Northern Ecological Services report Appendices 1-8 - Transport ...

Second Forth Crossing at Kincardine, Stage 2 Ecological Impact Assessment – Volume Three 

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CONTENTS 

Appendix 1 – Abbreviations 

Appendix 2 – Glossary 

Appendix 3 – Species nomenclature 

Appendix 4 – SEPA River and Estuary Classification Schemes 

Appendix 5 – Freshwater Habitat Assessment 

Appendix 6 - NES Phase 1 Habitat Survey target notes 

Appendix 7 - NES NVS survey of Lady’s Brae plantation and Kennet 

railway cutting 

Appendix 8 – BSBI records and SNH Phase 2 survey of Kennet 

woodlands, 1995 

Appendix 9 – Listed Wildlife Site information for Kennet Pans and Pow 

Burn 

Appendix 10 - Terrestrial bird conservation importance listing 

Appendix 11 – Terrestrial breeding bird survey 2002 maps 

Appendix 12 – Firth of Forth SSSI, SPA and RAMSAR site citations and 

Information 

Appendix 13 – NES NVC survey of saltmarsh, 2000 

Appendix 14 – Logie and Bryant 1994 report undertaken for the1995 

Stage 2 Comparative Assessment. 

Appendix 15 – Summary of historical estuarine bird surveys in the Forth 

Appendix 16 – Tables of monthly bird numbers from RTTC estuarine 

bird survey, 1999-2000 

Appendix 17 – 1999-2000 RTTC estuarine bird survey data maps 

Appendix 18 – SEPA trawl data for the Forth Estuary, 1996-2000 

Appendix 19 – Generic review of terrestrial impacts of roads 

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Northern Ecological Services, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, AB34 5HE. March 2003

Upper Forth Crossing at Kincardine, Stage 3 Ecological Impact Assessment – Volume Three 

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APPENDIX 1 

ABBREVIATIONS 

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Northern Ecological Services, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, July 2003

Abbreviations 

ASPT Average Score Per Taxon 

AWI Ancient Woodland Inventory 

BAP Biodiversity Action Plan 

BMWP Biological Monitoring Working Party 

BoEE Birds of Estuaries Enquiry 

BSBI Botanical Society of the British Isles 

CARSE Central Area Recording System for the Environment (Wildlife Record Centre 

for Central Scotland) 

CEH Centre for Hydrology and Hydrology 

DETR department of the Environment and Regions 

DMRD Design Manual for Roads and Bridges 

ECC European Communities Council 

EcIA Ecological Impact Assessment 

EIA Environmental Impact Assessment 

ELR Eastern Link Road 

FRPB Forth River Purification Board 

HAP Habitat Action Plan 

IEEM Institute for Ecology and Environmental Management 

IWC International Wildlife Count 

LBAP Local Biodiversity Action Plan 

LTC Low Tide Count 

NATA New Approach to Assessment 

NCC Nature Conservancy Council 

NES Northern Ecological Services 

NPPG National Planning Policy Guideline 

NVC National Vegetation Classification 

OD Ordnance datum 

PAN Planning Advice Note 

RTTTC Random Through The Tide Count 

RSPB Royal Society for the Protection of Birds 

SAP Species Action Plan 

SEDD Scottish Executive Development Department 

SEPA Scottish Environment Protection Agency 

SNH Scottish Natural Heritage 

SPA Special Protection Area 

SOC Scottish Ornithologist Club 

SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest 

SS Suspended sediment 

STAG Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance 

SWT Scottish Wildlife Trust 

TTTC Through the Tide Count 

WCA Wildlife and Countryside Act 

WeBS Wetland Bird Survey 

WFD Water Framework Directive 

WWT Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust


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APPENDIX 2 

GLOSSARY 

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GLOSSARY 

Abiotic The non-living components of the environment that directly affect plant 

and animal life, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, oxygen, light, climate, etc. 

Bioaccumulation Concentration of substances in plant and animal tissue, increasing 

up the food chain (also see Trophic level) 

Biodiversity/species 

diversity 

Biological diversity, or the richness of living organisms present in 

representative populations 

Biomass The total weight (or volume) of either all the living organisms or of 

one species present in a community at any one time 

Brackish Slightly salty water, often occurring where freshwater meets the sea 

and forming a discrete habitat 

Bryophytes Mosses and liverworts 

Canalised To convert a river or stream into a canal (usually mechanically) 

Carrying capacity The maximum number of organisms or amount of biomass that can 

be supported in a given area 

Demersal Living or occurring in deep water 

Dispersal The spread of seeds (plants) or animals into new areas. 

Drey A squirrels nest 

Emergent plants Plants that grow in water bodies and grow clear of the surface (i.e. 

do not float or remain submerged) 

Escarpment The long continuous steep face of a ridge or plateau 

Ferruginous Containing iron-rust or iron as a chemical constituent 

Floodplain The flat area bordering a river composed of sediment deposited 

during flooding 

Flyway Corridor along which migratory birds pass 

Foraging area Area over which n animal regularly searches for food 

Functional 

equivalency 

Working in a similar way (often referring to a restored habitat 

performing similarly to a natural habitat) 

Geomorphology The branch of geology that is concerned with the structure, origin 

and development of topographical features of the earth’s crust 

Habitat Term most accurately meaning the place in which a species lives, but 

also used to describe plant communities or agglomerations of plant 

communities, as used, for example in the Phase 1 Habitat Survey 

Habituate Become accustomed to 

Hibernacula Roost in which bats hibernate over-winter 

Holt An otter lair 

Improved 

grassland/pasture 

Grassland that has been subject to a level of fertilisation and, or 

weed control (but not reseeded) to the extent that most of the 

original species have disappeared, leaving a low number of 

dominant vigorous species, with a resultant low species richness. 

(Reseeded leys are classed as arable –see Leys). 

Semi-improved – grassland that has been subject to some 

fertilisation and, or weed control, but which still retains some species 

characteristic of the unimproved state 

Unimproved – grassland that has not been subject to fertilisation and, 

or weed control and which is usually species-rich 

Infauna The fauna living within the substrate in saltmarsh and mudflat 

habitat, usually comprising mostly invertebrate species.

Key species Species whose national (or inter-national) rarity and/or dependence 

on rare or threatened habitat makes them important in the context of 

the site 

Leys Arable land temporarily under grass (also see Improved 

grassland/pasture) 

Managed retreat The planned creation of intertidal habitat on land formerly reclaimed 

from the sea by the breaching or removal of the seawall to allow tidal 

inundation. Undertaken to counter loss of intertidal habitat and as a 

soft engineering technique of coastal defence to alleviate flood risk 

and counter the effect of rising sea levels. 

Metapopulations Populations that comprise several sub-populations of a species 

inhabiting patches of habitat, but with some immigration and 

emigration between patches to maintain an interconnected population 

Natural setback sites Sites that have developed intertidal habitat after natural breaching of 

the seawall 

Nekton Fish and large, mobile invertebrates 

Notable species 

(invertebrates) 

Notable species 

(flora) 

Scarce invertebrate species - occurring in 16-100 km squares in 

Britain 

Scarce plant species – occurring in 16-100 km squares in Britain 

Planned retreat See Managed retreat 

Organic carbon flux Interchange of carbon between plant and animal tissues and the 

atmosphere 

Otter couch An otter resting place 

Pelagic Living or occurring in the upper waters of the open sea 

Pioneer species 

/habitats 

/communites 

The first species/habitat/community to colonise bare rock and/or soil 

(usually algae or lichens) (also see Succession) 

Population viability Capable of normal growth and development and thus of sustaining 

the population 

Quadrat Species lists and estimates of the ground covered by a plant species 

in a defined sample area (e.g. 2m x 2m) 

Rank vegetation Vegetation showing vigorous and profuse growth (often unmanaged) 

Receptor habitats Those habitats or species subject to the impacts of a proposal 

Saltmarsh Inter-tidal sand-, silt- or mud-based habitats colonised by halophytic 

(salt tolerant) plant species. 

