The Scots Pine reaches its most north-west oceanic limit in the Scotland and scientific investigation has attempted to answer some key questions on the native Pinewoods, notably the former extent, colonisation history from the last glaciation, climatic impacts, human impacts, regeneration and more beside. Radiocarbon dating of organic remains, palynology, dendrochronology and DNA analysis are just some of the techniques that science has applied to native Scots Pine populations. There have been some surprising insights, not least on scientific paradigms, methodology and assumptions.
Native Scots Pinewood
Those who follow Quaternary research, will be aware that there are concerns that some paradigms on glaciation, climate models and palaeoecology, might require revision or some caveats applied. I'll highlight some of the 'discussion' points.
Pollen analysis is apparently a time consuming activity and palynologists have devised some guidelines to reduce the tedium and speed things along, notably sampling frequencies and critical pollen thresholds. Scots Pine produces abundant pollen and less than 20% in a pollen assemblage was treated by pollen analysts as a cut off point for the presence of pine at a site. From the mid 1990's it was proposed that the presence of pine stomata in a sample was considered a fairly good indication of the physical presence of a tree near to the sample site, pine needles aren't carried so far on the wind compared to pollen. In 2005 Cindy Froyd had the wit to look more carefully for the presence of pine stomata in loch sediments in Scotland and published a paper Fossil stomata reveal early pine presence in Scotland: Implications for postglacial colonization analyses. Despite the low % pollen counts for Scots pine, the presence of stomata placed its appearance 1,600 years earlier than the woodland history generated by standard pollen analysis at one study site.
Black Mount ~ 2010
1,360 m above sea level on Mt Åreskutan in Sweden, tree remains (macro fossils) were sampled by Leif Kullman and radiocarbon dated. A Scots Pine was dated at 11,700 years before present (BP), Norway Spruce 11,400 years BP and Birch 14,000 years BP. Leif Kullman published the findings which raised some inconvenient points. In a reply to the paper it was pointed out that that climate models didn't support the dates, pollen analysis detected no presence for the trees and glaciologists had modelled the area covered by glacial ice when trees were growing there. Leif Kullman provided an insightful and entertaining reply in the Journal of Biogeography.
Refugium from grazing herbivores, Assynt ~ 2008
In 1986 a Forestry research paper titled Caledonian Scots Pine : Origin and genetic structure stated that Scotland's Scots Pines were genetically distinct from the European population and showed a high degree of genetic heterogeneity within the native pinewoods. Whilst acknowledging the climate models and glacial iee models, a compelling case was made against colonisation from the continent and instead for glacial refugia on mountain tops and/or near to Scotland. Of interest are the results of the forestry trials conducted between WWI and WWII and at Glen Trool.
A paper published in Nature in 1998 determined that the genetic variation for maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in populations of native Scots Pines showed a distinct geographical genetic diversity amongst the pinewoods. The mtDNA in Scots Pines of Wester Ross point at colonisation after the last Ice age from the west, indicating a refugia or refugium on the continental shelf or a nunatak from glacial ice.
The following text is taken from Quaternary of Scotland Geoconservation Review Site - Lochan an Druim.
Highlights
The pollen and plant macro-fossils preserved in the sediments which infill the basin at Lochan
an Druim provide an important record of vegetational history and environmental changes
during the Lateglacial and Holocene in the extreme north-west of Scotland.
Description
The vegetational history of the site has been studied in detail by Birks (1984 and unpublished
data; pollen diagram in Birks, 1980).
Interpretation
There is no evidence from the pollen stratigraphy at this site to
suggest that pine or oak ever grew this far north (Birks, 1977, 1989), even though pine
stumps occur locally in the Eriboll area.
The site is of national importance because of its detailed and well-dated Lateglacial and
Holocene pollen stratigraphy and for the co-ordinated study of pollen and plant macrofossils in
the Lateglacial. These palaeoecological data provide important insights into the Lateglacial
environment at low altitudes in the extreme north-west of Scotland; there is no other site that
has been studied in such detail from this part of Scotland. These insights are as follows: ... (4) The Holocene vegetational history from Lochan an Druim is particularly important because
of the apparent lack of pine and oak. Its pollen record is thus intermediate between sites
further south in western Scotland (Birks, 1980) ... Lochan an Druim thus
represents a uniquely important site for the reconstruction of Quaternary vegetational history
and past environments.
