Project Acheivements to Date

In the Flood Plain Woodland

Consultation and Discussion

Discussion with local bodies and statutory agencies including SEPA, SOAEFD (now SERAD), SNH, FWAG and the Tweed Foundation has provided a basis on which to proceed with a united approach to delivering this project. Before commencing the project, local landowners met with Borders Forest Trust representatives for a series of consultative meetings. This yielded a very positive response.

Consultation is ongoing and continues through two steering groups - one for the local community and the other for professional and statutory bodies so to enable an informed and united approach to delivering the project. Two steering groups have been set The Technical Steering Group comprise of a relevant range local bodies and agencies who advise and give their views on the technical aspects of the project. Volunteers from the valley form the Community Steering Group and between them represent a wide range of interests. The Community Steering Group provides the community with a voice on the planning and implementation aspects of the project, for example pathways, brash burning and car parking.

Hydrological Survey

This survey will review available data and assess the project's potential impact upon the landscape. The resultant document will provide information for future management decisions.

Ornithological Monitoring

Ornithological monitoring of the Ettrick Marshes is an on-going part of the project. It will assess the impact of management decisions on bird populations.

Management Plan

This will provide the project partners with a structured theoretical and detailed practical framework for the future development of the Ettrick Habitat Restoration project.

New Native Woodlands

Conifers Were Felled

The project has planted nearly 30ha of new native woodlands. Overall, 50,000 trees were planted in the winter of 1999-2000. The tree species planted correspond closely to those that naturally grew in this area in the past. These species included ash, oak, alder, birch, willow, aspen, hawthorn and blackthorn. Each species of tree has an ecological preference and the matching of site and species is crucial for long-term success. Ash and oak prefer the sheltered deep soils at the foot of the hills, whilst birch and hawthorn will tolerate the higher exposed sites with thin soils. Aspen, willow and alder favour the wet hollows, found throughout all of the planting sites.

It was crucial that the new woodlands fit in with the landscape and link with existing habitats to provide green corridors along which many animals can travel. Within the new plantings, areas of open ground provide space for wild flowers to thrive and sheltered spots for invertebrates such as butterflies.

Tree Felling

Forest Enterprise has completed a programme of premature clear felling of 30 hectares of Sitka spruce at Gamescleuch and Ettrickside. This plantation occupied land that formerly was water meadows and wetlands.

Regeneration

In large areas of the valley, natural regeneration will recreate native woodland. Before natural regeneration occurs, the following conditions are necessary:

1. Source of tree seed
2. Light
3. A disturbed soil

As there are small pockets of native trees in the valley, there is no shortage of seed in the area. The regular flooding of the river carries many seeds from further upstream. However natural regeneration is a lucky dip and there will no doubt be many Sitka spruce seeds along with the desired native species.

The areas chosen for natural regeneration were often areas covered by exotic conifers that totally excluded all light from the forest floor. After felling and clearing the branches, the ground is open and ready for tree seeds to germinate.

The machinery removing the conifer timber churns up the soil, creating conditions ideal for the germination of tree seeds. In addition, on the floodplain, the river often gouges out areas of soil to deposit further downstream.

To create areas suitable for the natural regeneration of the floodplain forest, felling a total of 50 hectares of mainly Sitka and Norway spruce occurred between 1997 and 1999. Regeneration of willow, birch, bird cherry, rowan, sycamore and Sitka spruce is occurring close to the conifer tree stumps and on the tops of the drainage ditches.

Meadows and their Management

Local School Trip to the Woodlands

Throughout the United Kingdom most of semi natural wet grasslands and hay meadow resource has been lost due to changing agricultural practices and intensification. These changes include the making of silage, which necessitates the use of vigorous grasses, earlier cutting dates and artificial fertiliser. The earlier cut affects the success of ground nesting birds, and the vigorous grass growth stops the weaker wild flowers establishing in the grassland.

The wet hay meadows of the Upper Ettrick valley have a high nature conservation interest, and support a wide range plants, birds and invertebrates. The meadows within the project area are not ecologically in pristine condition but it is the aim of the project to increase the existing biodiversity through wildlife friendly management. This involves the cessation of artificial fertilisation to benefit the weaker wild plants: late hay cutting to benefit ground nesting birds and seeding of wild flowers. To date the project influences the management of 29 ha of meadows. Already the farmers have noticed that more flowers are present in their fields. This is due in part, to the earlier removal of stock, which allows the flowers time to bloom and set seed.

Plants such as the rare Northern Ladies Mantle occur in the meadows of the Upper Ettrick. Other plants found in the meadows are meadow cranesbill, yarrow, lesser knapweed, meadowsweet, marsh marigold and marsh valerian. In addition, unusual plants like the yellow rattle that parasitise the roots of grass growing in the meadows. The meadows are also an ideal habitat for wading birds, amphibians and invertebrates.