Balmoral Estate Biodiversity Action Plan January 2005€¦ · Juniper Juniperus communis ♦ ♦ ♦ Twinflower Linnaea borealis ♦ ♦ ♦ Aspen Populus tremulla Tufted Saxifrage

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Balmoral Estate Biodiversity Action Plan January 2005

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Contents: ♦ List of key species present on Balmoral Estate ♦ List of key Habitats present on Balmoral Estate ♦ List of Species and Habitats that have action plans prepared for Balmoral Estate ♦ Species Action Plans ♦ Habitat Action Plans

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Key Species Present on Balmoral Estate UK Priority Species – A species identified by the UK Biodiversity Group as being a top priority for action. These are species which are under particular threat from decline or are suffering a high rate of loss. UK Species of Conservation Concern - A species identified by the UK Biodiversity Group as threatened or declining in range. These species are the next level of concern below those considered Priority species. Locally important species and habitats – Species and habitats identified by local people, through consultation, as being of particular importance to them in the Cairngorms. Balmoral BAP species Species identified as being important and significant on Balmoral Estate. These species have an individual Action Plan. Species UK

Priority Species

UK Species of Conservation Concern

Locally Important Species

Balmoral BAP species

Mammals Otter Lutra lutra ♦ ♦ ♦ Water Vole Arvicola terrestris ♦ ♦ ♦ Brown Hare Lepus europaeus ♦ ♦ Pipistrelle Bat Pipistrelus pipistrellus

♦ ♦

Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris ♦ ♦ ♦ Brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus

♦ ♦

Hedgehog Erinaceous europaeus

♦ ♦

Badger Meles meles ♦ ♦ Wild Cat Felis sylvestris ♦ ♦ Mountain hare Lepus timidus ♦ ♦ ♦ Red Deer Cervus elaphus ♦ ♦ ♦ Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus

♦ ♦

Stoat Mustela erminea ♦ ♦ Weasel Mustela nivialis ♦ ♦ Water Shrew ♦

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Birds Black grouse Tetrao tetrix ♦ ♦ ♦ Grey partridge Perdix perdix ♦ ♦ Corncrake Crex crex ♦ ♦ Skylark Aluda arvensis ♦ ♦ Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

♦ ♦

Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula ♦ ♦ Scottish Crossbill Loxia scotica

♦ ♦

Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus ♦ ♦ ♦ Wryneck Alauda arvensis ♦ Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata

♦

Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus

♦

Buzzard Buteo buteo ♦ ♦ Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos

♦ ♦

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus ♦ ♦ Merlin Falco columbarius ♦ ♦ Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

♦ ♦

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus ♦ ♦ Snipe Gallinago gallinago ♦ ♦ Curlew Numenius arquata ♦ ♦ Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria

♦ ♦

Short-eared owl Asio flammeus

♦ ♦

Grey wagtail Motacilla cinera ♦ ♦ Pied wagtail Motacilla alba ♦ ♦ Ring ousel Turdus torquatus ♦ ♦ Greenfinch Carduelis chloris ♦ ♦ Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis ♦ ♦ Dotterel Charadrius morinellus ♦ ♦ Dunlin Calidris alpina ♦ ♦ Osprey Pandion haliaetus ♦ ♦ Hen Harrier Circus cynaeus ♦ ♦ Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus ♦ ♦ Goshawk Accipiter gentiles ♦ ♦ Tawny Owl Strix aluco ♦ ♦ Barn Owl Tyto alba ♦ ♦ Green Woodpecker Picus viridus

♦ ♦

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Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus major

♦ ♦

Redshank Tringa totanus ♦ ♦ Goldcrest Regulus regulus ♦ ♦ Great Tit Parus major ♦ ♦ Coal Tit Parus ater ♦ ♦ Blue Tit Parus caeruleus ♦ ♦ Long-Tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus

♦ ♦

Tree Creeper Certhia familiaris

♦ ♦

Siskin Carduelis spinus ♦ ♦ Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra

