| Tayside Biodiversity - Tayside
Biodiversity Action Plan - Woodland - Upland Oakwoods |
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DEFINITION
Upland Oakwoods are defined as those woodlands dominated by oak; Sessile oak
Quercus petraea usually dominates, with Pedunculate oak Quercus robur locally.
Birch Betula spp. is generally present in the canopy with varying amounts of
Holly Ilex aquifolium (not often found in Tayside), Rowan Sorbus aucuparia, Hazel
Corylus avellana and occasionally Aspen Populus tremula present as the predominant
understorey species.
Oak-dominated woods are defined
by the National Vegetation Classification (NVC) in the following
extract from the Ecological Classification of Woodland HAP Types: |
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| Upland Oakwoods |
woodland within the upland region of UK generally
dominated by oak or, in Scotland with at least 30% of the
canopy cover comprising oak. Small areas of other communities
may occur, for example along streams (W7 - Alder-ash woodland
with yellow pimpernel) or towards the base of slopes which
experience flushing (W9 -
Upland mixed broadleaved woodland with dog’s mercury). |
| NVC Types |
W10 - Lowland mixed broadleaved woodland with bluebell/wild
hyacinth
W11 - Upland oak-birch woodland with bluebell/wild hyacinth
W16 - Lowland oak-birch woodland with bilberry/blaeberry
W17 - Upland oak-birch woodland with bilberry/blaeberry |
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CURRENT STATUS AND EXTENT OF HABITAT
Across the UK the extent of this woodland type is estimated between 70,000 -100,000
hectares, concentrated mainly in the western half of the country. These woodlands
are recognised as being of international importance due to the extent and distinctiveness
of the flora (especially bryophytes) and fauna they support. For some of these
species Britain and Ireland hold a substantial part of the world and European
population. Upland Oakwoods are at the limit of their northern range in Scotland.
The Tayside Native Woodland Inventory of 1995 indicates the total Upland Oakwood
area in Tayside as 1,900 ha. |
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Carie |
Fonab |
| Grid reference |
NN613574 to NN615569 |
NN940539 |
| Oakwood Status & History |
The oak woodland was part of an extensive
semi-natural deciduous woodland which extended along Loch
Rannoch. The oak was almost certainly managed during the
18th and 19th century for timber and tanbark. This was followed
by a period when the woodland was grazed as woodland pasture.
The site was acquired in 1958. Management during the 1960’s
sought to convert some of the oak and most of the birch woodland
to conifers by underplanting. Recently an extensive programme
of conifer removal has been carried out. |
The woodland was probably planted during
the 18th or early 19th century on an ancient woodland site.
The current crop consists of planted maidens or carefully
singled coppice. The site was acquired by Forest Enterprise
from the Hydro Electric Board in 1952.
Management has included thinning of most of the wood, several
group fellings, bracken control and some (largely unsuccessful)
replanting in felled areas. |
| Total area |
19.5 hectares |
18 hectares |
| NVC type |
W17: Upland oak-birch woodland with bilberry/blaeberry. |
W11: Upland oak-birch woodland W11: Upland
oak-birch woodland |
| Oak Species |
Pedunculate oak Quercus robur |
Pedunculate oak Quercus robur |
| Present stocking |
80 - 150 stems per hectare |
100 - 300 stems per hectare |
| Other species |
Downy birch Betula pubescens 50%; Silver
birch Betula pendula 10%; Aspen Populus tremula 1%; Rowan
Sorbus aucuparia 1%. |
Silver birch Betula pendula 5%. |
| Potential |
To continue to increase the area of oak/birch
woodland by removal of conifer crops from under existing
areas of mature trees and by felling blocks of conifer within
the woodland. Options for extending the woodland beyond its
current compartment boundaries are more limited. Regeneration
will initially clearly be largely of birch, but oak would
be expected to colonise the woodland in the long term. |
There are several options for increasing
the area of woodland by removing blocks of conifer within
and adjacent to the main area of oak woodland. Regeneration
has largely failed in the past due to deer browsing pressure.
Therefore selecting the most appropriate deer management
must be a priority. |
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NATURE
CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE
Upland Oakwoods take a long time to evolve ecologically and are valuable wildlife
sites. The ground flora associated with this woodland type varies according to
the NVC type. Upland Oak-birch with bilberry/blaeberry (W17) is located on very
acid, shallow soils where the tree growth is usually slow. The ground vegetation
here is dominated by blaeberry. Upland Oak-birch with bluebell/ wild hyacinth
(W11) however, is found on acid freely draining leached brown earths. The tree
growth is stronger here and bracken is often dominant in the ground layer. Both
NVC types occupy welldrained slopes. |
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