Aucheneck

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 56.0160, -4.4435

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Also within

Stirling and Falkirk County

Condition (NatureScot)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Quaternary of Scotland Favourable — 2007-02-13

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Esker, Moraine · Geological Period: Quaternary

Landscape processes: Glacial

Description

AUCHENECK Aucheneck SSSI is located 5 km south-west of the village of Killearn, in central Scotland. The site is important because it provides excellent examples of glacial landforms formed during the Quaternary, the period of cyclical ‘ice ages’ spanning the last 2.6 million years. In particular, a prominent ridge of debris, called an end moraine, marks the limit of the ice sheet formed during the Loch Lomond Stadial, a period of colder temperatures and glacier readvance which occurred around 12,900-11,500 years ago, at the end of the last ice age. This is one of the best segments of the near-continuous end moraine system which extends around the southern end of Loch Lomond from Conic Hill to Glen Fruin, in the type area after which the Loch Lomond Stadial and Loch Lomond Readvance are named. Important evidence for the Loch Lomond Readvance is also evident by comparing the different types of glacial deposits, landforms and different soils inside (north of) and outside (south of) the end moraine. For example, the glacial landforms to the south have a flatter relief because they have been subjected to erosion by rain, wind and frost action for longer. The compact assemblage of meltwater channels, hummocky glacial deposits and an esker (a linear ridge of sand and gravel deposited by a glacial river) all enhance the geological interest of this nationally important site.

Plant communities

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa

A14 — Fast flowing river and stream

Myriophyllum alterniflorum community

Isolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina

A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community

Berula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans

A18 — Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus fluitans community

Fontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea