The Management Plan for Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve 2017-2027
Address
The Reserve Manager
NatureScot
Aberarder
Kinlochlaggan
by Newtonmore
PH20 1BX
Tel: 01528 544265
Email: [email protected]
Web: nature.scot
Introduction
Creag Meagaidh NNR is an upland reserve covering nearly 4,000 ha in the district of Badenoch. It is a complex massif, with numerous mountain tops and an extensive high summit plateau edged by a dramatic series of ice-carved corries and gullies. A mosaic of habitats stretches from loch shore to montane plateau.
The summit plateau is one of the largest areas of woolly-fringe moss heath in the Highlands. There are internationally important numbers of dotterel breeding on the plateau. Descending from the plateau, the cliffs and scree slopes support a variety of rare plant communities; most noteworthy are the areas of mountain willow scrub.
Below the montane habitats the hummocky glacial deposits support a mosaic of heaths; alpine heaths in the upper stretches, dry heaths where the ground drains more freely and in the hollows wet heath.
On the lower ground there are remnants of ancient and long-established semi-natural woodland. These are the last survivors of woodland that once clothed the slopes of the mountain to a height where exposure prevents colonisation by woodland tree species. The woodland has a broad age range of trees from regenerating saplings to mature long-standing trees with ample dead wood. Along streams and in wetter areas alder dominates, while on drier ground birch and rowan are more common. The wood abounds with luxuriant shrubs, rich ground flora, fungi, mosses and lichens.
Creag Meagaidh is a popular destination for visitors attracted by the opportunities for walking, hiking or climbing. Over the last decade visitor numbers to the reserve have been steadily increasing and the range of people using the reserve has broadened.
The addition of low level paths exploring the woodlands and fields, with views to the spectacular mountain ranges, provide easy, mixed ability access for families and those on a short visit or just stopping for a short time to break a journey.
The route to Corrie Ardair continues to be popular, taking people into the heart of Creag Meagaidh. Throughout the year mountaineers and hill walkers explore the more strenuous routes up to the summits and plateau area. The three Munro's are a major draw and in the winter months the cliffs are popular for ice climbing.
The reserve plays an important role in the local community with local people visiting regularly. Events and open days provide a focal point for engaging with people in the area. The increasing numbers of visitors has a positive impact in the local area many using accommodation and other facilities as part of their visit.
Creag Meagaidh has built a strong culture of volunteering and training. The reserve is extremely popular as those seeking experience as a residential volunteers in nature conservation, many staying for up to 3 months. Volunteering is greatly beneficial for those taking part but also for the reserve and local area. Without the time input from volunteers many tasks would not be possible. They make an important contribution to our monitoring and survey work, support practical tasks and help with tasks for the local community, school and Laggan Forest Trust.
A regular programme of Rural Skills training with the local high school offers students practical experience working with reserve staff to develop skills. Student placements from colleges and universities join the reserve for up to 12 months. Many are on wildlife management courses and gain practical on the ground experience to supplement their studies.
Working with tertiary education and other partners, such as the Cairngorms National Park Authority, the reserve is able to facilitate demonstration and training on many aspects of wildlife and land management.
Protected Areas and special features
The ecological importance of Creag Meagaidh is reflected in its inclusion in the European Natura 2000 network of protected areas for both habitats and species. The Creag Meagaidh Special Area for Conservation (SAC) protects 11 different upland communities, all of which occur above 350 metres. Creag Meagaidh is a SAC for its diversity of upland habitats including montane acid grasslands, montane willow scrub, montane heaths, dry and wet heaths, blanket bog, tall montane herb communities, habitats associated with crevices and screes and nutrient-poor lochs.
The Special Protection Area (SPA) protects the internationally important population of dotterel who breed in the high ridges and associated plateau.
The entire NNR is part of the UK network of protected sites called Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The SSSI designation is for the mosaic of upland habitats which extend from broad-leaved woodland at the lowest altitudes to alpine grasslands and heaths at the summits with several dramatic inland cliffs. The site has also been designated a SSSI for the assemblages of flowering plants and for the upland breeding birds which occur.
Both the SAC and the SSSI extend onto land out with the NNR and are approximately 2200 and 3000 hectares larger than the NNR.
