Black Wood of Rannoch

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 56.6673, -4.3710

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Also within

Perth and Kinross County Loch Rannoch and Glen Lyon Scenic Area 10. Breadalbane - Schiehallion Wild Land Area

Condition (NatureScot)

Favourable (6) Unfavourable Declining (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Breeding bird assemblage Favourable — 2005-03-31
F2 Dragonfly assemblage Favourable — 2017-12-18
F3 Invertebrate assemblage Favourable — 2016-02-03
F4 Fungi assemblage Favourable — 2016-02-03
F5 Lichen assemblage Favourable — 2016-01-25
F6 Native pinewood Favourable — 2007-02-13
F7 Upland birch woodland Unfavourable Declining — 2012-01-20

Habitats

Caledonian forest

Description

BLACK WOOD OF RANNOCH The Black Wood of Rannoch is in highland Perthshire on the southern side of Loch Rannoch some 12km to the west of Kinloch Rannoch. It is a remnant of the once extensive native Caledonian pine and birch woods of Scotland. The long history of woodland cover and aged nature of the pine and birch woods have sustained conditions suitable for a range of plants, animals and birds rarely found in other woods. The Black Wood is important in particular for its lichens, fungi, birds and invertebrates. The canopy consists principally of native pine and birch with typical ground flora communities of acid heath plants. The Black Wood is the most extensive area of relict Caledonian pine forest in Perthshire and an example of the genetically distinct Central group of native pinewoods. It supports a varied range of highland woodland, upland and open water breeding bird species, including several uncommon species. The margins of open water and the shelter of the extensive woodlands provide a variety of conditions which are of value to dragonflies for feeding and breeding. These include an number of rarer species found only in northern Britain, for example the northern emerald Somatochlora arctica and the azure hawker Aeshna caerulea. Ancient pine and birch trees with dead wood of varying ages, some standing, some fallen, provide niches for a wide selection of other invertebrates: moths, beetles, spiders and flies. This site has the largest number of very rare insects of any Scottish site outwith Speyside and is the prime example of the outstanding insect fauna of the Tummel- Garry valley system. The Black Wood supports important communities of lichens and fungi species characteristic of old pinewoods, for example the nationally rare fungus Scarlet Splash Cytidia salicina. The nature of the site with distinct pine and birch dominated areas has produced a quality of lichen flora in the pinewoods close to that of the best in Scotland while the ancient birch stands to the west of the site are a major feature for lichens in the Black Wood.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
azure hawker Aeshna caerulea VU dragonfly aeshnidae
northern emerald Somatochlora arctica NT dragonfly cordulidae

Plant communities

W11 — Altantic hazel wood, Atlantic oak wood, Caledonian forest, Upland birch wood, Wood pasture

Quercus petraea-Betula pubescens-Oxalis acetosella woodland

Acer campestre, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Larix decidua, Sorbus aucuparia, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Juniperus communis, Vaccinium myrtillus, Cytisus scoparius, Crataegus monogyna, Rubus saxatilis, Carex pilulifera, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula pilosa, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium affine, Plagiomnium undulatum, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Cirriphyllum piliferum, Eurhynchium striatum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Loeskeobryum brevirostre, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Polytrichum longisetum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila asplenioides, Plagiochila spinulosa, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Campanula rotundifolia, Lonicera periclymenum, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Stellaria holostea, Pyrola minor, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Lathyrus montanus, Geranium robertianum, Hypericum pulchrum, Ajuga reptans, Teucrium scorodonia, Convallaria majalis, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Rumex acetosa, Lysimachia nemorum, Primula vulgaris, Trientalis europaea, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Thelypteris limbosperma, Athyrium filix-femina

W17 — Altantic hazel wood, Atlantic oak wood, Caledonian forest, Upland birch wood, Wood pasture