Sample data Data which have been collected from some members of a statistical 

population and which are usually assumed to be representative of 

the whole population 

Scrub Habitat consisting of deciduous scrub species, i.e. gorse, broom, 

some willow species, brambles, etc. and/or naturally regenerating 

saplings of tree species 

Semi-natural 

vegetation 

Vegetation which has been modified by humans but is still of 

significant nature conservation interest because it is composed of 

native plant species, is similar in structure to natural types and 

supports native animal communities 

Set-aside Agricultural land temporarily taken out of production 

Setback Breaching of the sea wall to allow tidal inundation of land formerly 

reclaimed from the sea with the development of new intertidal habitat. 

Natural setback involves natural or accidental breaching of the sea

wall. 

Site integrity The integrity of a site is the coherence of its ecological structure and 

function, across its whole area, that enables it to sustain the habitat, 

complex of habitats and/or levels of populations for which it was 

classified 

Spatial scales Data recorded at different areas/levels and/or applied to different 

areas/levels, e.g. national, regional or local 

Species abundance Species abundance can be recorded using the DAFOR scale 

Dominant, Abundant, Frequent, Occasional, Rare. Locally can be 

used in conjunction with dominant, abundant and frequent, thus: LD, 

LA, LF. 

Species 

diversity/biodiversity 

Biological diversity, or the richness of living organisms present in 

representative populations 

Species richness The total number of (often plant) species present in a community or 

habitat 

Spraint Otters dung 

Succession A series of changes in the composition of the plant or animal life of 

an area beginning with the colonisation of bare rock or soil by plants 

such as algae and lichens (see Pioneer species/ habitats/ 

communites) and ending with a stable climax community, which is 

in equilibrium with the environment. Such a primary succession 

can take a number of years to complete. A secondary succession 

can occur where the original vegetation community has been 

destroyed, e.g. by burning, and can be completed in a shorter time. 

Synergy The working together of two or more impacts (positive and/or 

negative) to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual 

effects 

Threshold The minimum intensity or value of a signal, etc., that will produce a 

response or specified effect 

Threshold number The minimum number of a species present in a plant or animal 

population at which the population is sustainable 

Tidal prism The volume of water exchanged on each tidal cycle within an 

estuary. 

Trophic level Different levels in the food chain. Green plants (primary producers) 

are the first level, followed by herbivores and then carnivores – 

together forming a food web 

Vigour The capacity for survival or strong healthy growth in plants or 

animals 

Walkover survey A rapid survey carried out while walking through a site


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APPENDIX 3 

SPECIES NOMENCLATURE 

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SPECIES NOMENCLATURE 

Plants 

Scientific names are taken from Stace C (1997) New Flora of the British Isles, Second Ed. 

Cambridge University Press 

Common Name Scientific name 

alder Alnus glutinosa 

angelica Angelica sylvestris 

arrowgrass, sea Triglochin maritimum 

arum lily Arum maculatum 

ash Fraxinus excelsior 

aster, rayless sea Aster tripolium var. discoideus 

avens, wood Geum urbanum 

beech Fagus sylvatica 

bent, creeping Agrostis stolonifera 

bindweed, hedge Calystegia sepium 

birch Betula sp. 

bird's-foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus 

bittercress, wavy Cardamine flexuosa 

bittersweet Solanum dulcamara 

blackthorn Prunus spinosa 

bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta 

bracken Pteridium aquilinum 

bramble Rubus fruiticosus 

brome, slender false Brachypodium sylvaticum 

brooklime Veronica beccabunga 

broom Cytisus scoparius 

buckler-fern, broad Dryopteris dilatata 

buckler-fern, narrow Dryopteris carthusiana 

bulrush (reedmace) Typha latifolia 

bur-reed, branched Sparganium erectum 

bur-reed, unbranched Sparganium emersum 

buttercup, celery-leaved Ranunculus sceleratus 

buttercup, creeping Ranunculus repens 

campion, red x white cross Silene dioica x latifolia 

campion, red Silene dioica 

canary-grass, reed Phalaris arundinacea 

celandine, lesser Ranunculus ficaria 

cherry Prunus sp. 

chestnut, sweet Castanea sativa 

cleavers Galium aparine 

clover, white Trifolium repens 

clover, zig-zag Trifolium medium 

club-rush, sea Bolboschoenus maritimus 

cocksfoot Dactylis glomerata 

comfrey Symphytum officinale 

comfrey, tuberous Symphytum tuberosum 

corydalis, climbing Ceratocapnos claviculata 

couch, common Elymus repens 

dead-nettle, white Lamium album 

dock Rumex sp. 

dock, broad-leaved Rumex obtusifolius 

dock, wood Rumex sanguineus 

dog-rose Rosa canina 

dog’s mercury Mercuralis perennis 

dog-violet Viola riviniana

duckweed Lemna sp. 

elder Sambucus nigra 

elm Ulmus sp. 

elm, wych Ulmus glabra 

enchanter's-nightshade Circaea lutetiana 

Enteromorpha (green algae) 

fat-hen Chenopodium album 

fern, lady Athyrium filix-femina 

fern, male Dryopteris felix-mas 

fern, scaly male Dryopteris affinis 

fescue, red Festuca rubra 

fescue, rush-leaved Festuca arenaria 

fescue, tall Festuca arundinacea 

figwort, common Scrophularia nodosa 

foxglove Digitalis purpurea 

fox-sedge, false Carex otrubae 

foxtail, marsh Alopecurus geniculatus 

foxtail, meadow Alopecurus pratensis 

glasswort, common Salicornia europaea 

glasswort, long-spiked Salicornia dolichostachya 

gorse Ulex europaeus 

grass, timothy Phleum pratense 

ground-elder Aegopodium podograria 

hair-grass, tufted Deschampsia cespitosa 

hawkbit, autumn Leontodon autumnalis 

hawthorn Crataegus monogyna 

hedge-parsley, upright Torilis japonica 

herb-robert Geranium robertianum 

hogweed Heracleum sphondylium 

honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum 

horehound, black Ballota nigra 

hornbeam Carpinus betulus 

horse-chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum 

horsetail Equisetum sp. 

horsetail, field Equisetum arvense 

ivy Hedera helix 

knapweed, black Centaurea nigra 

knapweed, greater Centaurea scabiosa 

knotgrass Polygonum aviculare 

lady's mantle Alchemilla vulgaris 

larch Larix decidua 

lesser celandine Ranunculus ficaria 

lime Tilia x europaea 

lords-and-ladies Arum maculatum 

maple, field Acer campestre 

marsh-marigold Caltha palustris 

mayweed, sea Tripleuropspermum maritimum 

meadow-grass, annual Poa annua 

meadow-grass, broad-leaved Poa chaixii 

meadow-grass, wood Poa nemoralis 

meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria 

mercury, dog's Mercurialis perennis 

milkwort, sea Glaux maritima 

mouse-ear, common Cerastium fontanum 

mugwort Artemisia vulgaris 

musk-mallow Malva moschata 

mustard, garlic Alliaria petiolata 

nettle, common Urtica dioica 

oak Quercus sp. 