In addition to managing the features notified as being of national and European importance, where we can, we also manage for habitats and species identified in UK Biodiversity Action Plans (BAP) and the local Highland Biodiversity Action Plan, for example black grouse, twite, reed bunting and mountain ringlet.
Feature | Protected Area |
---|---|
Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus), breeding | Creag Meagaidh SPA |
Breeding bird assemblage | Creag Meagaidh SSSI |
Clear-water lakes or lochs with aquatic vegetation and poor to moderate nutrient levels | Creag Meagaidh SAC |
Blanket bog | Creag Meagaidh SAC |
Dry heaths | Creag Meagaidh SAC |
Wet heathland with cross-leaved heath | Creag Meagaidh SAC |
Acidic scree | Creag Meagaidh SAC |
Plants in crevices on acid rocks | Creag Meagaidh SAC |
Plants in crevices on base-rich rocks | Creag Meagaidh SAC |
Rocky slopes (includes inland cliff, rocky outcrops, chasmophytic vegetation) | Creag Meagaidh SSSI |
Tall herb communities | Creag Meagaidh SAC |
Alpine and subalpine heaths | Creag Meagaidh SAC |
Montane acid grasslands | Creag Meagaidh SAC |
Mountain willow scrub | Creag Meagaidh SAC |
Upland assemblage | Creag Meagaidh SSSI |
Vascular plant assemblage | Creag Meagaidh SSSI |
Upland birch woodland | Creag Meagaidh SSSI |
Our vision for Creag Meagaidh NNR
Creag Meagaidh NNR is an outstanding upland nature reserve delivering benefits for people and nature. Opportunities on the reserve enable visitors to get into the outdoors, in clear mountain air, experience mountain vistas, watch healthy watercourses running through landscapes of vibrant vegetation and have the expectation of a wildlife experience at every turn.
Creag Meagaidh will continue to be a National Nature Reserve (NNR) for the people and visitors of Scotland. Public benefits are delivered in partnership with communities of place and interest who play an increasingly important role in determining the outcomes delivered by the reserve, and helping secure a bright future for the reserve.
The NNR is popular with visitors, who come to sample varied outdoor experiences from low level trails through to the mountainous areas. Visitors enjoy their visits and leave well informed about the wildlife, cultural heritage and reserve management.
Visitors have a wealth of knowledge about Creag Meagaidh and are proud of their NNR. Some help as volunteers experiencing the behind the scenes management. Land managers, students and volunteers use the reserve as a place of learning and training to build up practical experience and knowledge of the natural world. Educational groups enjoy visiting because of its quality learning opportunities facilitated by knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff.
The reserve is valued in representing a distinct glacial landscape. The mosaic of habitats stretching from loch shore to montane plateau is richer, more diverse and more robust to the impacts of climate change than 40 years ago. Habitat management enhances resilience and provide for species to withstand the negative effects of climate change.
Dry and wet heaths are diverse in structure and increasing in extent. All areas of bog are active carbon stores. The reserve is recognised as an important centre for conservation and genetic diversity of montane willow scrub in the UK with targeted management increasing the extent and composition of this habitat.
The cliffs and screes support healthy populations of tall herbs which have been encouraged to expand and the species composition enhanced as part of initiatives to boost the fortunes of Scotland’s rarest alpine species. A carpet of moss heath, interspersed with healthy alpine grasslands and snow-bed communities, dominates the extensive upland plateau. The plateau provides excellent habitat for breeding dotterel.
The area of woodland continues to expand and there is a broad age range of trees from regenerating saplings to mature long-standing trees and ample dead wood. The wood abounds with fungi, mosses and lichens. The overall diversity of the wood has improved with a greater variety of tree species, luxuriant shrubs and rich ground flora. Woodland has crept up the watercourses to create high altitude riparian woodland.
The reserve is one of the foremost sites in Scotland for trialling management which seeks to improve the resilience for the nation’s populations of high altitude species including innovative techniques such as translocation. A comprehensive record of the NNR and its management has been built up through research, survey, surveillance and monitoring.
