Fiddler Gill

Also within

Lanarkshire County

Condition (NatureScot)

Description

FIDDLER GILL Fiddler Gill, lying approximately 2.5 km south of Carluke contains one of the best examples of undisturbed, semi-natural deciduous woodland in Lanarkshire and also supports a diverse assemblage of beetles. The woodland is dominated by ash and elm along the Fiddler Burn with areas of the eastern bank dominated by mature oak. Where the soils become more acidic birch is present with wetter areas supporting alder. hazel is a common feature of the woodland understorey. The principal botanical interest of the woodland is centred upon the variety of woodland plant communities which have developed on soil types ranging from base-rich through to acid. The rich ground flora includes herb Paris Paris quadrifolia, bird’s-nest orchid Neottia nidus-avis and broad-leaved helleborine Epipactis helleborine. Micro-climatic conditions in the sheltered, south-facing embayment at the western end of the site are favourable for a diverse assemblage of woodland beetles (Coleoptera). The site is especially important for saproxylic species, associated with old or dead wood and fungi growing on dead wood. The site supports the Nationally Rare minute fungus beetle Orthoperus brunnipes together with three Nationally Scarce beetle species, Cerylon fagi, Tetratoma ancora and Orchesia minor. The woodland also harbours a number of species normally only found in old Caledonian pinewoods.

Species mentioned