oat-grass, false Arrhenatherum elatius

orache, spear-leaved Atriplex prostrata 

parsley, cow Anthriscus sylvestris 

pearlwort, sea Sagina maritima 

pignut Conopodium majus 

pimpernel, yellow Lysimachia nemorum 

pine, Scots Pinus sylvestris 

plantain, ribwort Plantago lanceolata 

plantain, sea Plantago maritima 

poa, wood Poa nemoralis 

pondweed, broad-leaved Potamogeton natans 

pondweed, Canadian Elodea canadensis 

poplar Populus sp 

primrose Primula vulgaris 

ragwort Senecio jacobaea 

raspberry Rubus idaeus 

redshank Persicaria maculosa 

reed, common Phragmites australis 

reedmace Typha latifolia 

rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum 

Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus (lawn moss) 

rose Rosa sp. 

rosebay willowherb Chamerion angustifolium 

rowan Sorbus aucuparia 

rush, hard Juncus inflexus 

rush, saltmarsh Juncus gerardii 

rush, soft Juncus effusus 

saltmarsh grass Puccinellia sp. 

saltmarsh grass, common Puccinellia maritima 

salt-marsh grass, reflexed Puccinellia distans 

sandwort, sea Honckenya peploides 

sandwort, three-veined Moehringia trinervia 

scurvygrass, common Cochlearia officinalis 

sea-spurrey, lesser Spergularia marina 

sedge, pendulous Carex pendula 

selfheal Prunella vulgaris 

soapwort Saponaria officinalis 

Solomon's seal Polygonatum multiflorum 

sowthistle, perennial Sonchus arvensis 

spruce Picea sp. 

St John's wort, perforated Hypericum perforatum 

stitchwort, lesser Stellaria graminea 

strawberry, wild Fragaria vesca 

sweet-grass, floating Glyceria fluitans 

sweet-grass, reed Glyceria maxima 

sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus 

thistle, creeping Cirsium arvense 

thrift Armeria maritima 

toadflax, common Linaria vulgaris 

twayblade, common Listera ovata 

valerian, common Valeriana officinalis 

violet, common dog Viola riviniana 

watercress Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum 

water-crowfoot, stream Ranunculus penicillatus subsp. pseudofluitans 

water-plantain Alisma plantago-aquatica 

water-starwort, common Callitriche stagnalis 

willow, crack Salix fragilis 

willow, goat Salix caprea 

willow, grey Salix cinerea 

willow, white Salix alba 

willowherb, American Epilobium ciliatum

willowherb, great Epilobium hirsutum 

woundwort, hedge Stachys sylvatica 

Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus 

Fauna 

Mammals 


badger Meles meles 

bat, Daubenton’s Myotis daubentonii 

bat, pipistrelle Pipistrelle pygmeaus 

Pipistrelle pipistrellus 

Dolphin, Atlantic white-sided Lagenorhynchus acutus 

dolphin, bottlenose Turciops truncatus 

porpoise, harbour Phocoena phocoena 

otter Lutra lutra 

seal, common Phoca vitulina 

seal, grey Halichoerus grypus 

water vole Arvicola terrestris 

whale, minke Balaenoptera acutorostrata 

Birds 


barn owl Tyto alba 

blackbird Turdus merula 

blackcap Sylvia atricapilla 

buzzard Buteo buteo 

chaffinch Fringilla coelebs 

cuckoo Cuculus canorus 

dunnock Prunella modularis 

fieldfare Turdus pilaris 

goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 

greenfinch Carduelis chloris 

heron, grey Ardea cinerea 

linnet Carduelis cannabina 

mallard Anas platyrhynchos 

partridge, grey Perdix perdix 

pied wagtail Motacilla cinerea 

pigeon, wood Columba palumbus 

redwing Turdus iliacus 

reed bunting Emberiza cirlus 

robin Erithacus rubecula 

short-eared owl Asio flammeus 

skylark Alauda arvensis 

song thrush Turdus philomelos 

starling Sturnus vulgaris 

swallow Hirundo rustica 

tit, blue Parus caeruleus 

tit, great Parus major 

twite Carduelis flavirostris 

warbler, sedge Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

warbler, willow Phylloscopus trochilus 

wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe 

whitethroat Sylvia communis 

wren Troglodytes troglodytes 

yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella 

Amphibians 


frog, common Rana temporaria 

newt, palmate Triturus helveticus 

toad, common Bufo bufo 

Fish and estuarine invertebrates 

cod Gadus morhua 

crab, shore Carcinus maenas 

eel Anguilla anguilla 

flounder Pleuronectus flesus 

goby, sand or common Pomatoschistus microps 

herring Clupea harengus 

lamprey, river Lampetra fluviatilis 

pipefish Sygnathus acus 

plaice Pleuronectus platessa 

trout Salmo trutta 

salmon Salmo salar 

shrimp, brown Crangon crangon 

smelt or sparling Osmerus eperlanus 

sprat Sprattus sprattus 

stickle-back, three spined Gasterosteus aculeatus 

whiting Merlangius merlangus


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APPENDIX 4 

SEPA RIVER AND ESTUARY CLASSIFICATION SCHEMES 

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APPENDIX 5 

FRESHWATER HABITAT ASSESSMENT 

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Scottish Executive Development Department 

Upper Forth Crossing At Kincardine 

Freshwater Habitat Assessment 

1.1 Freshwater Habitat 

A preliminary assessment of water quality and conservation value of potentially affected watercourses 

was undertaken by conducting a survey of two watercourses (Canal Burn and the outflow from 

Donalds Dam), which were sampled to the north of Kennet Pans on the north bank of Forth Estuary. In 

addition, data was available from a survey of a freshwater site (Northern Drain sometimes known as 

Powfoulis Burn) on the south bank, near Skinflats (Babtie 2003). 

1.1.1 Methods 

Baseline 

Three burns/drains were sampled using the same method, two on the north shore of the Forth estuary 

were sampled on 16 April 2003 and an additional site was sampled as part of another study (Babtie 

2003) on the 19 November 2002. Sites were sampled for aquatic invertebrates and a general habitat 

assessment based on River Habitat Survey techniques was undertaken (EA 2003). The survey 

method involved a walk along the burn and surrounding areas to assess the variation in nature of the 

burn and the adjacent land use and the selection of sites to show any variation in water quality/ 

aquatic invertebrate populations. 

Macroinvertebrate sampling was undertaken by kick sampling for at least 10 metres with a 250µm 

mesh Freshwater Biological Association (FBA) net followed by visual observation to find any further 

specimens. Samples were emptied into a white tray and ‘live picked’ for 30 minutes to obtain a 

representative sample of macroinvertebrates from the sample. Care was taken to search for small 

and/or cryptic species and specimens were preserved in 70% ethanol and retained for identification. 

Aquatic invertebrates collected were identified to species level where possible using a low powered 

microscope and appropriate taxonomic keys. 

Simple water quality measurements were taken in situ and River Habitat Assessment sheets were 

used to record physical conditions at the site. 