♦ ♦

Yellowhammer Emberiza citronella

♦ ♦

Dipper Cinclus cinclus ♦ ♦ Pink-footed goose Anser brachyrhynchus

♦ ♦

Goldeneye Bucephala clangula

♦ ♦

Meadow pipit Anthus pratensis ♦ Dunnock Prunella modularis ♦ Stonechat Saxicola torquata ♦ Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe ♦ Fieldfare Turdus pilaris ♦ Redwing Turdus iliacus ♦ Brambling Fringilla montifringilla

♦

Twite Carduelis flavirostris ♦ Redpoll Carduelis flammea ♦ Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis

♦

Woodcock Scolopax rusticola ♦ Red Throated Diver Gavia stellata

♦

Greylag Goose Anser anser ♦ Teal Anas crecca ♦ Goosander Mergus merganser ♦ Common Tern Sterna hirundo ♦ Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis ♦ Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus

♦

Whinchat Saxicola rubetra ♦ Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla ♦

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Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus

♦

Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix

♦

Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

♦

Black-Throated Diver Gavia arctica

♦

Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus

♦

Wigeon Anser penelope ♦ Tufted duck Aythya fuligula ♦ Red-Breasted Merganser Mergus serrator

♦

Water Rail Rallus aquaticus ♦ Greenshank Tringa nebularia ♦ Kingfisher Alcedo atthis ♦ Whitethroat Sylvia communis ♦ Quail Coturnix coturnix ♦ Wren Troglodytes troglodytes ♦ Red grouse Lagopus lagopus ♦ ♦ Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus ♦ Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs ♦ Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

♦

Grey Heron Adrea cinerea ♦ Moorhen Gallinula chloropus ♦ Coot Fulica atra ♦ Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

♦

Robin Erithacus rubecula ♦ Blackbird Turdus merula ♦ Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

♦

Flowering Plants Juniper Juniperus communis ♦ ♦ ♦ Twinflower Linnaea borealis ♦ ♦ ♦ Aspen Populus tremulla Tufted Saxifrage Saxifraga cespitosa

♦

Alpine woodsia Woodsia alpina

♦

Alpine Sow-thistle Cicerbita alpina

♦

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Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris

♦

Bog Myrtle Myrica gale ♦ Common Rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium

♦

Tawny Sedge Carex hostiana ♦ Long-stalked yellow sedge Carex lepidocarpa

♦

Bottle sedge Carex rostrata ♦ Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria

♦

Bog-bean Menyanthes trifoliata

♦

Alpine Lady’s Mantle Alchemilla alpina

♦

Butterflies Northern Brown Argus Aricia artaxerxes

♦ ♦

Large Heath Coenonymypha tullia

♦ ♦

Small pearl-bordered fritillary Boloria selene

♦ ♦

Mountain ringlet Erebia epiphron

♦ ♦

Scotch Argus Erebia aethiops ♦ Dark green fritillary Argynnis aglaga

♦

Moths Dark-bordered beauty Epione paralellaria

♦ ♦ ♦

Sword Grass Xylena exsoleta ♦ Slender stripped rufous Coenocalpe lapidata

♦

Northern arches Apamea zeta ♦ Grey scalloped bar Dyscia fagaria

♦

Fungi A tooth fungus Sarcodon imbricatus

♦ ♦

An agaric fungus Collybia acervata

♦ ♦

An agaric fungus Mycena ♦ ♦

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purpureofusca An agaric fungus Russula cessans

♦ ♦

An agaric fungus Russula polychroma

♦ ♦

Amphibians and Reptiles Common Toad Bufo bufo ♦ ♦ Common Frog Rana temporaria

♦ ♦

Slow worm Anguis fragilis ♦ ♦ Adder Vipera berus ♦ ♦ Common Lizard Lacerta vivipara

♦

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Key Habitats Present on Balmoral Estate Habitat classification based on Cairngorms LBAP format. Priority Habitat- A select list of habitats of high biodiversity significance prioritised for action under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Broad Habitat- Broad scale habitat classification developed to describe the whole of the land surface of the UK and the surrounding sea to the edge of the continental shelf. National habitat statements have been prepared. Broad Habitats are the framework through which the Government is committed to meet its obligations for monitoring in the wider countryside. Local Habitats Habitats that are of local conservation concern, locally threatened, locally rare, or locally distinctive or popular. Balmoral BAP Habitat Habitats identified as being important and significant on the Estate which have an individual Estate action plan. Local Habitats identified in Cairngorms LBAP that are present on Balmoral Estate

