The Reserve Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve

The Reserve Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Foreword Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve (NNR) is the largest and least disturbed lowland raised bog in the Lothians and is an important site in both UK and European terms. It is situated northwest of Blackridge in Central Scotland, north of Junction 4 of the Edinburgh - Glasgow M8 motorway. In this document we will outline how we propose to manage Blawhorn Moss NNR during the next six years. We welcome your views on these proposals. The proposals are divided into four sections, and at the end of each section there are questions inviting your comments. These questions are repeated on the feedback form at the end of this document. Please return this form to us with your comments. The first section of the Proposals gives our 25-year vision for Blawhorn Moss, describing how we would like to see it in 2033. The second section outlines our proposals for managing the natural heritage; there is limited scope to change such management as it is driven by the requirements of the site’s national and European designations. The main achievement we are looking for will be an increase in the water table and improvement in the overall flora and fauna. The third section outlines our management for people. Here we would very much like to know what you think of the facilities on the Reserve and any suggestions you have for improvements. Blawhorn Moss is a NNR, so your suggestions must take account of our NNR policy that nature comes first. We will focus on improving the quality of the experience visitors to the NNR have. The fourth section briefly describes how we propose to manage the property, such as the fences, signs and boardwalks. The consultation for the Proposals runs for 12 weeks from 14 July 2008 until 10 October 2008. When we have received everyone’s comments we will compile a report which we will use to amend our Proposals and draw up the final Reserve Plan. The Plan should be available by the end of December 2008. Before commenting on the Proposals, you may wish to read the Reserve Story, which has more detailed information about the Reserve. The Reserve Story explains about the key natural heritage interests on the NNR and outlines how these are protected by law under various national and international designations. The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 For further information on Blawhorn National Nature Reserve please contact: Scottish Natural Heritage, Laundry House, Dalkeith Country Park, Dalkeith, Midlothian, EH22 2NA Telephone 0131 654 2466 Fax: 0131 654 2477 Email: dalkeith@snh.gov.uk ii The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Contents Foreword Maps of Blawhorn Moss NNR 1 2 3 4 The Vision for Blawhorn Moss NNR Natural Heritage Management, Research and Demonstration Management for People Property Management i iv 1 3 11 19 22 24 27 Appendix 1 – National Nature Reserves (NNR) Appendix 2 – Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) Appendix 3 – Sites Of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) iii The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Maps of Blawhorn Moss NNR Location Maps Boundary of Blawhorn Moss NNR iv The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 1 Our Vision for Blawhorn Moss NNR Blawhorn Moss is a lowland raised mire which has been extensively drained in the past. However, despite the past attempts at drainage, the mire remains relatively intact. After SNH purchased the western part of the Moss in 1979, we were able to begin a major programme of work to fully restore the hydrology of the Moss by blocking ditches and drains and by removing any trees and shrubs. The western part of Blawhorn Moss has been an NNR since 1980. In 2001, the remaining eastern part of the Moss was purchased by SNH to complete ownership and allow us full control of management. Although managed as an NNR, has not been formally declared as such. This will happen in 2008. Now we need to think about management for the future. Our vision paints a picture of how we would like to see the Reserve in 25 years time in 2033. We have formed our management proposals with this vision in mind. The Vision for Blawhorn Moss NNR in 2033 Blawhorn Moss is one of the largest and least disturbed raised bogs in Central Scotland. It has a fully functioning hydrological system which is not compromised by past drainage. Peat is actively forming over the entire mire surface. The bog supports a rich flora and fauna. Bog mosses (Sphagnum spp) indicative of active raised mire are present across the entire Moss, including the drier areas where heather was previously dominant. Areas of land, outwith the current designated boundary but linked to the hydrological unit, are under management and a fully functioning lagg fen has developed around the entire mire surface. Local people and visitors to Central Scotland frequently visit the Reserve. The local community is actively involved with the management and care of the Reserve. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) developed a new policy for NNRs in 1996 (see Appendix 1). The policy states that NNRs must be nationally important for wildlife, managed primarily for nature (primacy of nature) and best practice is followed. The management proposed at Blawhorn Moss will achieve this. The NNR policy also requires the reserve to be used for one or more of three purposes: raising national awareness, specialised management and research and demonstration. Blawhorn Moss will continue to be used for all specialised management and raising national awaremess. 