NatureScot Commissioned Report 499: Alder woodland – tree condition assessment survey – Mound Alderwoods Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation

This survey was commissioned in order to assess the condition of the alder woodland within the Mound Alderwoods Special Area of Conservation, with Forest Research (FR) contributing to the work through a Partnership Agreement.

Defoliation and subsequent dieback of alders within the Mound Alderwoods were noted by NatureScot personnel between 2005 and 2008 and subsequent ad hoc observations have suggested that the condition of the trees has not improved, and may indeed have declined, in recent years. The health of the trees within this area is of particular concern because the Mound is recognised both as one of the country’s best examples of Alder woodland on floodplains and as the largest estuarine alderwood in Britain. A better understanding of the nature of the dieback which has affected the trees is required in order to determine its likely cause(s) and thereby ascertain whether particular on-site management measures can be modified or adopted to help promote conditions for good tree health.

Pages: 51
Published: 2012

NatureScot Commissioned Report 499