Bigholms Burn
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Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Quaternary of Scotland | Favourable | — | 2013-09-30 |
Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
Peat habitats store centuries of carbon and depend on a stable, waterlogged water table. Warmer, drier summers dry out peat, making it far more vulnerable to wildfire and to carbon release — a pressure that can undo years of restoration work regardless of how well the site is otherwise managed.
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Quaternary · Rock Type: Glacial Till
Landscape processes: Glacial, Peatland / Mire
Description
BIGHOLMS BURN Bigholms Burn which lies 6km southwest of Langholm provides critical biostratigraphic and lithostratigraphic evidence for interpreting environmental conditions in southwest Scotland during the Devensian late-glacial and early Flandrian. Exposed blanket peat on the site has been used in the study of environmental conditions which prevailed in the area 8-13,000 years ago. This coincided with the end of the last Ice Age and subsequent warming of the local area. The lowest parts of the site are made up of material deposited by retreating glaciers. The upper surface of this glacial till was affected by the action of frost, resulting in these layers being unstable. Above this, a layer of blanket peat, up to 2m thick has accumulated, suggesting conditions since the retreat of the glaciers have been cool and wet. Peat and organic materials, such as pollen and fossilised beetles can be used to age and provide information on the plants and animals found in the area as the deposits were being laid down. Taken together with the evidence from several other sites, that from Bigholms Burn provides a significant contribution to the comprehensive reconstruction of late-glacial environments in south-west Scotland. Subsequent early Flandrian vegetation changes are recorded in the overlying blanket peat. Bigholms Burn is therefore a key site for Quaternary studies in Scotland.