North Esk and West Water Palaeochannels

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 56.8017, -2.6316

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Also within

Angus County

Condition (NatureScot)

Favourable (2)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Fluvial Geomorphology of Scotland Favourable — 2015-02-18
F2 Quaternary of Scotland Favourable — 2009-04-30

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Quaternary

Landscape processes: Fluvial, Glacial

Description

North Esk and West Water Palaeochannels There are three parts to this site, all within 3km of the town of Edzell; two located to the west and one to the south east. The western most part is bounded on two sides by the West Water, which also dissects the middle part of the SSSI. The eastern most part of the SSSI is bounded by the River North Esk. This site provides an excellent example of an assemblage of Quaternary (Ice Age) and fluvial (river) landforms formed at the end of the last glaciation. It includes meltwater channels, moraines and a particularly fine example of sandur (glacial outwash plain) sediments which have been dissected to form four main terrace systems. The site also demonstrates three types of palaeochannel (relict river channels) associated with different fluvial processes on a single terrace surface. Each of the terrace systems exhibit well-developed, braided palaeochannel networks. The individual terraces are also locally incised by relatively well defined, low gradient, sinuous channels and conspicuous meander scars. In addition, there are deeper, wider channels, possibly cut by meltwaters draining off stagnant ice, and clear inter-terrace changes in palaeochannel form. As well as demonstrating landforms of deglaciation, the site therefore reveals the altering river processes and channel changes that occurred during and following the melting of the last ice sheet.

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