Conclusions
Pollen and plant remains in the sediments from Lochan an Druim provide a record of the
environmental history of the far north-west of Scotland during the Lateglacial and Holocene
(approximately the last 12,500 years). They show that conditions remained extreme even
during the relative climatic warming in the Lateglacial Interstadial. Later, during the Holocene,
birch and hazel woodland developed, but oak did not extend this far north and pine was
probably only locally present. Lochan an Druim provides valuable comparisons with other areas
and is important as part of the network of sites that show the wider geographical variations in
the patterns of vegetation development since the end of the last ice age.
Part of the the Loch an Druim Pollen Profile illustrating the low Pinus Sylvestris pollen percentage
I have visited this area of the Highlands on a few occasions and have seen enough stumps and roots exposed in peat cuttings, eroding blanket peat and stream sides, to form an opinion that at some stage in the past Scots Pine seemed more widespread than just local to Loch Eriboll.
An Dubh-loch lies just off the A838, 5 km north-west of Tongue, 6 km south of the
northern coast of Scotland. This lowland site (140m) is very exposed and
treeless today. During site reconnaissance in September 2001, the valley side mire found at
the southern end of the loch was found to contain some pine stumps. These appear to have
become exposed through peat cutting. The majority of stumps contained insufficient rings,
but three suitable samples were collected and the site assigned the code DUBH
Loch Crocach lies 5 km east of Tongue, 5 km south of the northern coast of Scotland. During site reconnaissance in September 2001, a cutting was located through a valleyside
mire at this site. A dense layer of pine stumps had been apparently excavated and
subsequently used to form a sculpture. A number of pine stump sections had
been discarded during the operation and four suitable samples were collected and the site
assigned the code CROC. The site is well exposed and treeless today
Polla on Loch Eriboll - This sample site lies 12 km south of the town on Durness which lies on the north coast of
Scotland. This treeless vallyside mire spreads just south-west of the A838, at the southern end of
Loch Eribol. Two levels of pine stumps were observed. Peat cutting was
clearly evident in the area.
Loch na Thull lies 25 km south-west of Durness, 5 km inland from the west coast of
Scotland This treeless valleyside mire site is located between the road to Skerricha and Loch na
Thull end. A scattered single layer of pine-stumps appear to have become exposed through
peat cutting
Skerricha lies 25 km south-west of Durness, 5 km inland from the west coast of Scotland. This valleyside mire site is located at the north end of the loch.
The site is treeless. A single layer of pine-stumps exposed through peat cutting was
identified at this site.
Loch na Druim is about 8 km south of Durness on the edge of a sea loch at Eriboll. The Polla sample site is local to Loch na Druim, the other sites sampled for Holocene pine are further north and east or further south and west of, but in the same region. There were other sites too further south in Wester Ross and also further inland to the east of Sutherland, where Holocene pine was exposed in peat cuttings and sampled as part of the research.
The thesis reported on a number of interesting findings, one of which was that about 3,200 BC the climate was optimal for a large area of blanket peat in NW Sutherland to be rapidly colonised by Scots Pines. Tree ring growth rates indicate growing conditions deteriorated leading to episodes of Scots Pine mortality, although one of the trees lived for over 350 years. There was also good correlation of tree rings and tree ring chronological sequences proposed. The evidence for two layers of stumps suggests that on two occasions the climate was optimal at some sites for Scots Pines to colonise blanket. Although many sampling sites had minerogenic soils nearby, the thesis paid heed to the low pollen profile for Scots Pine in the region and to overcome the low distance for seed dispersal from Scot's Pines, typically 10's of metres and a maximum of 2 Km. An imaginative scenario was envisaged in the thesis of seed dispersal from a high mountain during an extreme wind gust. The radial growth on the in situ stumps indicated that the prevailing wind direction whilst the Scots Pines were growing on the blanket peat, was from the North.
To my mind the research into holocene pine stumps in blanket peat has identified a significant ecological event(s) and climate change, it raises some profound questions on how the nationally important Loch an Druim pollen stratigraphy actually is for Quaternary studies in the North of Scotalnd.
