West Loch Lomondside Woodlands

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 56.0994, -4.6589

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Also within

Dunbartonshire County LochLomond National Park National Park Loch Lomond Scenic Area

Condition (NatureScot)

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

Habitats

Bracken scrub, Fast flowing river and stream

Description

West Loch Lomondside Woodlands West Loch Lomondside Woodlands Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is comprised of four woodland compartments located adjacent to the A82, on the east-facing slopes above Loch Lomond between Luss and Stuckgowan. The SSSI includes extensive areas of upland oakwood, typical of much of those found throughout Loch Lomondside. However, within West Loch Lomondside Woodlands SSSI there is a greater diversity of woodland types due to the variety of soils, aspect, land use history and management on the western shores of Loch Lomond. Much of the woodland is fairly open which, unlike the woodlands on the east side of the loch or on the main islands, provides scope for the expansion of the woodlands back up the western slopes. Within the SSSI, ancient oak woodland typically dominates the canopy on the lower slopes and more free draining areas, while birch woodland becomes dominant on the higher slopes, reaching an elevation over 200m. In the wetter parts of the SSSI stands of alder woodland can be found while ash and wych elm occur in the stream gorges. The shrub layer of the SSSI is relatively sparse however hazel, holly and rowan occur locally. In the open areas and woodland glades bracken dominates the field layer. However in the wooded areas various grasses and herbs such as wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella, common dog violet Viola riviniana, lesser celandine Ficaria verna, primrose Primula vulgaris and dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis, occur in the field layer. Lemon-scented fern is frequent throughout the SSSI and beech fern Phegopteris connectilis, oak fern Gymnocarpium dryopteris and Wilson’s filmy fern Hymenophyllum wilsonii are also present. Amongst the bryophyte community oceanic species are well represented within the SSSI.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
oak fern Gymnocarpium dryopteris NT fern woodsiaceae
Wilson's filmy-fern Hymenophyllum wilsonii VU fern hymenophyllaceae
beech fern Phegopteris connectilis LC fern thelypteridaceae
lesser celandine Ficaria verna LC herb ranunculaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella LC herb oxalidaceae
primrose Primula vulgaris LC herb primulaceae
common dog violet Viola riviniana LC herb violaceae

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

W25 — Bracken scrub

Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub

Hedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Luzula multiflora, Mnium hornum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Potentilla erecta, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium saxatile, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas