Report of two day field visit to Report of two day field visit to Loch Tummel Pearl-bordered Loch Tummel Pearl-bordered

Fritillary NetworkFritillary Network

using GPS, measure out the main using GPS, measure out the main clearings at various site compartments clearings at various site compartments

take photographs of site take photographs of site compartmentscompartments

assess need for management – assess need for management – scrub/tree clearance and bracken scrub/tree clearance and bracken sprayingspraying

make further habitat assessments make further habitat assessments such as abundance of dog violet if such as abundance of dog violet if possiblepossible

By Andrew Masterman 28 March 2008

SummarySummary

12 existing compartments visited on 26 & 27 March 200812 existing compartments visited on 26 & 27 March 2008

although time of year not ideal, south-facing bracken hillsides although time of year not ideal, south-facing bracken hillsides were clearly identifiable but dog violet not easy to findwere clearly identifiable but dog violet not easy to find

some large compartments (>10 ha) were foundsome large compartments (>10 ha) were found

key feature of network is the west-east wayleave which key feature of network is the west-east wayleave which comprised mostly steep, dry south facing bracken hillsidecomprised mostly steep, dry south facing bracken hillside

survey and photographs show the large extent of thick survey and photographs show the large extent of thick bracken litter and the need for bracken control.bracken litter and the need for bracken control.

Good habitat also present along stretches of north side of Good habitat also present along stretches of north side of road and several north-south wayleaves link road to main road and several north-south wayleaves link road to main wayleavewayleave

Loch Tummel Pearl-bordered Fritillary Network - Loch Tummel Pearl-bordered Fritillary Network - WestWest

Overview of site compartments visited: small features not visible at this resolution. Red line crudely shows path of main west-east wayleave. Blue areas are Forestry Commission blocks.

Easter BohespicEaster Bohespic

Started at Easter Bohespic in far westStarted at Easter Bohespic in far west Last visited by David Spooner 29/5/97 Last visited by David Spooner 29/5/97

when 5 PBF seenwhen 5 PBF seen Size circa 9 Ha but site extends further Size circa 9 Ha but site extends further

west – will investigate in further visitwest – will investigate in further visit Good PBF habitat but thick bracken litter Good PBF habitat but thick bracken litter

20-30% of site & birch woodland perhaps a 20-30% of site & birch woodland perhaps a threat toothreat too

Recommend site assessment in May to Recommend site assessment in May to assess need for managementassess need for management

Easter Bohespic –Photo 1Easter Bohespic –Photo 1

Easter Bohespic – Photo 2Easter Bohespic – Photo 2

Easter Bohespic – Photo 3Easter Bohespic – Photo 3

Easter Bohespic – Photo 4Easter Bohespic – Photo 4

Two new site compartmentsTwo new site compartments

Main west-east wayleave passes to south of Main west-east wayleave passes to south of Easter Bohespic across wetter unsuitable habitat Easter Bohespic across wetter unsuitable habitat and then heads southand then heads south

Tummel Bridge Wayleave 1 is where this splits Tummel Bridge Wayleave 1 is where this splits with piece going east to form main west-east with piece going east to form main west-east wayleave (photo 3) and another piece continuing wayleave (photo 3) and another piece continuing south – most is flat and wet (Photo 2) but good south – most is flat and wet (Photo 2) but good habitat nr road ~ 4 ha (Photo 1)habitat nr road ~ 4 ha (Photo 1)

Tummel Bridge 2 is a small bit of marginal habitat Tummel Bridge 2 is a small bit of marginal habitat associated with a short north-south wayleaveassociated with a short north-south wayleave

Tummel Bridge Wayleave 1 –Photo Tummel Bridge Wayleave 1 –Photo 11

Tummel Bridge Wayleave 1 – Tummel Bridge Wayleave 1 – Photo 2Photo 2

Tummel Bridge Wayleave 1 – Tummel Bridge Wayleave 1 – Photo 3Photo 3

Tummel Bridge Wayleave 2 Tummel Bridge Wayleave 2

Tummel BridgeTummel Bridge

Tummel Bridge was last visited by Tom Brereton 9/6/97 when he saw 1 PBFTummel Bridge was last visited by Tom Brereton 9/6/97 when he saw 1 PBF

The area he visited is now Holiday Homes.The area he visited is now Holiday Homes.

To the north of the holiday homes on the north side of the road, some good To the north of the holiday homes on the north side of the road, some good habitat ~ 100m deep merges with the wayleave but birch woodland is well-habitat ~ 100m deep merges with the wayleave but birch woodland is well-established hereestablished here

To the north of the wayleave, a large area of south-facing bracken hillside To the north of the wayleave, a large area of south-facing bracken hillside bordered by birch & coniferous woodland was discovered but bracken litter bordered by birch & coniferous woodland was discovered but bracken litter was thick and dog violet not foundwas thick and dog violet not found

Further clear areas to east may be present – need to re-visit.Further clear areas to east may be present – need to re-visit.