Holocene Scots Pine stumps, Rannoch Moor - 2008
The history of Scotland's native Pines, their genes and physical presence of mega and macro fossils does present problems to some paradigms of the Quaternary, notably the extent and coverage of glacial ice, colonisation history, palaeoclimate models and palaeoecology. The dating of Scots Pine and other tree remains over 11,000 years ago, high on a Swedish mountain, also challenges some Quaternary paradigms.
It is a fundamental problem with Science, the reputations, research funds, careers, legacy, egos and hubris, that have so often, stifled progress. The field of Archaeology is a perfect example of the need for accurate indicators of past climates and environments, to interpret and place sites and artefacts into context.
A visual metaphor for the 'unfavourable condition' of the Ardvar woodland SAC - Dec 2015
A trip to the NW Highlands in December and whilst there were some positive indications of woodland conservation at Loch a' Mhuilinn SAC/National Nature Reserve and the community native woodlands around Scourie and Lochinver. An excursion to Gleann Ardbhair and there were some not so positive signs of woodland conservation at the Ardvar woodland Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and instead a degenerating woodland environment, with very little sign of natural regeneration.
The Alt Ardbhair and derelict coppice. Dec 2015
Finding out why a Special Area of Conservation wasn't receiving the necessary care and attention, has been a bit of a journey from local media news, national media news, government organisation reports, wildlife trust briefing paper, conservation charities and organisations responsible for managing deer. One of the interested parties in the conservation of the Ardvar woodland is the John Muir Trust and this video, succinctly describes the challenges of regenerating natural woodland on the Quinag Estate.
The table below illustrates the increase in the deer population.
The Scottish Parliament's, Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee sat on the 30th September 2015 to take evidence on Deer Management. The official YouTube channel for the Scottish Parliament has a recording of the meeting and the Ardvar woodland was raised at 57.00 mins on the video.
Subsequently to the meeting John Muir Trust submitted a letter to the Scottish Parliament, Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee on Deer Management at Ardvar
As the John Muir Trust were not invited to give evidence, we would be most grateful
for the chance to respond to some of the points made, and for our response to be
circulated to committee members.
The key point (not mentioned in your committees discussion of the issue) is that the
Ardvar woodlands are a national (SSSI) and international (SAC) designated site –
one of the most protected pieces of land in Scotland. They have been determined by
SNH as being in ‘unfavourable condition’ due to deer damage since 2004. The
recently reviewed Wild Deer a National Approach published in 2015 by the Scottish
Government clearly states (p 7): ‘Where resolving tensions between priorities at a
local level is not possible and Government involvement is needed, this intervention
will prioritise maintaining healthy ecosystems.’ The crux of the issue, therefore, is not
about ‘competing land management objectives’ as was stated by some of those
giving evidence, but is about the importance Scotland places on its internationally
protected nature conservation sites.
Eleven years on and the damage to the woodlands is still continuing. It is highly
likely to continue this winter unless SNH reverse their refusal to issue close season
authorisations to prevent deer damage. Close season culling is standard deer
management practice in most woodlands (e.g. those managed by the state in the
form of Forest Enterprise) and designated woodland sites throughout Scotland.
Robbie Kernahan gave evidence about the success of the Breadalbane and
Caenlochan Section 7s where deer populations have been reduced “…from twelve /
thirteen thousand to eight…” and “…from just over twelve thousand to five
thousand…” respectively without the use of fencing. By contrast, at Ardvar, SNH’s
current proposals for a Section 7 is for the deer density to stay at the same
damaging level and for hundreds of thousands of pounds of public money to be
spent on deer fences to protect sporting interests.
More specifically you stated that the John Muir Trust was not prepared to consider a
Land Management Order that includes fencing. For the record, in our letter to you
and your committee of 19th June we stated that the previous Environment Minister
Paul Wheelhouse had agreed that ‘JMT could only consider fencing proposals on
the designated site if these were presented alongside a deer management plan and
a Section 7 agreement’. This remains our view. We have indicated to SNH that we
are willing to attempt to negotiate a Section 7 agreement.
