Loch Beannach Islands

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 58.1880, -5.1621

Condition (NatureScot)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Upland birch woodland Favourable 2010-03-30

Description

Loch Beannach Islands Loch Beannach Islands Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) comprises the eastern half of Loch Beannach, approximately 6km northeast of Lochinver, Sutherland. This site is nationally important for the birch woodland on eight islands within Loch Beannach. The islands of Loch Beannach support birch-rowan woodland with an unusually diverse ground flora. The woodland canopy is dominated by birch Betula pubescens and rowan Sorbus aucuparia with aspen, holly and a shoreline fringe of alder Alnus glutinosa. Juniper Juniperus communis occurs on some of the islands and the brown earth soils support a comparatively rich flora including bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, red campion Silene dioica, climbing corydalis Ceratocapnos claviculata, herb robert Geranium robertianum, wild angelica Angelica sylvestris and hay-scented buckler-fern Dryopteris aemula.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
hay-scented fern Dryopteris aemula LC fern dryopteridaceae
wild angelica Angelica sylvestris LC herb apiaceae
climbing corydalis Ceratocapnos claviculata LC herb papaveraceae
herb Robert Geranium robertianum LC herb geraniaceae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
red campion Silene dioica LC herb carophyllaceae
juniper Juniperus communis CR shrub cupressaceae
alder Alnus glutinosa LC tree salicaceae
downy birch Betula pubescens LC tree betulaceae
rowan Sorbus aucuparia LC tree rosaceae