Area UK Priority Habitat

UK Broad Habitat

Boundary features ♦ Arable land and cereal field margins

Acid grassland ♦

Farmland and Grassland Habitats

Improved grassland Montane, Heath and Bog Habitats

Montane ♦

Upland heathland ♦ Blanket bog ♦ Wetland and water habitats

Standing open water ♦

Oligotrophic lochs Rivers and burns ♦ Woodland Habitats

Broadleaved woodland ♦

Birch woodland Aspen woodland Wet/riparian woodland Montane scrub Planted conifer woodland Native pine woodland ♦

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Biodiversity Action Plans Prepared for Balmoral Estate Species Otter Water Vole Mountain Hare Red Squirrel Red Deer Black Grouse Capercaillie Red Grouse Aspen Juniper Twinflower Dark Bordered Beauty Moth Habitats Upland Heathland Native Pinewood Rivers and burns

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Species Action Plans Otter Lutra lutra Status: International National Estate Legal Throughout much of Europe the Otter is now extinct or very scarce. Some of the best and most widespread populations are now found in the far west of Europe (Portugal, Western Spain, Western France, South West England, Wales and Scotland).

In the mid-1980s, the British pre-breeding population was estimated to be around 7,350. A population of 5,600 was estimated for mainland Scotland in the early 1990s. Otters are now present in almost every 10Km square in Scotland, both on the mainland and the Islands.

Otters are thought to use practically all of the lochs, burns and rivers on the Estate.

Otters and their resting and breeding sites are protected under Section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and the EC Habitats Directive 1991. Included in Annex IIa and IVa of EC Habitats Directive and Appendix II of the Bern Convention. UK Priority Species.

Actions Target Actions Completion

date Staff/hrs

Locate and protect important otter sites on the estate e.g. resting and breeding sites, feeding areas.

Survey key waterways within the Estate and record and map any sightings of otters or their signs. Formalise ad hoc sightings recording system and add to GIS dataset. Attempt to identify territories.

1 year from present. Repeat survey every 3 years. 2005. 2006

Rangers Department Rangers Department Rangers Department

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Protect important sites from disturbance by fishermen and general public.

Continuous.

Rangers and Game department.

Enhance otter habitat

Creation/management of 2 ponds Riparian zone fencing of waterways on farmland as part of Rural Stewardship Scheme. Sympathetic wetland management on farmland as prescribed by Rural Stewardship Scheme. Identify further areas for riparian zone fencing and tree planting.

2005 onwards 2004. 2008. Continuous

Rangers Department Farm Department. Farm Department. Forestry Department

Where otters are present assess riparian fences as boundaries to otters and alter if necessary

Compare fence mesh size to average otter size and determine if they can fit through easily. If not, cut or stretch mesh to desired size at regular intervals along the fence line.

Once in the next twelve months. Repeat action where otters are newly recorded.

Ranger Department

Avoid disturbance to otters

No strimming/clearing of vegetation in sensitive areas.

Continuously adapted to newly discovered sensitive sites

Game Department

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Check for otter holts before any forestry operations near water are undertaken.

Continuous Forestry Department

Pollution control to maintain quality of watercourses.

Strictly follow Forest & Water Guidelines when felling near water courses. Develop waste management plan and follow best practices guidelines when disposing of waste.

Continuous. Continuous.

Forestry Department. Rangers Department.

Water Vole Arvicola terrestris Status: International National Estate Legal Found all over Europe and Scandinavia to eastern Siberia.

The UK’s fastest declining animal species. A national survey in 1989-90 showed that water voles had been lost from 67% of sites since 1900. It is estimated that this may now be as high as 94%. The British pre-breeding population is estimated at 1,169,000 individuals, including 376,000 in Scotland. Recently found in small but important upland refuge areas (predominantly burns and blanket bog) across the Cairngorms.