1 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Management objectives Our proposed objectives for managing Blawhorn Moss over the next 6 years are: Section Heritage Management Objectives 1. To fully restore the hydrological unit of the raised mire; 2. To commission, support and encourage appropriate research and survey on the Reserve; 3. To promote Blawhorn Moss as a demonstration site for bog rehabilitation; 4. To enhance the biodiversity of Blawhorn Moss NNR; 5. To provide access and facilities for visitors 6. To enable visitors to enjoy visits to Blawhorn Moss and appreciate the natural heritage of the Reserve 7. To actively promote Blawhorn Moss as a special place to visit 8. To engage the local community in the management of Blawhorn Moss 9. To manage the Reserve responsibly following best practice Management for People Property Management 2 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 2 Natural Heritage Management, Research and Demonstration Blawhorn Moss was first designated as a SSSI in 1971, with re-notifications in 1974 and 1984 as an important example of a lowland raised mire. The international importance of the Moss was acknowledged in 2000 when it was proposed as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC); this status was confirmed in 2005. Our management of Blawhorn Moss has to take account of the features that are important in a European and UK context, as well as those of local importance. These features are listed in Table 1 below. Like many raised mires, Blawhorn Moss has been affected by past land uses particularly by extensive drainage in the 1940s. Small-scale peat cutting also took place in the past around the site’s boundary. Over the past 25 years our management has focused on repairing the damage to the mire. This work is described in the Reserve Story. Blawhorn Moss has been an important site to demonstrate best practice management in restoring the natural hydrology of a raised mire. In terms of SNH’s NNR policy, it fulfils well the purposes of providing specialised management and encouraging research and demonstration. Table 1: Designated and qualifying features of Blawhorn Moss NNR. Designation European Special Area of Conservation UK Site of Special Scientific Interest Local West Lothian Biodiversity Action Plan Active raised bogs Degraded raised bogs still capable of natural regeneration Raised bog Peat bogs 3 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 The Raised Mire Objective 1 To fully restore the hydrological unit of the raised mire Background Over the last 25 years significant progress has been made in blocking the majority of ditches and drains on the Moss using various techniques described in the Reserve Story. As a result of this work, water levels have risen and specialist bog vegetation is present across much of the site. Management and Monitoring Proposals Despite the ongoing management work on the Reserve, some parts of the bog are still drier than we would like. Drier conditions are indicated by the dominance of heather in many areas, particularly to the south. Another indicator is the lack of Sphagnum cuspidatum, a bog moss indicative of waterlogged conditions, which is rare across the site. There are two active drains in the centre of the Moss which we believe are still having a significant effect on the hydrology. The size and gradient of the large central ditch has led us to look at an engineering solution to block it. The engineer’s report will be available in 2008 and we hope to implement its conclusions as soon as possible thereafter. We will also investigate the possibilities of an innovative technique of filling the ditch with an inert material such as silica to further impede water flow off the site and provide a medium for Sphagnum growth. The other main ditch already has a series of dams and we will continue to maintain these. Across the entire site we will, in the lifetime of this plan, seek to block all remaining drains on the Moss. On drier parts of the site, where it is possible to access safely with machinery, we will block all remaining drains with peat dams. On the wetter parts of the site we will continue to block drains with sheet piling. Tree and scrub growth on mires can result in significant water loss through evapotranspiration (water lost to the atmosphere from the ground surface and plants). There are now only two discrete areas of trees left on the Moss: a small plantation of Scots pine along the northwest boundary and an area of willow carr in the central part of the site. These two areas are unlikely to be having a significant impact on the Moss’s hydrology and there are no plans to remove them. In fact, the willow carr is thought to be a natural feature at a point where the groundwater is more nutrient rich. We will continue to remove seedlings, particularly of birch, Scots pine and sitka spruce by pulling, weed wiping (wiping herbicide directly onto the leaf) and by continuing to graze the site to reduce regeneration. 4 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 The current boundary of the site encompasses the main area of the mire system. However, there are other significant areas of peat, which clearly form part of the same hydrological unit, but are outwith the site boundary. These are shown on the management map. Ideally, these areas should be brought into conservation management to help extend the lagg fen system. This could be achieved by blocking perimeter ditches and any internal ditches on the areas of land identified. Such management work would obviously affect current land management and could only be achieved with the co-operation of neighbouring landowners, either through sale of the land to SNH or through a management scheme. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of management to achieve our objective of fully restoring the hydrological unit in four ways: i) continue with recording water levels through automatic data loggers; ii) carry out SNH’s programme of site condition monitoring; iii) continue with vegetation monitoring of 190 fixed point quadrats; and iv) regular aerial photography coverage. Key projects are to: • implement the recommendations of the engineering report to block the large central ditch; • investigate the possibility of infilling the central ditch; • maintain all existing dams along the second main ditch; • block all smaller drains more effectively; • seek agreement to block perimeter ditches; • seek agreement to manage all surrounding areas of peat; • monitor water levels and analyse data; • monitor the changes in vegetation; • carry out site condition monitoring; • continue to extensively graze the Moss with sheep; and • annually weed wipe and/or pull any tree and shrub saplings. 5 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Blawhorn Moss NNR - Proposed natural heritage management 6 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Research and Survey Objective 2 To commission, support and encourage appropriate research and survey on the Reserve Background Relatively little research has taken place on Blawhorn Moss to date. Most of the existing research has been commissioned by either SNH or our sister organisation, Natural England and has focused on the rehabilitation of the Moss. Management and Monitoring Proposals We will actively encourage further research and survey on the Moss to understand more about its biodiversity, the status, distribution and habitat requirements of species on the Reserve and further research on the rehabilitation of mire systems. We hope to continue the existing good links with the local Oatridge College. Given their close proximity, we hope to develop close links with Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling Universities. We would also like to encourage any group or individual with a natural heritage interest to come and carry out survey or monitoring on the Moss. Examples of projects may be more systematic recording of faunal species and the locations of rare plant species. Key projects are to: • commission essential research, survey and monitoring; and • encourage projects that increase knowledge and understanding of the Moss and especially its management. 7 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Demonstration Objective 3 To promote Blawhorn Moss as a demonstration site for bog rehabilitation Background NNRs are used to demonstrate particular techniques for managing habitats and species, and to try new or innovative management. In the past, SNH has organised a number of site visits to Blawhorn Moss to demonstrate best practice management. Management and Monitoring Proposals Blawhorn Moss is an excellent site to demonstrate practical management techniques on raised mires and to show the improvements from works already undertaken. Our plans for the future include further innovative techniques, such as the use of inert material to infill ditches and an engineered dam, which will be of interest to other site managers of raised mires. Given its location in the central belt of Scotland, Blawhorn Moss is well placed as a very accessible and practical place to run demonstration days and arrange site visits. We would like to encourage groups and individuals to visit the site to learn more about raised mire restoration and function. Key projects are to: • organise demonstration days; • facilitate site visits by interested groups and land managers; and • provide articles for relevant land management publications. 8 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Biodiversity Objective 4 To enhance the biodiversity of Blawhorn Moss NNR Background In addition to the important management of nationally and internationally important raised mire habitats, we would like to undertake some management projects to enhance the local biodiversity of the Reserve. Management and Monitoring Proposals The existing NNR boundary includes half of the water body along the northwest boundary. There is great potential to manage the surrounding land as wet grassland for a range of invertebrates to increase the overall biodiversity of the Reserve. Key projects are to: • seek agreement (either through sale of land or entry into management agreement) to the entire pond and surrounding grassland to provide good habitat for invertebrates, amphibians and waterfowl. 9 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Summary The above proposals for managing the natural heritage at Blawhorn Moss are in line with our vision, our policy for management for nature on NNRs, and the statutory obligations for nationally and internationally important features of interest. ? Do you have any comments about the above proposals? Do you have any suggestions about improving management of the natural heritage on Blawhorn Moss? Do you have suggestions for biodiversity projects? 