Ecological Quality Assessment 

A simple scheme for the preliminary ecological assessment of watercourses based on the aquatic 

invertebrate assemblage was used. The scheme is based on the relative pollution tolerance of 

invertebrate species and scores various invertebrate families based on pollution tolerance. Adding 

these scores gives an index of the ecological quality of a watercourse, known as the Biological 

Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) score, and dividing this score by the number of species sampled 

gives the Average Species Pollution Tolerance (ASPT) score This index, along with a measure of 

species richness, some simple in situ water quality measurements, and combined with habitat 

descriptions give an assessment of a burn’s ecological status. This status can then be used to 

determine the sensitivity of the habitat.




1.1.2 Site Descriptions 

Three waterways were identified as potentially affected by the new bridge crossing, Powfoulis Burn 

(Northern Drain) (Site 1) on the southern side of the Forth Estuary and Canal Burn and Donalds Dam 

Outflow (sites 2 and 3) located close to each other on the northern shore. All three streams were 

located within flat improved pasture, rough grassland and arable fields. Site 1 was a straightened 

channel that was embanked on both sides, Site 2 was a steep sided meandering burn running through 

arable land downstream of the Killbagie Paper Mill and Site 3 was a straightened stream downstream 

from a culverted section. Detailed site descriptions are given in Table 1.




Table 1: Site Descriptions for the three Freshwater Sites 

Site 

Location 

Site 1 

Northern 

Burn/ 

Powfoulis 

Burn 

NS 

2922 6849 

Site 2 

Canal Burn 

NS 

2921 6888 

Site 3 

Donalds 

Dam 

Outflow 

(Culverted 

Burn) 

NS 

2925 6896 

Main Channel Description Bank Side Description 

Straightened, with a water width of 1.5m and depth of 30cm. Water was 

clear, with unbroken, uniform flow (glide) along reach and was under 

tidal influence. The substrate was composed of unconsolidated silt and 

mud with abundant mollusc shells and leaf packs, which produced a 

large plume when disturbed. There was no channel vegetation although 

there were infrequent areas of course woody debris and tree roots at the 

water’s edge. 

Meandering channel with a water width of 1.25m and depth of 20cm. 

Water was very turbid and reddish in colour, with unbroken, uniform flow 

(glide) along reach. The substrate was composed of clay and silt, which 

produced a large reddish plume when disturbed. There was no instream 

vegetation although there were regular areas of course woody debris, 

leafy debris, filamentous algae and fringing reed-banks. 

Narrow modified channel downstream from two culverted sections with a 

water width of 1.2 and depth of 15cm. Water was clear with a variety of 

flow types including rippled and smooth flow with some marginal areas 

of dead water along reach. The substrate was mainly composed of 

gravel and pebbles with some cobbles and exposed boulders with a 

covering of silt over all surfaces, which produced a large plume when 

disturbed. There were limited areas of channel vegetation dominated by 

watercress and some woody debris and exposed and underwater tree 

roots. 

The burn was embanked and steeply sloping to the main 

channel. Banktop height was ~ 5m and the bankfull height 

was 3m (i.e. channel embanked by 2m). There were areas 

of bare earth (sticky clay) and uniform vegetation on the 

bank face and simple tall herb vegetation on the bank top 

with occasional clumps of trees on the left bank and semicontinuous 

trees set back from the right bank. 

The burn had steeply sloping banks to the main channel 

with some unstable eroding areas. Banktop/bankfull height 

was ~2.5m. There were areas of bare earth and uniform 

vegetation on the bank face and isolated/scattered trees 

along the bank. 

The dam outflow was steeply sloping to the main channel. 

Banktop/bankfull height was 1.2m and 3.5 m wide. The bank 

was covered with uniform vegetation rank with occasional 

trees along the bank. There was evidence of recent 

management in the form of weed cutting and bank mowing 

with the survey reach.




1.1.3 Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates 

Water quality parameters were within acceptable ranges for supporting in-stream biota (Table 2). 

Water temperature was typical for the time of year, being lower at site one (~6 0 C) which was sampled 

in November than the other two sites (~12 0 C), which were sampled in April. Electrical conductivity 

was slightly high at Site 2 but well below that of seawater. Since ‘spot measures’ cannot be strictly 

applied to the SEPA River Classification the following assessments for dissolved oxygen and pH are 

indicative only. Dissolved oxygen levels measured as %saturated were: Site 1 – ‘good’, Site 2 – ‘poor’ 

and Site 3 – ‘excellent’. All three sites had pH values close to neutral, within the ‘excellent’ category. 

Table 2: Water quality measurements taken in situ for three sample sites 

Site Date Temperature 

(°C) 

Electrical 

Conductivity 

(µS/cm) 

Dissolved Oxygen 

(mg/l) (%saturated) 

Site 1 19-11-03 6.6 502 8.86 (74%) 7.4 

Site 2 16-4-03 11.1 824 5.81 (53%) 6.8 

Site 3 16-4-03 13.2 675 10.2 (96%) 6.9 

On the southern side of the estuary the macroinvertebrate assemblage for Site 1 had low species 

diversity and low abundance (Table 3). Site 1 had a total abundance of 19 with 8 species. The faunal 

community was composed of mainly pollution tolerant species as measured by BMWP and the ASPT 

score placed the site around the boundary between the poor and fair SEPA classifications 1 . 

Site 2 had a low to moderately diverse fauna with 67 individuals from 12 species which were mostly 

from taxa that are found in slow flowing silty waterways and some also associated with ferric 

discharges. The ASPT score for this site (3.91) was the lowest ASPT score of all three sites 

suggesting that these species are more pollution tolerant than the other two sites. This places it within 

the poor category in the SEPA classification scheme. 

Site 3 (where one unidentified fish fry was observed) had the greatest species diversity and 

abundance (20 and 109 respectively) of the three sites and had the highest BMWP score of 94 

indicating that it included a number of pollution sensitive species. The ASPT score placed Site 3 in 

the good category in the SEPA classification scheme. 

All three sites did not include any rare species and Site 1 on the southern side of the estuary and site 

2 on the northern side were assessed as of poor condition while the outflow from Donalds dam (Site 3) 

on the northern site was assessed as good quality. 

1 

Caution must be taken when using these classifications as they recommend more than one sampling occasion to 

determine the biological health of a waterway 

pH




Table 3: Macroinvertebrates collected from three sites and BMWP scores 

Site 2 Site 3 

Macroinvertebrate Site 1 canal culvert 

OLIGOCHAETE 

CRUSTACEA 

1 6 

Gammarus pulex L. (shrimp) 12 5 3 

Mysis relicta (Loven) (opossum shrimp) 1 

Asellus aquaticus L. Juveniles (Hog louse) 1 24 13 

HYDRACARINA spp (Water mite) 

INSECTA 

Plecoptera (Stoneflies) 

1 1 

Nemoura spp (Nemouridae) 6 27 

Leutra inermis (Leuctridae) 

Ephemeroptera (Mayflies) 

2 

Baetis rhodani 

Megaloptera (Alderflies) 

7 

Sialis fuliginosa 

Trichoptera (Caddisflies) 

1 7 

Hydropsyche unident (Hydropsychidae) 1 

Limnephilis extricatus 1 

Halesus radiatus 10 

Polycentropodidae 1 

Limnephilus marmoratus 

Diptera (Flies) 

2 

Dicranota bimaculata (Tipulidae) 2 

Limoniinae unident (Tipulidae) 1 2 

Ceratopogonidae 1 

Simulium unident (Simulidae) 10 

Tanypodinae spp (Chironomidae) 1 6 5 

Orthocladinae spp (Chrionomidae) 

Hemiptera (True Bugs) 

17 3 

Velia caprai (Velidae) 3 1 

Gerris sp (Gerridae) 

MOLLUSCA 

Gastropoda 

2 

Sphaeridae (pea mussel) 1 

Lymnaea glabra (Muller) 1 

Lymnaea truncatula (Muller) 1 

Assiminea grayana (Fleming) 1 

Hydrobia ulvae 4 

Number of Species 8 12 20 

Number of Individuals 19 67 109 

BMWP Score 80 47 94 

ASPT Score 4.21 3.91 5.22 

1.2 References 

Babtie (2003) Feasibility and Implications of Managed realignment at Skinflats – Phase 2. Report to the 

Skinflats Steering Group.




