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Grasslands of this kind which have not been made subject to agricultural improvement are increasingly rare in Scotland, with up to two-thirds of the habitat estimated to have been lost since the late 1980s. The Whinnerston site supports one of our largest and best remaining examples. The site is great for wildlife today because its owner has always managed it for its biodiversity. The land is grazed by a small herd of Highland cattle with no artificial fertilisers or herbicides applied. The cattle are generally taken off site in summer to allow the wide variety of flowers to set seed. Unusually, the grassland appears to have been almost entirely protected from typical 20th century levels of agricultural intensification. SSSIs are protected from damaging operations and their owners can apply for funding to help ensure that appropriate management is maintained. Keeping the right grazing in place at this site will be essential and SNH is looking forward to working with Whinnerston’s owner to ensure that this can be secured into the future.
Stalled Spaces
The Stalled Spaces initiative aims to improve vacant areas of Glasgow which are currently neglected, run-down or just unattractive by giving communities the chance to develop their own environmental projects. With funding organised by Glasgow City Council, the Central Scotland Green Network Development Fund made the difference to get six projects underway.
Citizens’ Rose Garden, Laurieston, is being used as a community garden. Greyfriars Garden in the city centre has an area for community growing using raised beds. Beechwood Nursery School, Easterhouse, has adopted part of a natural woodland area to educate pupils through the use of natural materials and improving habitats for a variety of animals and insects. Royston Youth Action is preparing a community garden to provide a safe place for children and young people to socialise and receive informal education in social, recreational, physical and sporting activities. The Bothy Project brings natural heritage and the arts together in a creative space for community projects. An area near the Broomielaw is being developed by residents from multi-storey flats into a usable, peaceful area. Some of the projects will be allocated bee hives and special training will be given to improve understanding about the relationship between bees, humans and the environment.
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