Bothwell Castle Grounds

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 55.8081, -4.0927

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Also within

Lanarkshire County

Condition (NatureScot)

Favourable (1) Unfavourable Declining (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Invertebrate assemblage Favourable — 2018-09-27
F2 Upland mixed ash woodland Unfavourable Declining — 2018-03-16

Habitats

Ancient woodland, Fast flowing river and stream

Description

BOTHWELL CASTLE GROUNDS Bothwell Castle Grounds SSSI lies to the west of Bothwell and includes land on either side of the River Clyde. The site comprises an outstanding example of semi-natural deciduous woodland and supports an important invertebrate assemblage. The woodland areas support a mixture of oak, ash and rowan dominated areas on the drier parts, with an alder and ash mixture on some of the flushed areas. Elm and birch also form important components of the canopy. The shrub layer is provided by grey willow, goat willow, hazel, bird cherry, elder and hawthorn. The ground flora is rich and representative of long established ancient semi-natural woodland. The variety of habitat conditions present within the site has created conditions favourable for an important invertebrate assemblage, especially saproxylic species associated with old or dead wood, fungi growing on dead wood and sap runs. The site supports a number of Nationally Scarce beetle and fly species, including the beetles Cerylon fagi, Hallomenus binotatus, Enicmus rugosus and the flies Brachyopa insensilis, Aulacigaster leucopeza and Periscelis sp. Some of the adult forms of these species feed in flower-rich grassland within the site, e.g. the fungus beetle Hallomenus binotatus. Others, such as the weevil Coeliodes ruber, will also make use of the regenerating woodland areas.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
no common name Cerylon fagi Not listed in GB list beetle cerylonidae
no common name Hallomenus binotatus LC beetle tetratomidae

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