The reserve shows best practice in its management, and is used to demonstrate land and visitor management which enhance natural capital and the value of Scotland’s natural places. All these benefits, from a high quality visitor experience to hydroelectric generation, continue to be delivered in harmony with high quality nature and landscapes.
Natural Heritage Management
Objective NH1: Enhance the mosaic of habitats and species on the reserve through appropriate management, maintaining or increasing their extent and distribution.
The extent and altitudinal range of the reserve means it contains a diversity of semi natural and natural vegetation types from tundra-like plateau vegetation to loch side woodland, and a complete transition in between. Much of the interest of Creag Meagaidh lies in its diversity of plant communities from native woodland through dwarf shrub heaths, mires and flushes and grasslands to moss-heath and late snow bed vegetation. The focus of our management is on enhancing this mosaic of habitats and species; the more robust these habitats are the more resilient they will be to climate change.
One of the main activities on the reserve is the management of impacts from herbivores grazing. Creag Meagaidh does not sit in isolation but is part of a wider ecological area. We therefore work with our neighbours on some aspects of our management. Through the Spean Bridge Deer Management Group (sub-group of the Monadhliath DMG) we agree targets for delivering public benefit through our deer management. These are set to reflect the condition of the habitats and impact of browsing across the DMG area. The current target is for 3-5 deer per hectare; we will revise this as required through the term of the plan.
Controlling deer numbers has a positive effect on the ground conditions. It reduces browsing impacts, allows for regeneration, and reduces trampling in particular for the most sensitive habitats of wet heath and bog.
We will continue to work on encouraging species diversity in the woodland and increasing the overall extent of woodland. Healthy woodlands support the broadest range of species and therefore it is beneficial to have a diversity of tree and shrub species and also ages of trees. The woodlands are predominately on the lower slopes of the reserve but are steadily moving upwards. The current pattern of spread is following natural ravines and watercourses creating fingers of woodland through the heath.
Controlling deer browsing will encourage natural regeneration. However for some species there are not sufficient regeneration sources on site and by collecting seed from the reserve, growing on and planting we are able to increase the types of trees present. We will do this for aspen, juniper, holly and hazel.
While we are encouraging the spread of woodland across the reserve we are aware that this is resulting in the loss of some of the protected heath habitats on the reserve. We will redress this by restoring areas dominated by purple moor grass on the lower slopes into heath.
During the last plan we brought Highland cattle onto Creag Meagaidh for this purpose. They are used to graze the lower slopes of the reserve. They are beneficial in breaking up the surface, enriching with dung and controlling the purple moor grass. They also break up areas of bracken, opening up the ground layer and allowing other species to establish.
Below the farmhouse the in-bye land supplements our wider management. We manage this to maximise biodiversity benefits and, as they are close to our low level path network, produce a wildlife experience for our visitors. The fields also produce all the supplementary feed we require through the year for the cattle and stalking ponies.
We are also able to rotate field crops through this area. They provide an excellent food source for breeding and wintering birds encouraging higher numbers of target species, such as twite and reed bunting onto the reserve – these fields are also used by black grouse in Spring during the lekking period and by some females with families.
The fragility of habitats increases with altitude. The summit plateau and crag communities are most vulnerable to impacts from a changing environment.
Below the crags on the upper slopes there are areas of mountain willow scrub with woolly willow as the dominate species. This is one of the rarest habitats in Scotland and it is important we enhance this habitat. Methods for doing so have been trialled in other areas of Scotland and we will review options before considering which to take forward here.
We will continue with a programme of surveillance and monitoring to assess and inform our management. We will prioritise monitoring which informs management or contributes to national programmes such as the Butterfly Monitoring Scheme.