10 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 3 Management for People People have always been able to visit Blawhorn Moss, but in the past it has been a quiet Reserve with limited access and a low profile. This has largely been due to the site’s fragility, susceptibility to damage if large numbers of people visited and the health and safety issues for walkers accessing a wet moss with deep ditches and some pools. In recent years, however, SNH has put more resources into developing access links to the site and provided a route onto the Moss, making the Reserve an enjoyable and safe place to visit. We estimate that there are 1500 visitors to the NNR each year. Over the last few years we have started to develop facilities for visitors to Blawhorn Moss NNR. We have created a new car park, upgraded paths to the Reserve to ensure they are fully accessible and provided seats and perches. We have provided a circular boardwalk out onto the Moss. In partnership with Blackridge Community Council and Blackridge access group, we have supported the development of a network of paths to connect the Reserve with the village of Blackridge. We hope to further improve our management for people to help Blawhorn Moss NNR fulfil the purpose of raising national awareness. 11 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Access and Facilities Objective 5 To provide access and facilities for visitors Background As described above, there are already a number of facilities for visitors. Our aim over the next few years will be to improve the quality of the signage and information available to visitors. Management and Monitoring Proposals At present, we are not proposing any further development of the path network but would be interested to hear your views on this. Over the years, various signs have been installed on the Reserve itself and at the car park. Some of the signs at the car park are from other organisations and create a cluttered and disjointed welcome to the site. We would like to consolidate all signage at the car park and provide a cohesive and positive welcome to the NNR. We would like to make it easier for local people and visitors to find the Reserve, explore the site and use the path links to the surrounding area. We propose to improve directional signage to the NNR where appropriate and provide a clear orientation map in the car park. There is still a need to advise visitors to the Reserve of the health and safety issues associated with the site, for example advising of the deep ditches, pools, drains and the soft peat. We need to provide clear messages to allow visitors to explore the NNR safely. Key projects are to: • consolidate all signage at the car park; • provide threshold NNR signs to let visitors know they are on an NNR; • provide directional signage to and around the Reserve, indicating path connections to the surrounding area; and • provide clear advisory signs to allow visitors to explore the NNR safely. 12 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Blawhorn Moss NNR – Existing and proposed visitor facilities. 13 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Interpretation and Education Objective 6 To enable visitors to enjoy visits to Blawhorn Moss and appreciate the natural heritage of the Reserve Background Our aim is to enable people to enjoy the natural heritage, understand why the site is special and encourage an ongoing interest in the Reserve and its future. A key part in this is through the provision of effective interpretation and information. In March 2004, in consultation with the residents of Blackridge, we commissioned and produced an interpretation plan. Management and Monitoring Proposals At present, there is very little interpretation on the Reserve. We would now like to implement some of the recommendations of the interpretation strategy. We are considering a number of interpretative panels located at the car park, on the mineral ridge and on the boardwalk. The interpretative panels will be based on the following themes: • Development of the raised mire and the unique plants and animals found here; • The restoration of the raised mire and the various techniques used; • Evidence of restoration and recovery – the different plants and mosses found on the Moss and what they tell us about the level/stage of recovery; • The history of the landscape. Please let us know if these themes are of interest or if you have any other ideas about topics we should consider. We are currently thinking of interpretative panels but again would welcome your ideas for more innovative interpretation. A leaflet about Blawhorn NNR has been produced as part of SNH’s national series of leaflets about Scotland’s NNRs. Following our Disability Discrimination Act audit of the Reserve, when the leaflet is due for reprint, we will make adjustments to the font and colour contrasts to ensure it follows best practice and update the access details. The Reserve has not been greatly used for educational visits in the past because of the limited facilities, difficult access and lack of staff resources. At present, we currently run an annual event for the pupils of Blackridge Primary School and will continue with this in the future. We also host students from Oatridge College who spend a day on the 14 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Reserve looking at Management planning as part of their National Vocational Qualification course in countryside management. We would like to hear if any other local schools or colleges would like to visit the Reserve. We would be interested to hear your views on what would encourage your educational group to visit the Reserve – staff to lead the trip? provision of activities? educational material? availability of funds? Key projects are to: • provide interpretative panels; • reprint and update the leaflet; • arrange an annual event for Blackridge Primary School; and • support other educational visits to the Reserve. 