Environment Agency (2003) River Habitat Survey Methodology


_________________________________________________________________________________ 

APPENDIX 6 

NES PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY TARGET NOTES 

__________________________________________________________________ 


Phase 1 Habitat Survey Target Notes 

South bank 

1. (NS902 857) Ditch mostly filled with rough grass, no bankside scrub, one small willow. 

Hawthorn hedge with long grass beneath along field/motorway edge. 

2. (NS904 857) Small plantation on motorway embankment of middle-aged to mature willow, 

plus oak and broom, with long grass and bramble understorey. Well-developed hawthorn 

hedge adjacent to the reed-filled ditch along bottom of embankment. 

3. (NS909 858) Drain containing common reed, meadowsweet and reed sweet-grass. 

Recently dredged sections contain open water. A fish population, probably sticklebacks, was 

recorded as present in the amphibian survey of 2000. 

4. (NS911 859) Species-poor grassland along drain with tall fescue, couch and false oatgrass. 

5. (NS911 861) Layby and adjacent small field of semi-improved neutral grassland with 

cocksfoot, Yorkshire fog, common foxtail, timothy-grass, common bent, creeping buttercup, 

selfheal, white clover and ribwort plantain. Field and layby fringed by tall hedges and mature 

trees. 

6. (NS914 859/NS915 863) Drains dominated by common reed. Recently dredged sections 

contain open water. 

7. (NS920 867) Saltmarsh lobe with full ecological gradient from low marsh through to high 

marsh. The majority of the lobe comprises common saltmarsh-grass dominated low marsh 

and fescue and sea rush dominated mid marsh (NVC SM13 and SM16 communities 

respectively), separated by the Mean High Water Spring mark (MHWS). The seaward side of 

the low marsh supports a wide band dominated by sea aster (NVC community SM11). 

Downstream of the widest part of the lobe, the area of low marsh contracts to a narrow band 

where the lobe narrows landward. Pioneer marsh is generally absent apart from very narrow 

bands of glasswort on the mud parallel to the marsh edge downstream of the lobe (NVC 

community SM8). High marsh is limited to a narrow zone at the extreme landward edge of the 

marsh, being naturally truncated by the Carse Cliff. Poaching arising from past cattle grazing 

on the widest part of the lobe has resulted in a hummocky microtopography, which results in a 

mosaic of low and mid marsh vegetation in the hollows and hummocks respectively. Well 

developed creek system on widest part of lobe. A full description is given in the report of NVC 

survey (separate document), which is summarised in section 4.3.3. 

8. (NS918 869) Mature trees and hedge-line. 

8a. (NS920 870) Mature scrub on either side of the old ferry approach road and on adjacent 

embankment down to saltmarsh. 

9. (NS922 870) Area under the bridge supporting scattered glasswort and much bare mud. It 

is not possible to accurately apportion how much the lack of vegetation is due to shading and 

how much to disturbance from trampling during bridge maintenance operations. Debris from 

the carriageway has been dumped onto the marsh below during maintenance operations. 

10. (NS920 870) The saltmarsh immediately upstream of the bridge has been seriously 

damaged by the hardcore ramp providing access to the bridge for maintenance. The 

remaining marsh shows the same botanical character and demarcation of low and mid marsh 

either side of the MHWS mark as downstream of the bridge, but with proportionally much less 

mid marsh due to losses to land claim. A full description is given in the report of NVC survey. 

11. (NS920 872/NS919 873/NS919 871) Saltmarsh comprising predominantly common 

saltmarsh-grass dominated low marsh (SM13) with a well-developed creek system. The mid 

marsh community (SM16) is restricted to the base of the seawall and to the breached small 

1

field at 11a. Narrow bands of sea aster (SM11) occur in places along the seaward edge of the 

marsh and along the creek banks. 

12. (NS917 871/NS917 872) Old meander loop. Tussocky red fescue and creeping bent 

dominate the channel throughout except the wetter eastern bend. The vegetation has 

affinities to the NVC inundation community SM23. Other species include common mouse-ear, 

autumn hawkbit, Yorkshire fog, white clover, ragwort, plus saline elements that indicate 

periodic inundation, including sea milkwort, common scurvy-grass, lesser sea spurrey and 

spear-leaved orache. In the eastern bend, sea club-rush swamp dominates the central 

channel, with a tussocky fringing vegetation, with affinities to mid marsh vegetation, 

comprising soft rush, hard rush, saltmarsh rush, sea arrowgrass and false fox-sedge. 

13. (NS917 874) Inundation pools to the eastern edge of the improved pasture field, 

associated with a breach in the low sea wall. Species comprise creeping bent and red fescue 

grading to common saltmarsh grass and mud. 

14. (NS915 873) Pow Burn east of the road-bridge with very deep sides, much exposed mud 

fringed on the upper edges by broad fringes of saline-influenced vegetation. The latter 

supports NVC SM16 type community with dominant common saltmarsh grass and red fescue, 

plus locally common sea milkwort and sea arrowgrass. To the bank crest, creeping bent 

increases with common scurvy-grass, grading to grazed improved neutral pasture. A small 

stand of common reed occurs on the north side where steepness has prohibited grazing. 

15. (NS915 871) Saltmarsh vegetation well established on the Pow Burn sides south of the 

road bridge. The upper slopes support a red fescue-dominated community, with affinities to 

NVC SM16, with frequent common scurvy-grass, plus sea arrowgrass, sea milkwort and sea 

aster. On the lower slopes a low marsh type community occurs locally with saltmarsh grass 

and scattered emergent sea aster. 

16. (NS 916 869) Stand of common reed extending up embankment crest. The east and 

south side of the embankment supports coarse grassland dominated by couch and false oatgrass, 

with cleavers, cocksfoot, thistle, zig-zag clover, upright hedge parsley, lesser 

stitchwort, wood avens, hedge bindweed, tall fescue, common valerian, meadowsweet and 

black knapweed, plus elder, hawthorn and bramble scrub. 

17. (NS916 869) Inner bend of Pow Burn with a broad strip of semi-improved neutral 

grassland, dominated by couch with tall fescue, recently planted with oak, alder and willow. 

By the river is a strip of tussocky red fescue, with some couch, and various saline-influenced 

associates e.g. lesser sea spurrey, sea milkwort, common scurvy-grass, creeping bent and 

local saltmarsh rush pools. Some marshy areas with sea arrowgrass and false fox-sedge. The 

burnside is fringed with a band of sea club-rush, with a local stand of common reed. 

18. (NS914 868) Limit of recording of saline-influenced species – sea aster growing on burn 

sides with reed canary grass and creeping bent. 

19. (NS910 869) Line of mature trees recorded in 1993 and 1995 surveys, now removed. 

20. (NS911 866/NS913 868) Semi-improved rough grassland in bends of Pow Burn, recorded 

in 1993 and 1995 surveys, now removed. 