Recent surveys by Aberdeen University show a substantial decline in the number of water vole colonies in the Uplands surrounding Glen Muick.

Included on Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) in respect of Section 9(4) only. This section of the act protects the water vole’s places of shelter or protection, but does not protect the voles themselves.

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Actions Target Actions Completion

Date Staff/hrs

Enhance and maintain water vole habitat.

Deer/grazing management. Maintain population of deer at 12-14deer/km2 which will maintain cover and habitat along burns. Riparian zone fencing of waterways on farmland as part of Rural Stewardship Scheme. Identify further opportunities for riparian zone fencing along minor watercourses and ditches. Sympathetic wetland management on farmland as prescribed by Rural Stewardship Scheme.

Continuous. 2004. Continuous. 2008

Game Department. Farm Department. Forestry Department. Farm Department.

Predator control.

Ongoing weasel, stoat and mink control by trapping and shooting throughout the Estate. Experiment with four Game Conservancy Trust mink rafts on the River Muick. Control rabbit populations near watercourses to reduce food availability to colonising mink.

Continuous. Continuous. Continuous.

Game Department. Rangers Department. Game Department.

Locate important water vole sites on the Estate.

Co-operate and liaise with Aberdeen Universities Water Vole and Mink Research projects. Obtain and develop GIS data on water vole colonies.

Continuous 2006

Rangers Department Rangers Department

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Mountain Hare Lepus timidus Status & Trends: International National Estate Legal Outside of Great Britain, this species has a broad distribution that covers most of the Palaearctic region.

Numbers fluctuate widely, either irregularly or in cycles of about 10 years. In 1995 there were an estimated 350,000 in Scotland. There are introduced populations in the Peak District in northern England, and on some Scottish Islands including Orkney, Shetland, Mull and Skye.

Widespread throughout upper parts of the Estate above 600m. More common on Southern part of the Estate.

Not protected in the UK.

Listed in Annex V of the EC Habitats Directive as a species of community interest.

Action: Target Actions Completion

Date Staff/hrs

Set up research and monitoring.

Transects to be undertaken in March to assess size and population trends.

2005 onwards. Rangers Department.

Moorland management.

Deer/grazing management. Maintain population of deer at 12-14deer/km2 to maintain habitat in suitable condition. Fox control throughout the Estate.


Game Department. Game Department.

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Burn on average 5% of the burnable heather moorland following best practice guidelines.

Continuous. Game Department.

Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris Status: International National Estate Legal Same species as the European red squirrel found in Scandinavia and North West Europe

Scotland holds about three quarters (120,000) of the estimated total pre-breeding population of 160,000. Populations of red squirrel in the UK have suffered markedly over the last 50 years with the introduced grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) replacing the species throughout most of England and Wales.

North East Scotland Red Squirrel Survey undertaken in 2000 included 70 records for Balmoral Estate. Population size unknown but thought to be stable at present.

The red squirrel is listed on Appendix III of the Bern Convention and is protected by Schedules 5 and 6 of the WCA.

World Conservation Union's 2003 Red List of Threatened Species as being Near Threatened, meaning that it is of conservation concern, but is not currently endangered.


Date Staff/hrs

Maintain the current populations of red squirrel.

Attempt to prevent the expansion of grey squirrel range onto the Estate.

Continuous

Rangers, Foresters, Game Department.

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Forestry management to favour pine and conifers.

Continuous

Forestry Department

Survey and monitoring.

Record all ad-hoc sightings of grey squirrels.

Rangers, Foresters and Game Department.

Education

Develop/improve red squirrel interpretation, using feeding stations, at the Spittal of Glen Muick visitor centre.

2005 Rangers Department.

Red Deer Cervus elaphus Status: International National Estate Legal Range stretches throughout the Palaearctic from Ireland eastwards to China and from just south of the Arctic Circle in Norway to North Africa.

Britain's largest native land mammal. About 350,000 live in Scotland and 12,000 in various parts of England, notably in the south-west, the Lake District, East Anglia and a few in Wales.

