Woolly Willow and
sub-arctic scrub
Andrew Warwick NTS
&
Heather McHaffie RBGE
Salix lanata restoration on
Ben Lawers NNR &
Meall na Samhna
Woolly Willow Salix lanata
10km2 distribution map & sites
Ben Lawers & Tarmachan 2 (457)
Meall na Samhna
114 (326)
Glas Tulaichean
1 (7)
Coire Kander
50
Glen Callater
123
Caenlochan
76
Coire Sharroch
243 (618)
Coire Garbhlach
30 (260)
Tigh Mor na Seilge
106
Sgurr nan Conbhairean
101
Carn Ghluasaid
57
Coire Cheap
829
Collaborative research background for
conservation work
Biodiversity: taxonomy,
genetics, mycology & ecology
of sub-arctic willow scrub
2002 - 2005
• Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
• Macaulay Institute
• Scottish Crop Research Institute
• Scottish Agriculture College
• University of Aberdeen
• University of Edinburgh
• Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland
Salix lanata
UK BAP species
with SAF support
Corrie Sharroch
Woolly Willow
Steering Group
NTS, SNH,
RBGE, BSBI
The vision
• Increase to > 2000 plants in total
• No population fewer than 100 plants
• Each plant close enough for pollination
Corrie Garbhlach
Caenlochan
Corrie Sharroch
New shade
tunnel at
RBGE for the
montane
willows using
SAF funding
• Collected seed and
cuttings
• Minimum of 30
accessions
• Careful records of
sources
• Mixing of plants in final
planting
• Leaf preserved from
parent plant for
traceability
Planting
Corrie Garbhlach
• ~ 30 existing plants scattered on the ledges
• 250 S. lanata from 3 other sites of 22 accessions
• Glenmore Lodge climbers planting thanks to SAF
Corrie Sharroch expansion
• Sites selected for three different species
• Sites approved by SNH expert
• Sites flagged for planting, 6 per flag
• Volunteer group, RBGE & SNH & BSBI
• 2,400 saplings planted (618 Woolly Willow)
Caenlochan final count 2011
Extreme weather prevented planting 2012
200 Woolly Willows still to plant
What next?
Monitoring
• 2 - 5 year assessment for establishment
• 5 - 10 year assessment for seed production
• 10 years plus? for new seedlings
• New seedling survival and flowering
Archive of all associated minutes, papers,
surveys, numbers planted and their sources
Now a subgroup of Montane Scrub Action Group