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GALLOWAY WOODS |
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Total site surface area (ha)
: 355 Other protection status :
Galloway Woods incorporates 4 component Sites of Special
Scientific Interest; Glentrool Oakwoods, Wood of Cree, Castramon Wood
and Killiegowan Wood. The
project includes works on Glentrool Oakwoods. Scientific description of site
: Glentrool Oakwoods is a
group of sessile oak Quercus
petraea woods surrounding Loch Trool and extending up the cleughs
(small stream gorges) of Buchan Burn and Caldons Burn.
They are a relict of the once extensive upland oak woods in this
area. The site shows
variation in the tree cover, with some areas dominated by oak, birch Betula
pubescens and alder Alnus
glutinosa. These
reflect differences in the underlying soils which are mainly boulder
clay or peaty gley soils. Hazel
Corylus avellana, rowan
Sorbus aucuparia, holly Ilex
aquifolium together with open glades, grasslands, gorges and
freshwater marsh add further diversity.
The woods are particularly rich in lichens such as lungworts and
the stream sides and gorges are inportant for rare oceanic mosses and
liverworts. These shaded
humid areas also hold rare plants including serrated wintergreen and
Wilson’s filmy fern. The site is designated
at National and EU-level. At
a regional level it provides a pure local gene pool for tree, shrub and
associated species of what was a much more widespread habitat in the
past. Threats : Threat 6:
Overgrazing by deer
Deer browsing is
preventing regeneration both within existing fenced enclosures which
require repair and to seedlings outside the fenced areas. High deer numbers reduce understorey development, prevent
regeneration and reduce the diversity of native tree populations.
It can also have a detrimental effect on the groundflora
communities and damage existing trees through bark stripping and damage.
Native deer species are however a natural component of woodlands and at
low levels (4-6
deer/100ha), deer browsing can play a part in habitat diversification
and maintenance. Impact on habitat Threat 7:
Displacement or restriction of native woodland by planted exotic
coniferous woodland Conifer plantations
created under earlier forest policies were planted immediately around
the oakwood site restricting natural expansion or gradation into other
semi-natural habitats. Conifer plantations displace native trees, shade
out native flora, alter soil conditions and contribute to the isolation
of woodland habitat. Impact on habitat
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