Task No. | Task description |
---|---|
NH1.1 | Manage deer numbers to 3-5 per hectare as agreed with Deer Management Group to improve overall habitat condition. |
NH1.2 | Assess deer population and impacts on vegetation across NNR once every five years |
NH1.3 | Monitor deer numbers throughout the reserve and report cull figures annually to Deer Management Group. |
NH1.4 | Maintain annual membership to Spean Bridge Deer Management Group and attend biannual meetings. |
NH1.5 | manage habitats in the lower altitudes to enhance and extend wet heath and increase biodiversity benefits |
NH1.6 | Produce and implement plan to increase areas of natural regeneration |
NH1.7 | Where appropriate encourage the spread of woodlands and improved species diversity through planting rarer native species. |
NH1.8 | Undertake browsing and dung transects to assess impacts of deer on woodland regeneration and upland habitat condition. |
NH1.9 | Produce and implement plan to increase extent and enhancement of montane willow communities |
NH1.10 | Maintain watching brief and remove all non-native trees and shrubs (especially rhododendron). |
NH1.11 | Consider wider benefits of translocating to the reserve of appropriate threatened species using The Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations |
Objective NH2: To undertake and facilitate relevant research, survey, surveillance and monitoring on the reserve to inform future management and contribute to national programmes.
Over the years, Creag Meagaidh NNR has been the subject of many survey and monitoring projects. These have produced a wealth of information about managing an upland site for nature conservation. We will review this information and use the results to produce a research & monitoring plan which will guide us through this management plan period.
Research & monitoring of the nationally and internationally important habitat features will take priority and be used to inform our management. We will also focus on species and habitats for which the reserve represents an important resource i.e. UK and local Biodiversity Action Plan species and habitats.
We see Creag Meagaidh as an important resource for research work due to the long record of work already carried out on the reserve. We will continue to encourage and where possible support students, enthusiasts, universities and colleges in using Creag Meagaidh as a location for research.
We will continue to support and encourage volunteers and students carry out research projects that contribute to our knowledge of the NNR.
Task no. | Task Description |
---|---|
NH2.1 | Review our research, survey and monitoring requirements in 2018 and produce and implement a prioritised programme of essential and desirable research, survey monitoring and surveillance. |
NH2.2 | Support others wishing to carry out research work on the reserve where this is compatible with the interests of the reserve, and collate all research reports produced. |
NH2.3 | Publish all SNH commissioned research and make this available online. |
NH2.4 | Complete species surveys for non-designated species. |
Management for People
Objective VM1: Provide a welcoming, enjoyable and high quality visitor experience by maintaining, reviewing and refreshing visitor facilities.
National Nature Reserves are excellent locations where people are encouraged to visit and experience nature. Creag Meagaidh is a well-visited reserve with over 20,000 visitors each year. Although long-established as a place for hillwalking, mountaineering and climbing recent developments have encouraged a more diverse audience. Over the course of the last management plan we extended the car park, and installed new signage. We improved and extended the network of paths in the lower section of the reserve, creating a number of short circular walks. The visitor experience is enhanced by the provision of interpretation and seating areas on these routes.
We will continue to maintain the path network and associated infrastructure. We do not have any plans for extending the existing or adding new paths.
We will need to review the interpretation part of the way through this plan and consider options for replacing it if the condition, relevance or presentation has changed. This will also be an opportunity to improve what is provided and look at options for interpretation which changes to provide interest for repeat visitors.
We will continue to provide leaflets with information on visiting and exploring the reserve. These will be available online, on site and in local tourism outlets.
We keep track of visitor numbers using automated counters. We also encourage informal feedback. Creag Meagaidh will be included in national visitor satisfaction surveys on a rotation with other reserves across Scotland.
Task No. | Task Description |
---|---|
VM1.1 | Maintain and replace signs, leaflet dispensers, picnic tables and interpretive panels as necessary. |
VM1.2 | Review signage and interpretation across the reserve in 2022-23. |
VM1.3 | Maintain all waymarked promoted trails to appropriate standard. |
VM1.4 | Continue to count visitor numbers. Re-evaluate the methods used in 2023-24 and include implementation of any new counter devices in the management plan. |
VM1.5 | Ensure reserve leaflets are up to date and available on-site, digitally and in appropriate local outlets. |
Objective VM2: Promote awareness and enthusiasm for nature, inspire learning and exploration in ways that help people connect with and value nature more.
One of the roles for Creag Meagaidh is to raise awareness and enthusiasm for nature. Many people will visit and explore the reserve independently and be inspired by this diverse and interesting place. However we also see value in facilitating visits and sharing our knowledge of the reserve and its interests. We will offer a programme of events each year including guided walks and events on specific themes. These will be open to all and will hopefully encourage people to visit.