21. (NS911 864) Lower Pow Burn, no tidal influences apparent. Marginal, emergent and 

aquatic species include commonly-occurring reed canary grass, branched bur-reed, 

unbranched bur-reed and broad-leaved pondweed, and frequently occurring marsh marigold 

and reed sweet-grass. 

22. (NS905 863) 5m wide verge of unimproved neutral grassland with reed sweet-grass, 

meadow foxtail, nettles, and cow parsley, with occasional rose and hawthorn and a tall, 

mature ash close to the boundary of the nearby garden. 

2

23. (NS906 865) Sinuous, deep, slow flowing burn. Fairly open at the Route A crossing point, 

apart from some young, coppiced crack willow and a young coppiced ash on the west bank. 

East bank has open slopes with bare ground and scattered creeping thistle, creeping bent, 

Yorkshire fog and redshank, with patchy reed canary-grass on the lower slopes. The east 

bank retains some bare ground for some distance up and down stream, interspersed with 

tussocks of soft rush and patches of creeping buttercup. The west bank is dominated by a 

closed community of tall herbs, including tuberous comfrey and meadowsweet. Further 

downstream are scattered hawthorn and willow, and a line of trees immediately north of 

Dunfelay. 

24. (NS906 866) Mature white willow line the west bank at this point. Marginal vegetation 

comprises reed canary grass and reedmace. Tall ruderal fringing vegetation of thistle. The 

east bank has greater vegetation cover than at 23. The top of the bank forms a low bund with 

nettles at the top grading down to tall herbs and grasses, including figwort, white dead nettle, 

creeping thistle and reed canary-grass, to a reed canary-grass dominated fringe on the lower 

bank. The west bank is dominated by nettle between the willows. Garlic mustard is abundant 

on the arable field margin adjacent to the bund on the east bank. 

25. (NS905 867) Species-poor semi-improved grassland with scattered scrub to south and 

recently planted oak, rowan and alder to north. Hare flushed from tall grass during 1995 

survey. 

26. (NS906 867) Former species-rich ditch recorded in 1993 and 1995 surveys, now 

culverted. 

27. (NS907 867) A 10m wide shelter belt of mature sycamore with some birch and ash. The 

understorey comprises planted and naturally regenerating sycamore, hawthorn, larch, oak, 

maple, Scots pine, elder, wych elm, cherry and beech. Cleavers is dominant in the ground 

flora, with nettle, cocksfoot and mosses. Apart from some cut stumps, there is no evident 

management and very few tree seedlings. There are some fallen boughs and some ground 

disturbance. 

28. (NS908 868) This is a former loop of the Pow Burn, 1.5-2m wide, which is lined with 

mature sycamore trees and associated grassland strips. Under the trees the ground flora is 

dominated by cocksfoot, with nettle and cleavers. The habitat supports a wide variety of ditch 

species, including creeping bent, pondweed, marsh marigold, reed canary grass, duckweed 

and water plantain. There was an algal scum on the day of survey (2000). 

At the western end the ditch contains abundant brooklime, locally abundant creeping 

buttercup, frequent great willowherb, locally frequent reed canary-grass, occasional angelica 

and lady fern, and very scattered branched bur-reed and water plantain. The north bank is 

steep and grassy, under mature sycamore, with some elm and lime. The south bank supports 

a 3-4m wide false oat-grassland with cocksfoot, nettles, and Yorkshire Fog, with occasional 

reed canary-grass. Short-eared owl was disturbed feeding in tall grass during the 1995 

survey. 

29. (NS907 872/NS907 874) Track with narrow rough grassy margins across arable fields. 

Bird habitat. 

30. (NS906 879) Area of long term set-aside, low lying and wet. Short, open vegetation 

developing into coastal inundation grassland community, dominated by marsh foxtail, with 

abundant creeping bent, frequent annual meadow grass, and rare Yorkshire Fog. There is 

around 10% bare ground in the main part of the field, with some cereal crop litter remaining. 

Rich bird fauna. 

31. (NS906 880) Seawall and ditch. Shallow, less than 1m wide ditch running along landward 

base of wall dominated by creeping bent, with false-oat grass on the steep sides. Landward 

side of seawall supporting a tall false oat-grassland with abundant meadowsweet in places 

and scattered scrub including hawthorn, dog rose and bramble. Seaward side supports red 

fescue dominated grassland grading to saltmarsh communities. 

3

32. (NS906 880) Saltmarsh dominated by common saltmarsh grass low marsh (NVC SM13), 

fringed on the seaward edge by a very narrow band of sea aster low marsh (SM11). A wide 

ditch or pan runs parallel to the sea wall near the back of the marsh, from which runs a 

gradation of marsh to the sea wall through narrow bands of SM11, SM13 and red fescue and 

saltmarsh rush dominated mid marsh (SM16). A high marsh type community (SM28), with 

couch, spear-leaved orache, perennial sow-thistle and red fescue, occurs along the lower 

slope of the seawall. Creek development is poor, probably due to the eroded nature of the 

marsh in this area. 

North Bank 

33. (NS920 887) The former power station grounds comprise much open bare ground where 

buildings and installations were recently demolished. Those areas that have been open 

ground for some time, such as former railway sidings or open areas between buildings, 

support a developing short ruderal community and scattered scrub. Species-poor rough 

grassland is developing on the areas of former amenity grassland and former recreation 

ground. Areas of scrub and small plantation blocks are located around the west, north and 

eastern peripheries of the site. 

The area was surveyed in 1981 and 1996 by the BSBI recorder for Fife and Kinross, see 

Appendix Seven, who reported the presence of a number of interesting species, including 

several escapes and casuals, as a result of the disturbed, transient habitat. No uncommon or 

rare species in Fife and Kinross were recorded. 

The western end of the site, where Route D crosses, is described in greatest detail. The 

majority of the western third of the site comprises former coal storage yards, which now 

support a developing short ruderal community, and an area of sown grassland. Along the 

western edge is a conifer plantation bounded on the south eastern side by a ditch with tall 

herb margins, and on the west and north side by rough grassland, bramble thickets, goat 

willow and gorse scrub. A line of broad-leaved trees, including horse chestnut and sweet 

chestnut, are found between the plantation and the western perimeter fence in the northwest 

corner. 

34. (NS921 888) A recently dredged, deep, canalised watercourse comprising the lower 

reaches of the Donald's Dam outflow. Fringed by common reed, with occasionally occurring 

common scurvy-grass and a row of grey willow along the top of the bank. Vegetation is 

absent from the channel. Shallow flowing water, polluted orange/brown. 

35. (NS920 890) Deep, steep-sided, reed-lined section of Canal Burn below minor road 

bridge. Partially dredged recently. Undredged section still lined with common reed, with false 

oat-grass and great hairy willowherb. Brackish species, such as common scurvy-grass and 

orache, were found to approximately 25m upstream of the Donald's Dam outflow confluence 

in 1993 survey. Vegetation is absent from the channel. Shallow flowing water, polluted 

orange/brown. 

36. (NS923 894) Canal Burn upstream of minor road bridge. Lined by common reed, except 

occasional short section that has been recently dredged. Great willowherb occurs frequently, 

otherwise few other species. Mature white willow are scattered along the banks. 

