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CAITHNESS AND SUTHERLAND BIODIVERSITY
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Coastal Earth Heritage
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Highland Biodiversity Newsletter October 2007
25 February 08 The "lever and mulch" method of Rhododendron control requires no power tools, no fires and no herbicides, just an understanding of the inherent strengths and weaknesses of Rhododendron ponticum and lots of elbow grease. Branches are cut in strategic places to form effective levers (and to disentangle them), then the stumps are either levered out the ground in their entirety, overturned and left to dry, which kills them, or, if part of the stump is left in the ground it is covered (mulched) with the cut branches and leaf litter from other bushes. This kills almost all of the plants but if some re-sprout they can be removed relatively easily. This project will involve local volunteers to clear an area of Rhododendron, the equivalent of four full-size football pitches in the Movern Community Woodland in Lochaber. In addition it will produce a guidance document and demonstrate and train others in this method of removal. Rhododendron can be a real problem in native woodlands where it can shade out the forest floor plants and rare mosses and lichens. It is also highly invasive and has proved extremely expensive and difficult to control using other methods. This is just one of 24 local projects running from 2008 until 2010 that follow on from the Highland Biodiversity Action Plan Implementation Programme that ran from 2004 to 2007. During this time £90,000 of funding was provided to help 37 community led biodiversity projects. The funding is being provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund, The Highland Council, Scottish Natural Heritage, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and RSPB Scotland.
The projects in Caithness include - Councillor Isobel McCallum, Chairman of The Highland Biodiversity Partnership, and Vice Chairman of The Highland Council's Planning, Environment and Development Committee, said: "As a region, Highland is extremely lucky to have a tremendous variety of habitats and richness of species that is unequalled anywhere else in the country. The Highland Council is committed to ensuring that our wildlife and environment is protected and properly looked after. Volunteers working on these biodiversity projects are all actively helping with conservation and doing their bit to enhance the natural heritage of their local communities." Anyone who would like to find out more about how to get involved in local biodiversity projects should contact The Highland Council's Biodiversity Officers Janet Bromham or Jonathan Willet on 01463 702274.
11 February 08 As part of the development of a three-year management plan for the LNR, consultations are taking place to find out what locals and visitors think is special about the area and what their aspirations are for the site. Councillor Drew Hendry, Chairman of The Highland Council's Planning, Environment and Development Committee said: "It's particularly important that local people with knowledge of the area contribute this consultation on the Merkinch Local Nature Reserve. This local involvement will help to determine how the site is used and managed in the future" Three local consultants; Toni Clark, Bill Taylor and Phil James will produce a plan that looks at the past, present and future of the Merkinch LNR. As well as speaking to people on the site and in Merkinch, they are keen to hear from anyone with any information on the site's history and any records of plants or animals that have been seen on the site. By the end of March this year the plan will be completed and all those involved with Merkinch LNR are looking forward to see what it will come up with, and where funding could be found to take forward the suggested works.
In addition to the development plan two,
seven foot (two metre),
Anyone with information on Merkinch LNR's
history or flora and fauna can contact Jonathan Willet, Highland
Biodiversity Officer on 01463 702274 or
jonathan.willet@highland.gov.uk
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