An over-wintering population of about 3,500 declines to about 1,000 during the summer.

UK Species of Conservation Concern Legislation in Scotland is the Deer (Scotland) Act 1959, the Deer (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 1982 and certain orders made under this Act.


Date Staff/hrs

Maintain populations of red deer at densities that will maintain biodiversity and range condition, and permit the

Produce a Deer Management Plan.

Completed. Factor.

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sustainable delivery of all of the estates land-use objectives. To maintain a strong population of red deer.

Retention of good quality prime aged stags. Stalkers are directed towards taking poor heads and those that are past their prime and ‘going back’. Provision of supplementary mineral blocks during the spring. Strategic planting of forestry plantations in valley bottoms to provide shelter for over-wintering deer.

Continuous. Continuous. Completed.

Game Department. Game Department. Forestry Department.

Prevent hybridisation with introduced sika deer.

Every effort will be made to prevent the establishment of a sika deer population.


Publicise red deer management issues.

Continue to inform the public on deer management issues via guided walks, land rover safaris, web-site and interpretation panel in the visitor centre.

Continuous. Rangers Department.

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Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix Status: International National Estate Legal Widespread distribution throughout the northern half of the Palaearctic but within Western Europe populations are fragmented and generally in decline.

UK population threatened following a rapid decline. The UK population numbered 6350 in 1996. The Cairngorms area is one of the last main strongholds where numbers are believed to be less than 2000.

Twelve known lek sites with 68 males (pre-breeding season 2003). Population remains stable.

UK Priority Species. Included in Red Data Birds and identified as one of the 41 most threatened species in the UK.

Actions: Target Actions Completion

Date Staff/hrs

Minimise fence collisions.

Mark all fences within 1Km of lek sites with wooden pailings to make them more visible to black grouse.

Completed. Forestry Department.

Provide cover and feeding areas.

Sowing of 0.65Ha of cereal-based unharvested crops at Invergelder and 4Ha of extensive cropping at Dallyfour.

2003-2008 Farm Department.

Predator control

Targeted intensive fox and crow control close to lek sites.


Locate and protect lek sites

Monitor lek sites and attempt to locate new lek sites on an annual basis.

Continuous.

Rangers Department.

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Protect these sites from recreational disturbance.

Continuous.

Rangers Department.

Maintain and improve habitat

Identify opportunities to feather edges of forestry plantations to produce a larger moorland-woodland transition area. Thinning conifer plantations and woodlands to allow light to reach the understorey.

Continuous Continuous.

Forestry Department. Forestry Department

Education

Submit poster to International Black Grouse convention. Organise an annual Black Grouse event, whereby the public gain access to a lek site

2005 Continuous

Rangers Department Rangers Department

Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus Status: International National Estate Legal In general, the species is listed as threatened in western, central, and south-eastern Europe, but still occurs in considerable numbers throughout most of its boreal range from Scandinavia to eastern Siberia.

Confined to Scottish native pinewoods in the UK. The winter 2003/2004 national survey estimated 1980 birds (95% confidence limits 1284 – 2758). The 1998-99

One known active lek sites remaining on the estate with 4 males present. Total population has remained stable over the past ten years at about 30 birds.

The capercaillie is listed on Annex 1 of the Birds Directive and Appendix II of the Bern Convention. It is also listed on Schedules 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

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winter survey found 1073 individuals.


Date Staff/hrs

Minimise fence collisions.

Mark all fences within or close to pinewoods where capercaillie is present. Remove all redundant deer fences Monitor fence collisions on a monthly basis.

Completed. Continuous.

Forestry Department. Forestry Department.

Predator control.

Targeted intensive fox and crow control close to lek sites. No snares used in Capercaillie woods.


Locate and protect Lek sites.

Monitor lek sites and attempt to locate new lek sites on an annual basis. Protect these sites from recreational disturbance.


Rangers Department. Rangers Department

Improve quality and extent of habitat.

