Den of Finella

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 56.7883, -2.3746

Condition (NatureScot)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Upland mixed ash woodland Favourable 2013-03-20

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Coastal

Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine · Rock Type: Sandstone

Landscape processes: Coastal, Fluvial

Description

DEN OF FINELLA The Den of Finella, a small wooded gorge, is located about 10 km north of Montrose, close to the east coast. The woodland in the gorge has a canopy of mixed broad-leaved trees and a luxuriant field layer flora in which ferns and tall herbs predominate. The rocks exposed in the den are andesites of Old Red Sandstone age, which weather to give base-rich soils. Among the more notable plants found here are Hart’s-tongue fern Asplenium scolopendrium, wood garlic Allium ursinum, pendulous sedge Carex pendula, hard shield-fern Polystichum aculeatum and wood false-brome Brachypodium sylvaticum.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
hart's-tongue fern Asplenium scolopendrium LC fern aspleniaceae
hard shield-fern Polystichum aculeatum LC fern dryopteridaceae
wood false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum LC grass poaceae
ramson Allium ursinum LC herb liliaceae
pendulous sedge Carex pendula LC sedge cyperaceae