Freedom of Information Request - Bean Rigg mire (part of NNR)
Date: 03 February 2025
Our ref: SIR178474/A4969042
Information Request – Bean Rigg mire (part of NNR)
Your Request
Original request
In 1968 I undertook a summer’s work surveying the vegetation and flora of Beanrigg mire under the supervision of David Bellamy, University of Durham. It produced a report for the Mire Research Group and this was also submitted as a dissertation for my Botany degree, awarded in 1969.
At that time, the “Murder Moss” group of mires had no statutory designation, but following intensive survey work in the 1970s they were first assigned SSSI status and later became an NNR.
By chance, earlier this month I was driving from Selkirk to St Boswells (my satnav told me to use this route, it wasn’t my idea) and I stopped to observe the mire from a distance. I didn’t approach it closely, as I didn’t have permission. However, even from the main road it was clear that the whole basin had been taken over by willow carr. In 1968 there was a small amount of willow (Salix cinerea) in the central section where the water was deepest but it didn’t shade the ecologically significant marginal areas. The site is noteworthy for its rare bryophytes, including Tomenthypnum nitens.
Later, on enquiring of a local naturalist who lives near Lauder, I learned that regular maintenance was carried out at the site in previous decades but that recently it has been neglected.
I’d be grateful, therefore, if you would treat this enquiry as a FOI request and send me the file on Beanrigg (or Bean Rigg) mire and its associated NNR, selecting those parts which provide a view of the conservation work (or lack of it) that has been carried out there since the formation of Nature Scot. Attached are photos for your files.
Clarified request
Yes I am only interested in the last four years. I realise it is harder to look back further. And yes, I am interested in Beanrigg Moss. You can see the farmhouse, Beanrigg, at the back of one of the pictures, but as you say it is obscured by the willow growing out of Blackpool Moss. To be absolutely clear, I am attaching a section of the OS map which shows the basin to which I am referring. The OS labels it Beanrig which I believe is inaccurate. The county boundary runs right through the moss, whereas it forms a dogleg through Blackpool Moss.
Our Response
Following a search of the information we hold our response is attached separately.
We have marked out (redacted) some personal data in the documents provided. Releasing the personal data into the public domain in response to an access to information request would breach the Data Protection Act 2018. We are therefore withholding the information under EIRs Regulation 11(2) (Personal data).
We have also redacted some information, including costings, under EIRs Regulation 10(5)(e) (Confidentiality of commercial information). There is a strong public interest in openness and transparency, particularly with reference to accountability for spending public money. However, on balance, commercial interests should not unduly prejudiced by the release of commercially sensitive information.
For information, Beanrig Moss is part of Whitlaw Mosses Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Whitlaw and Branxholme Special Area of Conservation (SAC), which is made up of four separate mosses, of which Beanrig Moss is one of them. During the late 1970’s and early 1980’s the effects of eutrophication became obvious on all the mosses with the rapid spread of Reed across the sites, as a result the management has been designed to reduce the spread of reeds and the input of additional nutrients into the moss, as well as maintaining the important biodiversity that is found here.
The management of Beanrig Moss consists of:
• Fen Meadow/Reed Mowing – mowing and the removal of the cuttings, often by baling, of various areas of fen meadow around the edge of the moss to maintain the variety of structural diversity of the fen meadow and help control the spread of Reeds.
• Reed Control – the continual work of preventing the spread of reed, by a programme of reed control through targeted weed wiping and cutting.
• Scrub Control – control of Birch and Hawthorn regeneration across the moss and the monitoring of Willow regeneration and the control to maintain the size of the patches. Willow carr is maintained as it supports the nationally rare Coralroot Orchid.
• Encouragement of the neighbouring owners of the moss to manage the catchment, particularly those fields directly adjacent to Beanrig, as low fertility fields, to help buffer the inputs to the mosses from the effects of agricultural activities.
How We Handled Your Request
We believe you have asked for environmental information as defined in the Environmental Information (Scotland Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’), so we are dealing with your request under those regulations. To be able to use the EIRs, we must apply an exemption under section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (‘FOISA’). The Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance recommends that public authorities apply this exemption to environmental information and handle request under the EIRs.
If you would like to find out more about the access to information legislation, there is a guidance booklet available on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website.
Review and Appeal
I hope this information meets your requirements, but if you are dissatisfied with how we have responded to your information request, please write to us within 40 working days explaining your concerns. You can contact us at Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW or email us at [email protected]. We will carry out a review of our response and contact you with our findings within 20 working days.
If you are not satisfied following this, you can make an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner within 6 months. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer,
NatureScot
Document downloads
Due to accessibility issues the attached information, referenced above, is available on request by contacting the FOI team at [email protected]. Please reference the case number (starting with SIR).