These compartments need to be revisited in May to confirm PBF here and if These compartments need to be revisited in May to confirm PBF here and if so, bracken spraying required. Perhaps birch clearance by holiday homes.so, bracken spraying required. Perhaps birch clearance by holiday homes.

Compartment Dalcroy which was visited by Ron Youngman is at eastern Compartment Dalcroy which was visited by Ron Youngman is at eastern extent of this site.extent of this site.

Tummel Bridge Holiday HomesTummel Bridge Holiday Homes

Tummel Bridge HillsideTummel Bridge Hillside

BohallyBohally

This compartment was last visited by Ron This compartment was last visited by Ron Youngman on 23/5/98 when 9 PBF seenYoungman on 23/5/98 when 9 PBF seen

Ron described site as “Basically a road Ron described site as “Basically a road verge with scrub below conifer plantation”verge with scrub below conifer plantation”

This description was confirmed and a This description was confirmed and a Bohally north-south wayleave linking with Bohally north-south wayleave linking with main west-east wayleave identified.main west-east wayleave identified.

Bohally WayleaveBohally Wayleave

Looking west along main Looking west along main wayleave from Bohally wayleave from Bohally

WayleaveWayleave

Aldcharmaig WayleavesAldcharmaig Wayleaves

Ron Youngman visited the main Ron Youngman visited the main west-east wayleave at NN802599 on west-east wayleave at NN802599 on 2/6/4 and saw 2 PBF.2/6/4 and saw 2 PBF.

Two north-south wayleaves joining Two north-south wayleaves joining the road to the west-east wayleave the road to the west-east wayleave were identifiedwere identified

Further habitat along north side of Further habitat along north side of road below conifer plantationroad below conifer plantation

Ardchalmaig Wayleave 1- looking northArdchalmaig Wayleave 1- looking north

Ardchalmaig Wayleave 2 – looking southArdchalmaig Wayleave 2 – looking south

Looking east along main wayleave Looking east along main wayleave from Ardchalmaig Wayleave 1from Ardchalmaig Wayleave 1

Looking west along main wayleave from Looking west along main wayleave from Aldcharmaig Wayleave 2Aldcharmaig Wayleave 2

Loch Tummel – Tressait areaLoch Tummel – Tressait areaThere is a big gap in the conifer plantations above Strath Tummel associated with Tressait farm. Most of this area is intensively grazed by cattle and sheep and some is moorland. But there are some areas of good quality PBF habitat, mostly at Croft Douglas. Borenich site is probably too intensively grazed by cattle to offer good habitat but it is a south facing bracken hillside.

Tressait PastureTressait PastureThis area visited by Tom Brereton 9/6/97. This small pasture with bracken may provide a marginal pocket of habitat for PBF

Croft DouglasCroft Douglas

Last visited by Richard Buckland 30/05/04 Last visited by Richard Buckland 30/05/04 when 1 PBF seen.when 1 PBF seen.

Dog violet could be found here and site Dog violet could be found here and site appears to be high quality PBF habitat.appears to be high quality PBF habitat.

Site divided in two halves by barbed wire Site divided in two halves by barbed wire fence and the main wayleave passes fence and the main wayleave passes through site.through site.

Western half is cattle grazed and fairly open, Western half is cattle grazed and fairly open, eastern half has mature birch woodland to eastern half has mature birch woodland to north and south of wayleave and would north and south of wayleave and would benefit from having some woodland glades benefit from having some woodland glades created.created.

Croft Douglas West – Photo 1Croft Douglas West – Photo 1

Croft Douglas West – Photo 2Croft Douglas West – Photo 2

Croft Douglas East – Photo 1Croft Douglas East – Photo 1Looking east along wayleave from barbed–wire fence.

Croft Douglas East- Photo 2Croft Douglas East- Photo 2Looking east along path

Croft Douglas East – Photo 3Croft Douglas East – Photo 3Looking west along wayleave with birch woodland either side

BorenichBorenich

Ron Youngman has visited the wayleave Ron Youngman has visited the wayleave thru the conifer plantation 23/5/98 and thru the conifer plantation 23/5/98 and 02/06/04 and found 1 & 5 PBF 02/06/04 and found 1 & 5 PBF respectively. respectively.

West of conifer plantation is a south-facing West of conifer plantation is a south-facing bracken hillside grazed by cattle which bracken hillside grazed by cattle which was mapped outwas mapped out

Some habitat along north side of road too.Some habitat along north side of road too.

BorenichBorenichForeground not suitable habitat but large area of south facing bracken hillside higher up but heavily poached by cattle- no dog violet seen

Looking west along main Looking west along main wayleave at Borenich conifer wayleave at Borenich conifer

plantationplantation

Looking east along main Looking east along main wayleave at Borenich Conifer wayleave at Borenich Conifer

plantationplantation

Roadside east of BorenichRoadside east of Borenich