15 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Promotion Objective 7 To actively promote Blawhorn Moss as a special place to visit Background In the past, Blawhorn has maintained a low profile and even today there is little active promotion of the NNR. Management and Monitoring Proposals While we are mindful of the sensitive nature of the Reserve and its vulnerability to large numbers of visitors, we would like to raise the Reserve’s profile both to local people and visitors to central Scotland. At present, we promote Blawhorn Moss through the NNR leaflet and the NNR website (www.nnr-scotland.org.uk). We will ensure that the leaflet is available locally and try to improve the distribution of the leaflet in partnership with the local community and tourism bodies. We will also ensure that information on the NNR website is kept as up to date as possible, reflecting any seasonal changes and updates on management. We will write a series of articles on the Reserve for possible inclusion in relevant publications, for example Outdoor magazines and Sunday newspaper ‘good walks’ or ‘good place to visit wildlife’ sections. We will include Blawhorn Moss as a destination for SNH’s current initiative promoting ‘Health Walks on NNRs.’ We will investigate the possibility of developing an ‘NNR trail for Central Scotland‘ and including Blawhorn Moss as a ‘geocache’ site. Please let us know if you have any ideas about how we can raise the profile of Blawhorn Moss and allow more people to come and enjoy this special place. Key projects are to: • update the NNR website regularly; • improve the distribution of the Blawhorn Moss NNR leaflet; • write articles for inclusion in relevant publications; • investigate the development of an NNR trail in Central Scotland; and • investigate the possibilities of including Blawhorn Moss as a ‘geocache’ site. 16 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Local Communities Objective 8 To engage the local community in the management of Blawhorn Moss Background SNH is committed to encouraging local involvement with NNRs. We are already begun working with the local community of Blackridge over the development of the local path network. The Honorary warden for the Reserve comes from Blackridge and is involved in the Reserve Management group. Management and Monitoring Proposals We feel there are more opportunities for local people to become involved with the management of Blawhorn Moss, perhaps by assisting with some practical work, monitoring or recording. We would like to hear if local people have any ideas before we finalise the plan. Key projects are to: • consult with the local community at Blackridge to find new ways for people to become involved with Blawhorn Moss NNR; • encourage volunteers to participate in surveys, monitoring or practical work; • encourage community groups such as the Blackridge Nature Group to visit the Reserve and facilitate their visits when staff time permits; and • contribute to the local community newsletter with news and reports about the NNR. 17 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Summary We are developing facilities to enable people to visit Blawhorn Moss safely and gain a better understanding of this special place. We are hoping to improve the signage and interpretation on the site. We are not planning any additional paths at this stage but would like to hear your views on this. We will promote the Reserve more widely so more visitors and locals have the opportunity to visit. We would welcome suggestions from the local community and other visitors about ways they could get more involved with caring for this special place. ? Do you have any suggestions about how we can make Blawhorn Moss a better place to visit? Would you like to see more paths? If so, where? What topics would you like the interpretation to cover? Have you any suggestions about how we interpret the site? Would you like to see something other than panels? For education groups – what would make it easier to visit the Reserve? Do you have any ideas about how we can raise the profile of Blawhorn Moss ? Can you suggest any ways to work more closely with the local community? Would you like to be more involved with the management of the Reserve? If so, how? 18 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 4 Property Management We own Blawhorn Moss, so we are responsible for maintaining the property, including the land and infrastructure. The boundary of the Reserve is fenced and we share the responsibility for march fences with our neighbours. Blawhorn Moss does not have a full time Reserve manager, so the Area Officer for West Lothian manages the site. The practical management of the Reserve is undertaken under contract. Currently, this is let to David Brown Contracts. 19 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Property Objective 9 To manage the Reserve responsibly following best practice Background There are no buildings on the Reserve, but we maintain the visitor facilities: the car park, path network, signs and the boardwalk. Management and Monitoring Proposals We have a Safety Policy statement and Fire Plan for the Reserve. We carry out quarterly systematic site safety inspection checks to ensure all the facilities – paths, boardwalks, bridges, seats - are safe, and carry out the necessary repairs and maintenance. Stock fences are checked on a more regular basis and repaired as necessary. Dams will be maintained as part of our ongoing management programme. We will liaise with our neighbours who assist with the management of the Reserve through grazing with stock. Work on the property must follow good practice and comply with natural heritage legislation. Key projects are to: • carry out site safety inspections on a quarterly basis, carrying out any maintenance and repairs as necessary; • liaise with neighbours; • ensure management of the property conforms to all Health and Safety regulations, including carrying out risk assessments and updating fire plans; • ensure the management of the property complies with the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act and the 1995 Habitat regulations; and • ensure that all land management exceeds the standards required for the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. 