4 Appendix 1 – target notes

1

Road embankment with mixed scattered scrub; mainly hawthorn Crataegus monogyna.

2

Medium mature copper beech Fagus sylvatica purpurea; with medium bat roost potential.

3

Mixed plantation woodland; with European larch Larix europaeus, gorse Ulex europaeus and Scots pine Pinus sylvestris.

4

Broadleaved woodland (Braemoss Wood); dominated by silver birch Betula pendula and downy birch Betula pubescens with alder Alnus glutinosa, sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus, holly Ilex aquifolium, willows Salix spp., European larch, ash Fraxinus excelsior, pedunculate oak Quercus robur, elder Sambucus nigra, beech Fagus sylvatica and sitka spruce Picea sitchensis. The ground layer includes species such as bramble Rubus fruticosus agg., rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum, bracken Pteridium aquilinum, bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, cock’s-foot Dactylis glomerata, rosebay willowherb Chamerion angustifolium, common nettle Urtica dioica. Some areas are marshy and have locally abundant climbing corydalis Ceratocaprios claviculata, frequent soft rush Juncus effusus and creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens. There are also occasional areas of developing bog communities with very locally frequent heather Calluna vulgaris, bog stitchwort Stellaria uliginosa, wild angelica Angelica sylvestris, marsh thistle Cirsium palustre and a very small patch of sphagnum moss Sphagnum sp. The moisture is provided by the wet ditch running through woodland. Situated along the southern boundary of the woodland are a number of mature beeches that have medium bat roost potential.

5

Trimmed hawthorn hedgerow, interspersed with immature silver birch trees.

6

Stand of Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica measuring ~40m _ ~10m. At the time of survey in July 2007, this stand showed signs of having been treated with herbicide. There is also a small stand of Japanese knotweed (measuring ~10m by ~1m) on the northern verge of the existing A75 a short distance east of this point.

7

n/a

8

Rocky outcrops.

9

Small patch of exposed rock and scattered shrubs, mainly broom Cytisus scoparius.

10

Continuous scrub along embankment of existing A75; mainly hawthorn with ash and Scots pine.

11

Broad-leaved woodland (Braehill Birch Bank); mainly beech and holly with a ground layer dominated by bracken and bluebell.

12

Stream; ~1m wide flowing southwards on the eastern side of minor road. Reasonable flow at time of survey and un-shaded. Potentially suitable for otter movement, sub-optimal water vole potential.

13

Minor stream running along the edge of woodland. Reasonable flow ~20cm wide by up to ~10cm deep.

14

Mixed plantation woodland (Poppin Well Wood) dominated by sycamore, larch, Scot’s pine with alder by the stream. Trees appear to be at least 50 years old. Predominantly hazel Corylus avellana under-storey with elder and also including bramble, bracken, wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella, opposite-leaved golden-saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium, foxglove Digitalis purpurea, marsh marigold Caltha palustris, climbing corydalis, enchanter’s nightshade Circaea lutetiana, common nettle and creeping buttercup. Woodland also contains a rookery, consisting of 10-12 nests.

15

Dwelling at Oakbank with small domestic garden bordered by mixed plantation woodland to the west with improved pasture to the east.

16

Mixed plantation woodland (Braehill Oak Wood) of similar composition to that on opposite side of the A75 (see TN 14) but with a greater frequency of Scot’s pine and sycamore including several over 100 years old. A line of mature beech characterise the western edge of the woodland. The understorey consists includes locally frequent rhododendron and occasional elder and hawthorn over a ground flora of bracken, red campion Silene dioica, violet Viola sp., wood avens Geum urbanum, ground ivy Glechoma hederacea and some semi-mature ash.

17

Ditch running parallel to the eastbound A75; slow-flowing ditch running from broken ground drain, bordered by species poor hedgerow dominated by hawthorn and locally frequent elder Sambucus nigra. Aquatic species are limited but include watercress Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum, emergent locally frequent soft rush Juncus effusus, and marginal great willowherb Epilobium hirsutum, common nettle and false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius. Low potential as water vole habitat as the area is grazed short and vegetation is fairly sparse.

18

Barn owl carcass found on 5th December 2006 on road-side.

19

Lay-by with scrub border; including birch broom, bracken, hawthorn and gorse.

20

Solitary mature ash (~100 years old).

21

House with associated maintained garden.

22

Track and woodland; green lane bordered by trimmed hedgerow to east. Woodland to west of track appears to be dominated by semi-mature silver birch with a dense under-storey of rhododendron.

23

Bungalow with associated well maintained garden.

24

Seven mature ash trees around the edge of garden; all with low-medium bat roost potential.

25

Two immature ash trees, low bat roost potential.

26

Bungalow, outbuildings and garden; all apparently abandoned within last 1-3 years. Stables have medium-high bat potential, other buildings low-medium. Swallow nests found in stables. Gardens characterised by ornamental shrubs and out-grown amenity grassland.

27

Species-poor semi-improved grassland; currently waterlogged with soft rush abundant.

28

Two mature beech trees; medium-high bat potential.

29

Small patch of marshy grassland; soft rush and tufted hair grass.

30

Immature coniferous plantation, dominated by larch, approx. 3m tall. Area also includes gorse, Norway spruce Picea albies, rosebay willowherb, cock’s-foot and common knapweed Centaurea nigra. The area lying to the north west bordering the A75 has an interesting marshy grassland floral assemblage with frequent greater bird’s foot trefoil Lotus pedunculatus, meadowsweet Fillipendula ulmaria, sharp flowered rush Juncus acutiflorus and occasional sneezewort Achillea ptarmica and common fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica.

31

Small patch of broad-leaved plantation woodland; willows Salix sp, cherry laurel Prunus laurocerasus and cypresses.

32

Woodland dominated by semi-mature Scot’s-pine (mostly approx 12-15m tall and at least 100 years old). Fairly closed canopy, with hawthorn, alder, beech, larch and Norway spruce amongst under-storey. Many old wind-throws are present. Ground flora is fairly limited to patches of acid preferring flora such as climbing corydalis, broad buckler fern Dryopteris dilatata, wavy hair-grass Deschampsia flexuosa and common woodland species such as herb robert Geranium robertianum, ground ivy Glechoma hederacea, bracken Pteridium aquilinum and red campion Silene dioica.

33

Trimmed hedge dominated by beech and hawthorn.

34

Stream; ~1.5m wide with good flow at time of survey. Grazed grassy banks within fenced pasture. Possibly suitable for water voles and otters. Scrub of alder and gorse present adjacent to existing A75.

35

Broad-leaved woodland; oak, willow species, Elm species Ulmus spp. sycamore, gorse, hawthorn, bramble, rosebay willowherb and cock’s-foot. Fairly open canopy. Two mature sycamore with low bat roost potential. One standing dead tree.

36

Immature planted broad-leaved woodland adjacent to A75 road; dominated by birch and goat willow Salix cinerea. The woodland appears to have been planted approximately 20 years ago on fairly waterlogged ground (a bog is present within 250m to the north east). A network of ditches is present throughout for drainage purposes. The ground flora is reminiscent of a successional bog community with a typically acidic sward of herbs and grasses but with limited diversity due to the evident closing of the tree canopy. Typical species include tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa, creeping soft grass Holcus mollis, tormentil Potentilla erecta, climbing corydalis, and occasional wood sorrel, violet Viola sp., marsh thistle Cirsium palustre, bog stitchwort Stellaria uliginosa, honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum, moss Hylocomium splendens and foxglove.

37

Several beech trees and one oak with low-medium bat roost potential.