Portencross Woods
Also within
Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Upland mixed ash woodland | Unfavourable No Change | — | 2024-08-15 |
Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
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
Geology & landscape
Landscape processes: Coastal
Description
Portencross Woods Portencross Woods is situated approximately 3.5km north west of West Kilbride and comprises a woodland stretching from Goldenberry in the north to Portencross in the south. This site represents one of the best examples of semi-natural coastal woodland in North Ayrshire. The botanically-rich mixed deciduous woodland is situated on steep-sided maritime cliffs. It is predominantly ash/elm along the base, with smaller areas of oak/birch higher up and gorse/bracken on the tops of the cliffs. The nationally scarce rock whitebeam is found within the partially vegetated cliffs. There are also very small patches of alder to the south of the site, and small patches of aspen on exposed rock faces. Other dominant species in the understorey include hawthorn, elder, hazel and blackthorn occurs where the canopy is more open. The ground flora is diverse and indicative of undisturbed woodland cover. The woodland is also rich in bryophytes and lichens, including the nationally scare lichen Usnea wasmuthii, and nationally scarce fungus that grows on lichens – Sphinctrina turbinata.
Species mentioned
Show the 1 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| broom beard lichen | Usnea wasmuthii | LC | lichen | no common name |
Plant communities
W25 — Bracken scrub
Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub
Show 53 indicator speciesHedera 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