20 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Summary The property management at Blawhorn Moss relates mainly to the maintenance of the infrastructure and ensuring the site meets the required standards for relevant regulations. ? Have you any suggestions about how we could improve the property management at Blawhorn Moss? 21 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Appendix 1 – National Nature Reserves (NNR) Scotland's National Nature Reserves are special places for nature, where many of the best examples of Scotland’s natural heritage are protected. Nature comes first on our NNRs (referred to as primacy of nature). These Reserves also offer special opportunities for people to enjoy and find out about the richness of our natural heritage. National Nature Reserves (NNRs) are declared under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 or the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. A new policy for National Nature Reserves in Scotland was developed in 1996. This policy requires NNRs in Scotland to have four attributes, and to be managed for one or more of the three purposes. The attributes are: • Primacy of nature. The needs of nature will be placed at the heart of decisions about land use and management of our NNRs, and nature conservation will be the overriding land use, although it may not be the sole purpose of management. • National importance. It must be of national importance that the NNR be managed as a nature reserve, for the protection of geological features, habitats or species found there. • Best practice management. NNRs must be well managed, not only to safeguard the nature conservation interests, but also to provide for people’s enjoyment and understanding. • Continuity of management. Both research and management on NNRs require us to take a long-term view, so it is important that management continuity is assured. The purposes are: • National awareness of NNRs – on these reserves people can take pride in the natural heritage ‘on display’ and come to understand it better and enjoy it to the full. • Specialised management of NNRs - the character of the interest requires specialised and proactive management that is best delivered by a nature reserve. • Research-related NNRs - These NNRs will offer opportunities for research into the natural heritage and its management that specifically require a nature reserve location and which are not available elsewhere. Between 2000 – 2003, all of Scotland’s National Nature Reserves were reviewed against this policy. As a result of the review there are now 55 National Nature Reserves in Scotland. 22 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 More information can be found at: National Nature Reserves http://www.nnr-scotland.org.uk Scotland’s National Nature Reserves: A policy statement http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/polstat/nnrpolcy.pdf 23 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Appendix 2 – Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) Special Areas of Conservation are areas designated under the European Community Council Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and Wild Fauna and Flora (92/43/EEC), commonly known as the Habitats Directive. Together with Special Protection Areas, which are designated under the Wild Birds Directive for wild birds and their habitats, SACs form the Natura 2000 network of sites. The Natura 2000 network is designed to conserve natural habitats and species of animals and plants which are rare, endangered or vulnerable in the European Community. Appendixes I and II of the Habitats Directive list the habitats and (non-bird) species respectively for which SACs are selected. In Great Britain the Directive was transposed into domestic legislation via the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994, which are relevant to Special Protection Areas (SPAs) as well as SACs. Natura sites are generally underpinned by the SSSI mechanism in the terrestrial environment, although there are a few exceptions where other management measures are employed. The Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department Circular No. 6/1995 (Revised June 2000) on the Habitats and Birds Directives gives further details of how the Regulations apply in Scotland. SNH acts as the advisor to Government in proposing selected sites for ministerial approval as possible SACs. SNH then consults with key parties over the site proposals on behalf of Scottish Ministers. The consultees, who include owners and occupiers of land, local authorities and other interested parties, are sent details of the proposed site boundaries and the habitats and/or species for which they qualify. SNH also negotiates the longer-term management of these sites. Following consultation, SNH forwards all responses to Scottish Ministers who then make a decision about whether to submit the site to the European Commission as a candidate SAC. Once submission of all candidate sites is completed, the Commission, together with Member