Establish 456 Ha of fenced pine re-generation enclosures and maintain in a deer proof condition. Irregular thinning of 60 Ha of dense pine plantations. Glade creation 15Ha. Heather swiping to allow

Continuous until 2020. 2007. 2007. 2007.

Forestry Department. Forestry Department. Forestry Department. Forestry

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blaeberry to re-generate, and create areas for chicks to dry-off.

Department.

Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus Status: International National Estate Legal The red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus is the British race of the willow grouse (Lagopus l. lagopus), whose range extends across the northern latitudes.

Current estimates suggest a British breeding red grouse stock of 250,000 pairs. Long-term records of red grouse populations, indicate that the species has been in decline for some decades.

20,000 Ha of managed grouse moor. Population has remained stable over past ten years.

Not protected (game species), in the UK. Included in the Birds of Conservation Concern Amber List (medium conservation concern).


Date Staff/hrs

Maintain suitable habitat.

Maintain deer numbers at a sustainable level of 12 deer/Km2 compatible with grouse moor management objectives. Heather burning to provide a structural mosaic of habitats suitable for grouse at different times of their lifecycle.



Predator control.

Targeted intensive fox and crow control on and near managed grouse moorland.


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Monitoring. Monitor presence of Trichostrongylus tenuis worm. Red Grouse numbers.



Aspen Populus tremulla Status: International National Estate Legal European aspen is one of the most widely distributed trees in the world, with a natural range that stretches from the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia to North Africa, and from Britain across most of Europe and north Asia to China and Japan.

Although aspen occurs throughout Britain, it is most common in the north and west of Scotland, and is also known from Shetland and the Hebridean Islands. In the Highlands it will grow at elevations of up to 550 metres.

Occurs at very low densities in a few locations.

Aspen is mentioned in the SAPs for three invertebrate species which depend on it as a habitat, and two bryophytes, but Aspen has neither its own HAP or SAP. Aspen woodlands are however recognised as important habitats in some Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAP), e.g. the Cairngorms LBAP.


Date Staff/hrs

Assess the status of aspen on the Estate.

Locate and map using GIS all Aspen trees and assess the rate of natural regeneration of Aspen on the Estate.

2007 Repeat every ten years.

Rangers and Forestry Department.

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Maintain and enhance the status of aspen on the estate.

Introduce aspen of local provenance to all new plantings on the Estate.

2005 onwards. Forestry Department.

Juniper Juniperus communis Status: International National Estate Legal Common juniper has the largest geographic range of any woody plant in the world. It is circumboreal in distribution, occurring from western Alaska throughout Canada and northern parts of the USA, in coastal areas of Greenland, in Iceland, throughout Europe and in northern Asia and Japan.

Data at the Biological Record Centre suggests that there has been a 60% decline in the number of occupied 10Km squares up to 1960. What remains of the Juniper resources is dominated by older bushes with virtually no natural regeneration occurring. Found throughout the Cairngorms area on farmland, grassland, moorland and woodland sites.

Widespread and common throughout woodland sites on the Estate.

Juniper receives general protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Juniper occurs in a number of habitat types listed under the EC Habitats Directive, and juniper scrub has been recognised a nationally scarce woodland type.


Date Staff/hrs

Assess the status of juniper on the Estate.

Locate and map using GIS all major stands of juniper present on the Estate. Assess the rate of natural regeneration of

2007 Repeat survey every five years. 2007 Repeat survey every five

Rangers and Forestry Department. Rangers and

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juniper.

years. Forestry Department.

Maintain and protect the status of all major juniper stands on the Estate from: Fire Over shading from adjacent trees.

No heather burning near juniper stands. Protect sites from accidental fires. Thinning.


Game Department. Forestry Department.

Maintain and enhance the status of juniper on the Estate.

Introduce juniper of local provenance to all new plantings on the Estate. Establish juniper as the upper limit to new native woodland schemes.

2005 2005 onwards.

Forestry Department. Forestry Department.

Notes: Juniper bushes may not be able to regenerate in deer exclosures due to dense heather understorey. Bushes may also become shaded out as scrub thickens and an over-topping woodland canopy develops. It is likely that the population density of deer outside exclosures precludes natural regeneration of juniper.