Quercus petraea-Betula pubescens-Dicranum majus woodland

Hedera helix, Salix caprea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sorbus aucuparia, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Juniperus communis, Rhododendron ponticum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Crataegus monogyna, Carex pilulifera, Luzula multiflora, Luzula pilosa, Luzula sylvatica, Andreaea rupestris, Mnium hornum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranodontium denudatum, Dicranum fuscescens, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Dicranum scottianum, Leucobryum glaucum, Ptychomitrium polyphyllum, Racomitrium fasciculare, Racomitrium heterostichum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Eurhynchium striatum, Heterocladium heteropterum, Hylocomiastrum umbratum, Hylocomium armoricum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Loeskeobryum brevirostre, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sematophyllum demissum, Sematophyllum micans, Thuidium delicatulum, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fimbriatum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum subnitens, Tetraphis pellucida, Adelanthus decipiens, Anastrepta orcadensis, Barbilophozia attenuata, Barbilophozia floerkei, Bazzania tricrenata, Bazzania trilobata, Blepharostoma trichophyllum, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Diplophyllum albicans, Frullania tamarisci, Fuscocephaloziopsis lunulifolia, Harpanthus scutatus, Jamesoniella autumnalis, Jungermannia gracillima, Lepidozia pearsonii, Lepidozia reptans, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophocolea heterophylla, Lophozia ventricosa, Marsupella emarginata, Microlejeunea ulicina, Mylia taylorii, Nowellia curvifolia, Plagiochila asplenioides, Plagiochila atlantica, Plagiochila killarniensis, Plagiochila porelloides, Plagiochila punctata, Plagiochila spinulosa, Ptilidium ciliare, Saccogyna viticulosa, Scapania gracilis, Scapania nemorea, Scapania umbrosa, Tritomaria exsectiformis, Tritomaria quinquedentata, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia digitata, Cladonia furcata, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia polydactyla, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia squamules, Cladonia subcervicornis, Parmelia saxatilis, Sphaerophorus fragilis, Sphaerophorus globosus, Solidago virgaurea, Lonicera periclymenum, Succisa pratensis, Cornus suecica, Hypericum pulchrum, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Goodyera repens, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Lysimachia nemorum, Trientalis europaea, Anemone nemorosa, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Poa nemoralis, Poa pratensis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris aemula, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Hymenophyllum tunbrigense, Hymenophyllum wilsonii, Polypodium vulgare, Thelypteris limbosperma, Athyrium filix-femina

W18 — Caledonian forest, Wet woodland

Pinus sylvestris-Hylocomium splendens woodland

Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Larix decidua, Picea abies, Picea sitchensis, Pinus sylvestris, Sorbus aucuparia, Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Juniperus communis, Vaccinium myrtillus, Luzula multiflora, Luzula pilosa, Aulacomnium palustre, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum fuscescens, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Polytrichum juniperinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum russowii, Anastrepta orcadensis, Barbilophozia floerkei, Bazzania trilobata, Calypogeia muelleriana, Calypogeia trichomanis, Diplophyllum albicans, Lepidozia reptans, Lophocolea bidentata, Scapania gracilis, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia cornuta, Cladonia digitata, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia macilenta, Cladonia pyxidata, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Goodyera repens, Neottia cordata, Oxalis acetosella, Trientalis europaea, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum

W19 — Caledonian forest

Juniperus communis ssp. communis-Oxalis acetosella woodland

Betula pubescens, Sorbus aucuparia, Calluna vulgaris, Juniperus communis, Vaccinium myrtillus, Rubus saxatilis, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Carex pilulifera, Luzula multiflora, Luzula pilosa, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium affine, Plagiomnium rostratum, Plagiomnium undulatum, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Cirriphyllum piliferum, Hylocomiastrum umbratum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Isothecium alopecuroides, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium succulentum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Barbilophozia barbata, Barbilophozia hatcheri, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophozia ventricosa, Plagiochila porelloides, Scapania gracilis, Cladonia pyxidata, Adoxa moschatellina, Cardamine flexuosa, Campanula rotundifolia, Cerastium fontanum, Stellaria holostea, Pyrola media, Pyrola minor, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Mercurialis perennis, Lathyrus montanus, Geranium sylvaticum, Epilobium montanum, Neottia cordata, Oxalis acetosella, Veronica officinalis, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Trientalis europaea, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Fragaria vesca, Geum rivale, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla sterilis, Rubus idaeus, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Galium verum, Melanpyrum pratense, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Phegopteris connectilis, Thelypteris limbosperma, Gymnocarpium dryopteris