States, will consider the site series across Europe as a whole. At this stage sites which are adopted by the Commission become Sites of Community Importance (SCIs), after which they can be finally designated as Special Areas of Conservation by national governments. The following websites provide further information: Special Areas of Conservation: http://www.jncc.gov.uk/ProtectedSites/SACselection 24 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Blawhorn Moss SAC Country Unitary Authority Grid Ref* Latitude Longitude SAC EU code Status Area (ha) Scotland West Lothian NS885682 55 53 40 N 03 47 00 W UK0019758 Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC) 109 * This is the approximate central point of the SAC. In the case of large, linear or composite sites, this may not represent the location where a feature occurs within the SAC. General site character Bogs. Marshes. Water fringed vegetation. Fens (92.7%) Humid grassland. Mesophile grassland (7.3%) Blawhorn Moss SAC Boundary 25 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Boundary map and associated biodiversity information on the NBN Gateway. Natura 2000 data form for this site as submitted to Europe (PDF format, size 30kb). Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site Active raised bogs * Priority feature Blawhorn Moss is one of the larger, least-disturbed Active raised bogs in the central belt of Scotland. The vegetation exhibits well-developed hummock and hollow topography and supports many of the species representative of bog, such as Sphagnum papillosum, S. magellanicum and cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccus. It is of further interest in that on one side it grades into 7130 Blanket bogs. Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site Degraded raised bogs still capable of natural regeneration 26 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Appendix 3 – Sites Of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Scottish Natural Heritage is the key statutory agency in Scotland for advising Government and for acting as the Government’s agent in the delivery of conservation designations in Scotland. Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is the main nature conservation designation in Great Britain. These sites are special for their plants or animals or habitats, their rocks or landforms or a combination of these. The SSSI series has been developed over the last 50 years, and since 1981 as the national suite of sites providing statutory protection for the best examples of GB’s flora, fauna, or geological or physiographical features. Originally notified under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, many SSSIs were renotified and others newly notified under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 or the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. Further changes in the protective mechanisms were introduced by the 2004 Act. These sites are also used to underpin other national and international nature conservation designations. Most SSSIs are privately owned or managed; others are owned or managed by public bodies or non-government organisations. There are more than 1400 SSSIs in Scotland. Web Links: ‘The Nature of Scotland – A Policy Statement’ http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/environment/nas-00.asp 'People And Nature: A New Approach To SSSI Designations In Scotland' http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library/documents-w1/pandn-00.htm Guidelines for Selection of Biological SSSIs http://www.jncc.gov.uk/Publications/sssi/default.htm Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): http://www.snh.org.uk/about/ab-pa01.asp 27 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Blawhorn Moss Site of Special Scientific Interest Country Unitary Authority Grid ref* Notified Area Scotland West Lothian Council NS 886684 26 July 1984 109.43 ha. Blawhorn Moss SSSI boundary SSSI Citation The largest and least disturbed area of raised bog in central Scotland. The bog surface exhibits a well-developed hummock and hollow topography and supports representative examples of bog plant species. Peatland is an uncommon and decreasing habitat in the lowland area of the Lothians. 28 The Proposals for Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve 2009-2015 Blawhorn Moss is a confined raised bog, an unusual type of peatland developed mainly in central Scotland and is of further interest in that on one side it grades into blanket bog, although this is not a notified feature of the site. The present vegetation of Blawhorn Moss and the resultant communities are representative of a composite of raised and blanket bog conditions. Although much of the site supports primary raised bog habitat, over large areas the topography and vegetation communities suggest that it may be more appropriately described as primary blanket bog. The open raised bog vegetation is especially sphagnum rich, with short heather and blaeberry. A small flush near the centre contains a range of species not found elsewhere on the site and includes lesser tussock sedge, bog pondweed and marsh speedwell. NOTIFICATION HISTORY First notified under the 1949 Act: 1 January 1971. Re-notified under the 1981 Act: 26 July 1984 with a 17.64ha decrease in area. Notification reviewed under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004: 02 April 2008. REMARKS Measured area of site corrected (from 109.43ha). The SSSI is contiguous with Blawhorn Moss Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for the European Habitats listed below. Habitats: Active raised bog Degraded raised bog 29