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Twinflower Linnaea borealis Status: International National Estate Legal Twinflower is found over Northern Europe, up to an altitude of 2,400 metres. It is also found in the Alps, and the Caucasus and Carpathian mountain ranges.

Confined to eastern Scotland and concentrated in the NE. The population size is decreasing and has disappeared from a number of locations. Many of the remaining sites are in plantations where timbre is reaching economic maturity, and could be lost if the timbre is harvested.

So far it has been located at seven locations in Alltcailleach Forest. It is also likely to be present at other locations on the estate.

UK Priority Species.


Date Staff/hrs

Monitor twinflower sites.

All sites to be visited annually. New sites to be mapped using GIS.

Continuous. From 2005 onwards.

Rangers Department. Rangers and Forestry Department.

All sites to be protected from: Over-shading by bracken and adjacent trees. Over-grazing by deer. Unsympathetic mechanical

Monitor and control of bracken, thinning adjacent trees. Deer control in Alltcailleach Forest. Contractors and forestry staff to be

Continuous. Continuous. From 2005 onwards.

Rangers and Forestry Department Game Department. Forestry Department.

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harvesting and ground preparation. Fire.

made aware of locations of Twinflower sites, sites to be avoided by heavy machinery. Erection of fire hazard signs during dry weather.

Continuous.

Rangers and Forestry Department.

Dark Bordered Beauty Moth Epione paralellaria Status: International National Estate Legal The dark-bordered beauty has been recorded from most countries in Europe. The range extends eastwards through Russia and Siberia to the Amur region.

Found at only four sites within the whole of the U.K.

One known site which may be part of a large colony spreading onto a neighbouring Estate.

UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species. Probably the rarest moth not protected by law.


Date Staff/hrs

Maintain and enhance the population of Dark Bordered Beauty moths on the Estate.

Manage aspen suckers to maintain them in a favourable condition. Consider opportunities for natural expansion or introduction of the species to other favourable sites on the estate. Attempt to link up suitable habitat at the Inver and Balmoral

Annually if required. 2010

Lead Butterfly Conservation and the Rangers Department.

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sites.

Research and monitoring

Search for caterpillars. Search for adults. Identify other possible favourable sites within the Estate.

June annually late July annually 2005

Lead Butterfly Conservation and the Rangers Department

Notes: The moth feeds on low scrubby growth, which can easily be lost to natural succession. In Northern England and Southern Scotland, the main food plant is dwarf sallow, but on Deeside and Speyside the species is associated with short aspen suckers. It is thought that there may well be colonies elsewhere in NE Scotland.

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Habitat Action Plans Native Pinewoods Status: International National Estate Legal Boreal forests stretch across the globe from Alaska to the Sea of Okhotsk between Kamchatka and Japan.

Native pinewoods are only found in Scotland. 1% remaining of the original area of Scots Pine dominated forest. Total area remaining 17,882Ha.

775 Ha of core native pinewood area.

1658 Ha of the Ballochbuie pinewood have been designated as SAC under the EC Habitats Directive. UK Priority Habitat.


Date Staff/hrs

Improve the quality and extent of the habitat.

Establish 456 Ha of fenced pine re-generation enclosures and maintain in a deer proof condition. Irregular thinning of 60 Ha of dense pine plantation. 15 Ha of Glade creation. Heather swiping to allow blaeberry to re-generate, and create areas for chicks to dry-off. Manage adjacent native pine plantations in the Woods of Garmaddie and Ripe Hill as old

Continuous until 2020. 2007. 2007. 2007. Continuous

Forestry Department. Forestry Department. Forestry Department. Forestry Department. Forestry Department

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growth habitat.

Protect from fire

Erection of fire hazard signs during dry weather. Sufficient fire fighting equipment and fire plan in place.


Rangers Department. Game and Forestry Department.

Publicity Continue to inform the public on native pinewood issues via guided walks, land rover safaris, web-site and interpretation panel in visitor centre.


Monitoring

Monitor the Capercaillie population. Monitor the condition of the SAC via SNH’s Site Condition Monitoring protocols.


