Upper Nethan Valley Woods

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 55.6908, -3.8830

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Also within

Lanarkshire County

Condition (NatureScot)

Unfavourable Declining (2)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Upland mixed ash woodland Unfavourable Declining — 2024-08-15
F2 Wet woodland Unfavourable Declining — 2024-08-15

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Description

Upper Nethan Valley Woods Upper Nethan Valley Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) covers two sections of riverine/gorge woodland along the River Nethan north east of Blackwood. These woodlands contain good examples of upland mixed ash woodland and slope alderwood on the wet, base-enriched mid and lower valley sides. The level ground at the bottom of the gorge supports base-rich springline alderwoods which are also an unusual woodland habitat type in South Lanarkshire. The drier slopes of the gorge support ash-elm woodland with areas dominated by oak. Secondary birch-dominated deciduous woodland is a feature of disturbed areas with herb-rich grassland within clearings.

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