Inverneil Burn

Also within

Argyll and Bute County

Condition (NatureScot)

Climate exposure

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

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine

Landscape processes: Fluvial, Peatland / Mire

Description

INVERNEIL BURN Inverneil Burn is located on the eastern side of Knapdale, 5km south of Ardrishaig. The site qualifies as a SSSI for its woodland habitat as well as bryophyte and lichen assemblages. The gorge woodland is similar to that found further north at Corrieshalloch and Alt nan Carnan in Wester Ross. Inverneil Gorge however exhibits the best known example of the southern variant of this woodland type in Scotland. The gorge woodland is dominated by ash and elm on the steeper slopes and well-grown birch and oak on the more level ground. hazel, rowan and alder are locally common throughout the woodland. The woodland ground cover has a rich variety of herbaceous plants. The humid ravine is cut through basic rocks which provides conditions for rich and diverse bryophyte communities. Two hundred and thirty-six species of bryophyte have been recorded in the ravine, which accounts for just over one fifth of the British bryophyte flora. Twenty-three of these species are typical of oceanic conditions, particularly those associated with more basic rocks like Plagiochila killarniensis, Metzgeria leptoneura and Marchesinia mackaii. Three species are notably scarce; Gymnostomum calcareum and Scapania aequiloba from the calcareous rocks in the ravine and Tritomaria exsecta from rotting logs. In addition there are good Atlantic epiphytic communities. The lichen flora of the gorge is a particularly species rich example of that found in Atlantic woodlands where the air is clean and oceanic climate is wet with relatively cool summers and mild winters. The presence of both acidic and basic rocks within the woodland and range of tree species present, particularly hazel and ash, provide a wide variety of habitats for lichen species. Two hundred and fifty-five species of lichens have been recorded within the site. Thirty-five of these species are nationally scarce and three are nationally rare in the UK, including Arthothelium macounii and Opegrapha brevis. The lichen assemblage has been graded as of Regional Importance There is additional interest in the transition into grassland and base-rich mire at the upper end of the site where the burn passes over an abrupt step down into the ravine.

Species mentioned