We will hold an open event each year with a focus on local people and visitors enjoying the reserve and learning more about the work we do here and why it is important.
We want to find ways to keep people informed about what is going on at Creag Meagaidh and to keep them up to date with what is about and interesting through the year. Creag Meagaidh will continue to have pre-visit information available online to help people plan their visit. We will use social media to promote the reserve and to continue to engage with people hopefully inspiring them to visit here or other reserves in the NNR suite.
The reserve is an important resource in the local area and a focus for many visitors. We will continue to promote other tourism attractions in the Laggan to Spean Bridge area to let our visitors know about other places to go, places to eat or stay. We will also promote other National Nature Reserves within Badenoch & Strathspey and Lochaber.
Task No. | Task Description |
---|---|
VM2.1 | Provide guided walks /events each year on a variety of themes. |
VM2.2 | Facilitate at least one open event per year. |
VM2.3 | Use social and online media to promote the reserve, inspire people and keep them upto date. |
VM2.4 | Support links with and promote other tourist attractions in Laggan through distribution of leaflets in the information point and on-site information. |
VM2.5 | Promote all National Nature Reserves within Badenoch & Strathspey and Lochaber. |
Objective VM3: To ensure communities, volunteers and educational groups play an increasingly important role in determining the outcomes delivered by the reserve and make significant contributions to the management of the reserve.
Volunteers are an important and essential part of Creag Meagaidh. We are fortunate to have accommodation to offer to long-term volunteers and encourage people to be based at the reserve for at least 3 weeks. This provides the volunteers with a more in-depth experience allowing them to get involved with hands on management and build up a range of skills. They also have time to complete a project on a subject they are particularly interested in. It also provides staff at Creag Meagaidh with invaluable support in delivering many desirable projects that we would not otherwise be able to achieve.
We support a residential student placement from a land management course each year. They are generally with us for 12 months and will be based at Creag Meagaidh but are offered the opportunity to work on a number of other reserves during that time. The students are supported in developing their practical skills and offered training to complement their studies.
Creag Meagaidh has created a strong link with local secondary schools and provides a programme of training for students on rural skills. This gives students hands on experience in the field to develop skills for future employment.
We will continue to work with local schools and encourage them to use the reserve for outdoor learning. We will also support tertiary education visits.
The closest residential community to Creag Meagaidh is Laggan and the reserve staff are regularly engaged with activities in the community. Staff attend community council meetings and maintain contact with the community association. Reserve staff will be working to improve links within the Glen Spean area.
The reserve plays host to numerous visits from communities of enthusiasts and specialists who undertake visits for enrichment, survey and appreciation of the natural and cultural heritage. Reserve staff will continue to facilitate these visits and to give added value for our visitors.
In the past volunteers from Creag Meagaidh have helped create ponds at the local school and helped Laggan Forest Trust with projects. Where we can we will continue to offer support from our long term volunteers to practical projects being done by the school, community council or local trusts.
SNH owns an area of land outwith the NNR on the south side of the A86 road stretching from the road to the loch side. We manage this for the benefit of local biodiversity and also maintaining access for permitted fishing. We are open to suggestions from the local communities as to how this area could be managed for mutual benefit in the future.
Task No. | Task Description |
---|---|
VM3.1 | Develop a programme for volunteers (one-off projects and for medium to long term volunteers) in 2018 and review annually. |
VM3.2 | Support volunteers on the reserve to ensure they get the most out of their experience and by providing them with appropriate training, PPE and access to SNH systems when required. |
VM3.3 | Support an annual programme of rural skills students. |
VM3.4 | Support tertiary education group visits to the reserve. |
VM3.5 | Support local school visits to the reserve. |
VM3.6 | Work with communities, enthusiasts and specialists to enhance visits |
VM3.7 | Provide an annual best practice day for tertiary education groups on deer management. |
Objective VM4: To use our work and experience to train, demonstrate to, collaborate with and influence present and future land managers and policy makers.
Creag Meagaidh is well established as a location for training and demonstration. The reserve has built up a regular programme of events in collaboration with universities and colleges, land management organisations and the Cairngorms National Park Authority.
