Kennacraig and Esragan Burn

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 56.4608, -5.2523

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Also within

Argyll and Bute County 09. Loch Etive mountains Wild Land Area

Condition (NatureScot)

Unfavourable No Change (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Upland oak woodland Unfavourable No Change — 2005-03-31

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.

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine

Landscape processes: Coastal, Fluvial

Description

KENNACRAIG AND ESRAGAN BURN Kennacraig and Esragan Burn Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is situated near Bonawe, approximately 8 km east of Connel on the west coast of Scotland. The boundary of the SSSI encompasses two separate woodlands which lie on a moderately steep slope above the northern shore of Loch Etive, and along the steep sided gorge of the River Esragan. These woodlands have remained relatively undisturbed and together represent some of the oldest woodland in the Lorn district. Within the two woodland compartments oak and birch are the dominant canopy species with mature, even aged sessile oak occurring on the lower slopes and downy birch dominating the upper woodland margins. Along the river valleys mature ash and alder also occur in the canopy with rowan, hazel and holly present in the shrub layer. The ground flora is typically mossy with scattered tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa, sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, wavy hair grass Deschampsia flexuosa, wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella, common tormentil Potentilla erecta and great woodrush Luzula sylvatica. However along streams and in flushes the ground flora is richer with meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, valerian Valeriana officinalis, primrose Primula vulgaris, bugle Ajuga reptans, yellow pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum, dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis and woodruff Galium odoratum growing in these localities. The SSSI also supports rich assemblages of oceanic mosses, liverworts and lichens. Most of Kennacraig and Esragan Burn SSSI is part of the Loch Etive Woods Special Area of Conservation (SAC), which is designated for the European habitats and species listed below. Habitats: Alder woodland on floodplains Mixed woodland on base-rich soils associated with rocky slopes Western acidic oak woodland Otter (Lutra lutra)

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
otter Lutra lutra LC carnivore mustelidae
sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum LC grass poaceae
tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa LC grass poaceae
wavy hair grass Deschampsia flexuosa Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
bugle Ajuga reptans LC herb lamiaceae
meadow sweet Filipendula ulmaria LC herb rosaceae
woodruff Galium odoratum LC herb rubiaceae
yellow pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum LC herb primulaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella LC herb oxalidaceae
tormentil Potentilla erecta LC herb rosaceae
primrose Primula vulgaris LC herb primulaceae
common valerian Valeriana officinalis LC herb caprifoliaceae
great wood rush Luzula sylvatica LC rush juncaceae

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