Projects

Botanical monitoring for site condition assessment

We have a wide range of expertise in the monitoring of vegetation in relation to the impacts of herbivores and in establishing baselines for the recording of change through time in relation to variations in management and environmental conditions. We have also devised new methods for the measurement of short and long-term changes, specifically in relation to heather moorland and deer management planning.

Examples of recent projects:

Assessment of grazing and trampling impacts, Caenlochan Glen, Angus.
This project was carried out for the Deer Commission for Scotland to investigate and provide an independent assessment of the current state of impacts on a number of Natura 2000 designated habitats in this candidate Special Area of Conservation. The location and current status of specific habitats were recorded on a grid and along transects and an overall assessment made of the impacts of herbivores on this site. The outcome was presented at a field meeting and ways forward to safeguard the designated habitats were discussed with a view to meeting the statutory obligations under EU legislation.

Baseline survey of tree regeneration and deer populations in native Scots pine woodland, Amat Estate, Sutherland.
The aim of this project was to provide a baseline of the current status of natural regeneration and deer populations in this SSSI designated pinewood. Permanent transects to record tree regeneration were established and recorded in 1997, along with estimates of deer occupancy from browsing of saplings and dung transects.

Investigation of the status of heather (Calluna vulgaris) on the Ronas Hill - North Roe SSSI, Shetland.
Commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage in 1996, the aim of this project was to survey and record the status of heather and determine the causes of decline on the most extensive area of upland and montane vegetation in Shetland. The impacts of heavy grazing, damage caused by outbreaks of invertebrates, extremes of climate and fungal disease were all considered to be contributing to the decline in the extent and status of heather in this area. As a result, a number of recommendations were made, aimed at improving the status of heather over this designated area.

Baseline recording of tree regeneration and the impacts of herbivores, Creag Clunie, Aberdeenshire.
A collaborative investigation with Scottish Native Woods to assess the current status of regeneration and the impacts of herbivores at a site where near-complete removal of deer by culling, rather than deer-fencing, was being used to promote regeneration.