37. (NS922 889) Donald's Dam outflow upstream of the minor road bridge. Canalised and 

recently disturbed by the creation of improved pasture to south, and improvement of track 

running along its course on northern bank. At time of most recent survey (2002), banks were 

of rank ruderal vegetation with bare areas, replacing previously-noted relatively species-rich 

tall, ruderal grassland which contained remnant wetland and woodland ground flora. Very 

scattered ash and alder on bank top. Channel of mainly bare mud, small clumps of marsh 

marigold and water starwort have colonised. Shallow, flowing water, polluted orange/brown. 

38. (NS926 889) Access was not gained to Old Tulliallan Castle grounds for any of the 

surveys, and the grounds were therefore mapped from the perimeter. The woodland is 

classified as semi-natural woodland, although the older conifer trees will have been originally 

4

planted amongst semi-natural broad-leaved woodland. The wood is structurally very diverse 

with areas of closed canopy on the southern and north western margins, and more open, 

heathy areas in the middle of the grounds where tree groups, scrub and bracken occur. 

Species comprise birch, oak, ash, Scots pine and spruce, with some areas dominated by 

sycamore and with alder and willow in damper areas in the north. The semi-natural woodland 

on the sides of the adjacent railway cutting comprises sycamore, oak, ash and scrub, with a 

ground flora including wood avens, dog’s mercury and ferns. The track bed still supports 

some grassland, but is becoming increasingly shaded. 

Tree age in the main part of the wood is very varied. There are some large, dead standing 

trees and moribund, over-mature ash, providing a good volume and variety of deadwood 

habitats. Rhododendron dominates the understorey in the southern end where it has not been 

cleared, while elder is dominant elsewhere. A blackthorn thicket occurs on the northern 

margin. Ground cover comprises bracken or dense bramble underscrub, plus bluebells and 

ferns. Some replanting in canopy gaps has been undertaken, which included, as far as could 

be discerned, pine. The site was surveyed by the BSBI recorder for Fife and Kinross in 1980 

(see Appendix Seven), who recorded old hornbeam, sweet chestnut, beech, lime, oak and 

elm trees, plus abundant bluebell and lesser celandine. Climbing corydalis, which is rare in 

Fife was recorded, as was broad-leaved meadow-grass, a naturalised species that is scarce 

in Fife. On a more recent visit by the recorder (1996) when access was not gained to the site, 

it was thought that bracken cover was increasing. The lower reaches of Donald's Dam outflow 

runs along the outside northern perimeter of the wood. This had been recently dredged at 

time of survey in 2000. 

The fields to the west and north were in set-aside at time of survey in 2000. That to the north 

is damp and contains a number of temporary pools. Knotgrass and fat-hen frequently occur. 

39. (NS928 891) The woodland at Old Tulliallan extends northwards along the base and 

embankment of railway line, opening out into a wider area below the embankment and 

narrowing again to the north, along the base of the railway. The narrow southern section of 

woodland comprises a dense area of dead elms, elder and bramble, while the wood to the 

north comprises even-aged, secondary, disturbed birch woodland with elder and occasional 

oak and sycamore. Understorey species include elder, hawthorn, rose and occasional goat 

willow. The ground flora is relatively poor and there are few saplings or seedlings of tree 

species. Wood avens is dominant, with abundant red campion, and frequent lesser celandine. 

A large nettle-filled clearing occurs in the widest section, and a sheltered glade with relatively 

species-rich neutral grassland, surrounded by scrub, occurs in the narrow northern section. In 

the tall ruderal area rosebay willowherb is dominant, with raspberry, thistle, field horsetail and 

Yorkshire fog. The habitat is continuous with the dense scrub on the railway to the north and 

the scrub woodland on the railway to the south. There is a track through the middle of the 

woodland to an old building. 

40. (NS929 896) The old railway line at this point is embanked and supports unimproved 

neutral grassland and scrub, which grades into dense scrub to the south and into scrub 

woodland to the north, where it enters a cutting south of the Kilbaggie Mill access road. In this 

latter section ash and oak dominate the scrub woodland, with neutral grassland and bramble 

on the track bed. Solomon’s seal was recorded from this cutting during survey in 2000. A tree 

and scrub-lined lane runs from the A977, under the railway, to the mill. The track verges 

comprise rough grassland and tall ruderals, with scrub and trees. 

41. (NS929 898) An area of relatively diverse vegetation between the lorry park and railway, 

including trees, scrub, extensive bramble patches, tall herbs and grasses. A sheltered grassy 

glade occurs in the site, with tussocky rabbit-grazed, relatively species-rich grassland, 

dominated by Yorkshire fog, with Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, with patches of creeping 

thistle, rosebay willowherb, lady’s mantle and wild strawberry. This grades to peripheral 

bramble underscrub and woodland, which includes ash, elm, elder and hawthorn. 

42. (NS931 900) A complex system of leats at the point where Canal Burn (contained in a 

canalised leat) crosses under the A977 and enters the mill. To the east of the main road, the 

burn contains Canadian pondweed, floating sweet-grass and bent grasses. To the west of the 

5

oad, the leat enters an area of scrub woodland before dividing to flow south west, along the 

perimeter of the mill in a tree-lined channel, and west to be piped through the mill complex. 

The short section between the main road and railway contains common water starwort, 

brooklime, Enteromorpha species, floating sweet-grass, duckweed, the water crowfoot 

Ranunculus. penicillatus subsp. pseudofluitans (stream water crowfoot), and occasionallyoccurring 

Canadian pondweed. The water appears clear and the leat has a clean gravel 

bottom. Minnows were observed, reflecting the high water quality. 

43. (NS930 905) Old railway at Kennet - in a deep, narrow, cutting with matrix of middle-aged 

woodland forming an almost complete canopy over the track and more open areas of scrub. 

Tree and scrub species include sycamore, oak, cherry, wych elm, birch, hawthorn and dog 

rose. The more open scrub areas comprise abundant hawthorn, with bramble underscrub, tall 

ferns and relatively species-rich grassland with bird’s-foot trefoil and dog violet. The woodland 

fits well into the NVC W8e category, ash-field maple-dog’s mercury woodland, herb robert 

sub-community. Felling has taken place at the top end of the track at the road bridge towards 

the garage. Evidence of shooting. A Phase 2 and NVC survey of the site was undertaken by 

NES in 2000 (Appendix Six). 

44. (NS932 905) Road verge and power line wayleave. A narrow area defined between the 

A997 and a parallel ditch, with a two metre wide mown verge of species-poor neutral 

grassland along the verge. This gives way to unmanaged ruderal vegetation dominated by 

rosebay willowherb, with frequent bramble, nettle, ground elder, cow parsley, Yorkshire fog, 

tufted hair-grass and common bent. Scattered within this is frequent broom and occasional 

goat willow, oak, wych elm, hawthorn and gorse. The ditch is straight and recently dredged 

with just the occasional clump of brooklime .Water starwort and floating sweet-grass are 

colonising bare mud. At the southern end of the site is a triangular area of rank neutral 

grassland dominated by common bent, Yorkshire fog and tufted hair-grass, with frequent cow 

parsley, nettle and occasional black knapweed. 

45. (NS918 888) Kennet Pans – comprises a small area of saltmarsh and reed swamp, with a 

large area of fronting mudflat, backed by a seawall with rough grassland. The saltmarsh 

appears to comprise mainly low marsh dominated by common saltmarsh grass, with scattered 

glasswort along the mud on the seaward margin, grading into red fescue and saltmarsh rush 

marsh nearer the seawall. The site was surveyed in 1986 by the NCC (see Appendix Eight). 