The reserve facilitates events on land management with a particular focus on sharing best practice on open habitats, woodland and deer management. For example we provide an annual best practice event for students from a number of land and wildlife management courses on all aspects of deer management from impacts on habitats, safe handling through to good working practices in the deer larder. This brings in expertise from across SNH to share knowledge with the students.
The reserve will continue to provide a base for a number of training events and skills development course. We will priorities those with a land management focus. The facilities at Creag Meagaidh will allow us to host certified courses on deer, estate and nature conservation management delivered by a number of organisations.
We would look to work with our immediate neighbours especially those who jointly manage the Creag Meagidh SSSI/SPA/SAC to join up beneficial management and collaborate over our ownership boundaries to enhance public benefits.
We will continue to support these events providing a location, facilities and expertise.
Task No. | Task Description |
---|---|
VM4.1 | Provide or support at least 2 demonstration event per year, particularly sharing best practice for open habitats, woodland and deer management. |
VM4.2 | Support training events on practical land management subjects through providing facilities and expertise. |
VM4.3 | Support training events on nature conservation awareness subjects through providing facilities and expertise. |
VM4.4 | Continue to collaborate with immediate neighbours to enhance public benefit over ownership boundaries. |
Property Management
Objective PM1: To manage the land and reserve properties responsibly and in collaboration with our neighbours.
We will manage the reserve and SNH Property responsibly following good practice and efficiently.
We manage the infrastructure and do regular maintenance and health and safety checks. We maintain equipment used on site and ensure it conforms to the appropriate regulations.
We have responsibility for the upkeep of a number of buildings on site; we inspect these on a regular basis to ensure they are fit for purpose. We review and update our fire plan annually.
The built infrastructure includes an office base for staff and residential accommodation for volunteers in Aberarder Farmhouse. In addition to this we have facilities for managing livestock. We will manage SNH owned livestock by observing the industry best practice and the relevant animal welfare regulations.
We have a number of sheds for storage of equipment and materials. We also have infrastructure for the micro-hydro scheme.
The office facilities need upgraded and over the course of the plan we will consider options for moving these into a different building; one of the currently disused steadings. At the same time we will be considering creating a new meeting room for groups attending our events. This will allow us to remove the office functions from Aberarder, removing the need to share meeting / kitchen space with the volunteers and create a space for visiting groups to use during training events. We will also continue to use the barn space.
We provide office space for the Scottish Avalanche Information Service staff who use Creag Meagaidh as a base during the winter season.
Task No. | Task Description |
---|---|
PM1.1 | Maintain the visitor infrastructure (trails, car park, toilet, viewpoint etc) in good condition. |
PM1.2 | Carry out quarterly safety and condition assessments of all visitor infrastructures and keep accurate records. |
PM1.3 | Ensure the property is well managed and conforms with Health & Safety Regulations including risk assessment and fire plan reviews. |
PM 1.4 | Fixed costs - utilities, office costs etc. |
PM 1.5 | Plan and deliver an upgrade to office facilities and meeting space. |
Planning and reporting
Objective PR1: Ensure management planning is adaptive and effective.
Ensure management planning is adaptive and effective.
The reserve plan provides valuable continuity however it is only part of the process and it will be monitored and reviewed on an on-going basis with formal milestones at regular intervals.
An interim review will be completed mid-plan unless there are significant changes that require an earlier review.
We will review the plan in the final year to inform preparation of the next management plan.
Task No. | Task Description |
---|---|
PR1.1 | Update annual budget for bidding. |
PR1.2 | Report on finance and projects in corporate systems. |
PR1.3 | Update annual report at least every quarter and finalise by end of Q1 of following financial year including objective evaluations. |
PR1.4 | Do interim review of management plan in 2023-24 |
PR1.5 | Review current reserve plan and complete new management plan |
Document properties
Mapping: Produced by Geographical Information Unit, SNH.
Authors: Rory Richardson – Reserve Manager, Chris Donald - Operations Manager
Signed off by: George Hogg, Unit Manager, South Highland
Date: April 2017
Links
For information about Scotland’s National Nature Reserves and further information about Creag Meagaidh NNR please visit Scotland’s NNR website.
For information on the protected areas associated with Creag Meagaidh NNR please go to the SNHi website.
Other useful links:
Joint Nature Conservation Committee
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