Rangers & Forestry Department. Rangers Department & SNH.

Upland Heathland International National Estate Legal The UK has some 75% of the entire world resource of heather moorland.

There are currently 13,280Km2 of heather dominated moorland in the UK. In Scotland, between 1947 and 1988 heather moorland declined by 28%. A mean annual rate of 100Kms per

Over 20,000 Hectares of managed grouse moorland.

Two areas of upland heath on the Estate have been classified as Special Protection Areas under the EC Habitats Directive. UK Priority Habitat.

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annum. Action: Target Actions Completion

Date Staff/hrs

Maintain and improve the area of heather dominated moorland.

Control grazing densities by culling deer. Deer to graze at an average density of 12 deer/Km2. Burn on average 5% of the burnable heather moorland every year following best practice guidelines. Restore open habitats within afforested areas 15Ha.

Continuous. Continuous. 2007.

Game Department. Game Department. Forestry Department.

Monitoring. Red Grouse numbers annually. Heather condition annually. Monitor moorland raptor species such as Merlin, Hen Harrier and Peregrine Falcon. Heather Beetle. Invasive species, bracken and rhododendron to be mapped using GIS and fixed point photography.

Continuous. Continuous. Continuous. Continuous. 2006.

Game Department. Rangers Department. Rangers Department. Game Department. Rangers Department.

Control invasive species

All Rhododendron stands to be maintained at their present extent.


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Protect from fire

Erection of fire hazard signs during dry weather. Sufficient fire fighting equipment and fire plan in place.


Rangers Department. Game and Forestry Department.

Publicity Continue to inform the public on moorland management issues via guided walks, land rover safaris, web-site and interpretation panel in visitor centre.

2006. Rangers Department.

Rivers and burns Status: International National Estate Legal

There are over 200 miles of rivers and streams on the Estate The Dee is regarded as of national importance as an excellent example of a highland eroding river, with high headwaters and characteristic fauna and flora relatively unaffected by man.

Rivers and burns are offered better legal protection than most natural habitats through several pieces of legislation. The European water framework directive will address diffuse pollution control, habitat protection. River Dee and its tributaries are designated cSAC.

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Date Staff/hrs

Protect, maintain and enhance river and burn habitat including the channel and the riparian zone.

Ensure no net loss in length and area of rivers and burns and natural bank features. Riparian zone fencing of waterways on farmland as part of Rural Stewardship Scheme. Identify further areas for riparian zone fencing and tree planting. Sympathetic wetland management on farmland as prescribed by Rural Stewardship Scheme. Deer/grazing management. Maintain population of deer at 12-14deer/km2.

Continuous. 2004. 5 year plan. 2008. Continuous.

All departments. Farm Department. Forestry Department. Farm Department. Game Department.

Manage non-native species

Control mink. Trial four Game Conservancy Trust mink rafts on the River Muick. Liaison with local

Continuous. 2004/2005. Continuous.

Game Department. Rangers Department. Rangers

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mink control project officer.

Department.

Maintain favourable water quality status in all rivers and burns.

Minimise agricultural nutrient run-off, produce a farm waste management plan and risk assessment for manure and slurry. Management of septic tanks follows best practice guidelines.

2005. Continuous.

Ranger and Farm department. Road department.

Ensure walking groups and wild campers follow responsible hygiene guidelines

Provision of information at Spittal of Glen Muick Visitor Centre. Provision and maintenance of long drop toilet at two mountain bothies.

2005 Continuous.

Rangers Department. Rangers Department.

Conserve native fish stocks

Take part in River Dee Salmon catch and release scheme. Stocking of fishing lochs using local strains of native fish.



Promote responsible recreational water use with recreational users

Provision of information at Spittal of Glen Muick Visitor Centre.


Documents

Balmoral Estate Biodiversity Action Plan January 2005€¦ · Juniper Juniperus communis ♦ ♦ ♦ Twinflower Linnaea borealis ♦ ♦ ♦ Aspen Populus tremulla Tufted Saxifrage