At the west end of the site is a mound of rough grassland with scrub and introduced shrubs 

and flowers. Soapwort and black horehound were recorded here in the 1986 survey, but are 

probably introductions. To the north of the site is a field of improved pasture, backed by the 

former seawall. Remnant saltmarsh vegetation occurs in the wetter areas of the field and 

common reed grows along the northern base of the bank. 

46. (NS914 893/NS917 892/NS918 895/NS922 896/NS924 898/NS923 898/ NS917 

899/NS919 901/NS920 901/NS924 900) A series of species-poor ditches all regularly 

dredged with vertical banks, wet or intermittently wet ditches containing common reed for 

most of their lengths. These ditches are all mostly very narrow with arable and leys to the 

edges, without buffer zones. The water at time of most recent survey (April 2002) was very 

shallow, the ditches only being periodically wet. 

47. (NS920 897) Scrubby field corner, probably remnant of former wet woodland. In the 

northern half mature ash trees dominate and there is an understorey of mainly elder and 

hawthorn. This understorey spreads out into the southern half as scrub. The ground layer is 

dominated by ground elder, rosebay willowherb, thistle, cocksfoot, nettle and wood avens. 

Occasionally occurring species include common reed, meadowsweet, bluebell, wild 

strawberry and lesser celandine. There is no management and no obvious regeneration of 

ash. The corner has suffered much damage, including dumping, burning, ground disturbance 

and muck dumping. Part of the corner may be old spoil heaps. 

48. (NS911 889) Orchard complex. The western side of the complex comprises a former 

orchard, now abandoned and unmanaged and filled with dense scrub dominated by fruit 

trees, with elder, wych elm, rose and hawthorn. The ground flora is dominated by nettle, with 

dock, wood avens and mosses, with occasionally occurring angelica, red campion and broad 

6

uckler fern. The area is succeeding to broad-leaved woodland. The trees are dead at the 

edge of the Forth and coastal grassland dominates the ground flora. There is a lot of washedup 

rubbish. 

The northern strip of land is an abandoned field of rough grassland dominated by docks and 

surrounded by poplars and with an overgrown hedge of blackthorn. 

The main, walled orchard, in the south east corner, nearest the Garden Centre, is currently 

managed as a commercial orchard and is dominated by fruit trees. The understorey is made 

up of fruit tree saplings and hawthorn saplings. The ground flora is dominated by Yorkshire 

fog, with hogweed, thistle, cocksfoot and ground elder, and occasionally-occurring lady’s 

mantle, cow parsley, soft rush, angelica and meadowsweet. 

49. (NS908 890) The top of the seawall supports a species-poor false oat-grassland with 

occasional common reed. 

50. (NS915 892) Small farm pond measuring approximately 15m x 15m, with a maximum 

depth of 50cm. Partially in-filled with rubble and largely devoid of aquatic and emergent 

vegetation due to horse grazing and shading by surrounding trees. 

51. (NS913 898) Small area of tall herbs and hawthorn scrub. 

52. (NS917 898) Two mature crack willow trees. 

53. (NS919 899)Overgrown ditch with small alder tree and elder bush in line of route. A low 

gappy hawthorn hedge with abundant reed sweet-grass runs along the southern side until the 

ditch turns south. The northern side supports brambles, tall herbs and rough grassland, with 

occasional rose, a tall hawthorn at the boundary with the farm track and an alder and elder in 

the direct line of the road. Other wetland species in the fringing vegetation include abundant 

angelica and meadowsweet. 

54. (NS923 903) Line of coppiced ornamental cherry, with occasional hawthorn, sycamore, 

ash, elder and blackthorn. At the base of the hedge is a woodland groundflora of bluebell, 

lesser celandine, ivy, dog’s mercury, meadowsweet, honeysuckle, male fern and red 

campion. A ditch lined with common reed runs along the south-west facing side of the 

hedgerow. 

55. (NS925 901) Former house site on the south-eastern edge of Lady’s Brae plantation 

comprising a small sheltered area of tall ruderals comprising raspberry, bramble, ground elder 

and nettle giving way to shorter, patchily rabbit-grazed grassland with abundant creeping 

buttercup in an open central area. Scrub occurs along the eastern boundary. Further east the 

area opens out into a small field comprising weedy, species-poor, rabbit-grazed neutral 

grassland on the slopes of the brae, with common bent, Yorkshire Fog, dock and thistle. 

56. (NS924 902) Lady’s Brae Plantation. A mixed plantation with relatively even-aged vertical 

and horizontal structure. Part of the Kennet woodlands complex that extends along the 

escarpment to the west and north west. Phase 2 survey undertaken in 1995 for SNH 

(Appendix Seven) of the whole complex and further Phase 2 undertaken in 2000 by NES of 

the eastern half of the plantation (Appendix Six). The following is a description of the eastern 

half of the plantation: 

Predominantly beech with sycamore, plus a sparse understorey of elder. Regeneration of 

beech and sycamore is good, with plenty of seedlings and small saplings. The ground flora is 

relatively poor with much bare ground. Foxglove, three-veined sandwort and ferns are locally 

abundant, with occasionally occurring bluebell and ivy, plus dog’s mercury, wood avens, 

nettle, enchanter’s nightshade and male fern. In the vicinity of Route A and D, lesser 

celandine and bluebell are locally dominant. A track leading up the slope from the southern 

boundary forms a damp, shaded ride on the lower part, with hedge woundwort, wavy 

bittercress, hard and soft rushes, broad buckler fern, wood and broad-leaved docks, arum lily 

and pendulous sedge. The northern boundary appears to be an old woodland bank, with 

7

sycamore, ash, larch and dead and regenerating elm, elder and ferns, with a damp ground 

flora along much of the adjacent track. A small strip of Scots pine occurs nearly half way 

along the whole plantation, running downslope from the northern edge. 

The middle ‘lobe’ at the south eastern end of the species-rich hedge at TN54, is quite scrubby 

and marshy with soft rush, angelica, bittersweet, creeping buttercup and a small stand of 

three-veined sandwort, plus common reed in a drain. 

NVC analysis (see Phase 2 report) on the ground flora in the main part of the wood shows 

affinities to W8e, ash-field maple-dog’s mercury woodland, being similar to the nearby 

woodland in Kennet Railway Cutting (However, inclusion of the planted beech trees skew the 

output to W12, beech-dog’s mercury woodland). 

57. (NS927 902) The north eastern corner of Lady’s Brae plantation comprises a very small 

semi-natural area with frequent beech, plus ash and horse chestnut, with hawthorn, elder and 

regenerating elm in the understorey. The ground flora is rather disturbed being dominated by 

nettle, with abundant lesser celandine and freqeuent ivy, plus wood poa, herb robert, 

cleavers, slender false brome and creeping buttercup. Recent felling of mature trees at time 

of 2000 survey, creating glade areas. Very disturbed area as it is close to the paper mill and 

houses. 

58. (NS926 909) Kennet Woodlands – Eastern half comprises a thin strip of thinned beech 

plantation over a bare ground flora, disturbed with rubble in the west end. Western half 

comprises a predominately pine plantation with occasional beech, sycamore and elder, with 

ground flora predominately of buckler ferns. 

8


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APPENDIX 7 

NES NVC SURVEY OF LADY’S BRAE PLANTATION AND 

KENNET RAILWAY CUTTING 

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_________________________________________________________________________________ 

APPENDIX 8 

BSBI RECORDS AND SNH PHASE 2 SURVEY OF KENNET 

WOODLANDS, 1995 

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Northern Ecological Services report Appendices 1-8 - Transport ...

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