Airhouse Wood

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 55.7745, -2.8342

Condition (NatureScot)

Unfavourable No Change (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Upland oak woodland Unfavourable No Change 2009-08-12

Habitats

Ancient woodland

Description

AIRHOUSE WOOD Airhouse Wood Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is located to the west of the A68 and village of Oxton, north of Lauder. It is one of the few relatively large examples of ancient woodland sites in the Borders, and one of only two known indigenous woodlands in the area. The site comprises relic birch/oak woodland with hazel and juniper and characteristic ground flora of local distribution in the Borders including great wood-rush Luzula sylvatica, herb robert Geranium robertianum, wood sage Teucrium scorodonia, wood anemone Anemone nemorosa and fern species. The majority of this open woodland consists of scattered birch trees with a few hazel interspersed. The steeper slopes down towards the Mountmill Burn, which borders the site, have denser tree cover of hazel, plus some ash and rowan with typical ground flora.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
wood anemone Anemone nemorosa LC herb ranunculaceae
herb Robert Geranium robertianum LC herb geraniaceae
wood sage Teucrium scorodonia LC herb lamiaceae
great wood rush Luzula sylvatica LC rush juncaceae