Yours sincerely
Stuart Brooks, Chief Executive
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee Ardvar SAC citation reads
Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site
91A0 Old sessile oak woods with Ilex and Blechnum in the British Isles
This complex of woods represents old sessile oak woods at the extreme north of its range in Scotland. The site includes the extensive and diverse Ardvar Woodlands, which are mainly birch-dominated with oak throughout, and the woodland at Loch a’Mhuilinn, the other component of this complex, to the north, which has small areas dominated by oak. The area of woodland at Loch a’Mhuilinn lies on the north-west coast of Sutherland near sea level where the effects of exposure on the growth form of some of the oaks are particularly well-demonstrated. The oaks are of special interest because they are the most northern remnant of native oak woodland in the British Isles. Both sites are very important rich oceanic bryophyte sites with good examples of the macrolichen Lobarion community.
Natura 2000 Ardvar woods map - Special Area of Conservation
Taking a lead from Oliver Rackham's study of ancient woodland and the National Library of Scotland was consulted for historical maps of the area. The 1774 plans of farms, indicate woodland where the existing SAC covers and distinguishes 'natural birch wood', 'wood with pasture' and 'natural wood'.
Screen shot 1774 Plan of the Farms of Unapool and Reintraid [Rientraid]. source National Library of Scotland Survey of Assynt by John Home or Hume in 1774 http://maps.nls.uk/view/74424927
Screen shot 1774 Plan of the Farms of Glenlirag and Ardvare (Ardvar). source National Library of Scotland Survey of Assynt by John Home or Hume in 1774 http://maps.nls.uk/view/74424926
The majority of the woodland was found to be within the mature reproductive life class with over
mature and senescent woodland found locally. The ‘over maturity’ of woodland and absence of large
seedlings, saplings and young trees within the south-east section of Glen Ardvar was considered to
pose the most immediate threat to the continuity of woodland habitat. The absence of regeneration in
these areas was attributed to red deer.
Fragmentation of habitat and loss of woodland extent was considered to be likely under current
herbivore pressures in a further two areas of woodland west of Glen Leireag and Torr na Caillich.
Within these areas there was an absence of large seedlings and young trees, and a high proportion of
open ground relative to woodland habitat. A reduction in deer browsing within these areas is also
considered necessary, but less urgent than Glen Ardvar as the existing seed source is predominantly
within the mature reproductive life class. However, regeneration is needed to ensure the continuity of
trees in terms of life-classes and their function for associated species in these areas, which are
dominated by birch, a relatively short lived-species.
No recent loss of woodland extent was evident from the distribution or abundance of deadwood.
Bracken was found to represent 75% or more of the field layer at 21% of all plots. A dense field layer
of bracken was associated with an open or fragmented canopy. Dense bracken was the most
frequently recorded cause of both a poor seed bed and vegetation competition. Twelve per cent of
plots were dominated by rushes, sedges, tussock forming or other mixed grasses which may indicate
long term browsing in upland oakwoods (Rodwell, 1991). Species normally associated with the field
layer in lightly grazed upland oakwoods, such as bramble or honeysuckle, were rare.
The proportion of large seedlings throughout the woodland was low when compared to the prolific
regeneration of small seedlings present. On average 58% of all stems per hectare were composed of
small seedlings as opposed to 7% for large seedlings. Browsing by red deer was considered to be a
major factor preventing seedling establishment, with 81% of small seedlings showing recent browsing
damage.
Within the young reproductive and mature reproductive life classes, 57% of stems were derived from
the vegetative re-growth of a much older stem, mainly following coppicing, suggesting this has been
the most successful method of regeneration in the woodland’s recent history.
Birch had a greater proportion of its life class profile as large seedlings (9%) than other species,
followed by willow (5%). Only two large hazel seedlings and no hazel saplings, were recorded. Stands
of hazel were found to be approaching over maturity. Under current environmental conditions and
management, the species composition of the woodland is likely to change with the proportion of birch
and willow increasing and that of hazel decreasing. This may result in a deterioration in the
woodland’s current assemblage of lichens.
1. SITE DETAILS
1.1 Survey Area
The area surveyed is located between Eddrachillis Bay and the Quinag range (NC 150 310).
Woodland within the survey area extends to 308 hectares and includes both designated and
adjacent undesignated native woodland (Map 1, Appendix I). The results of the woodland
profile survey are considered for all areas together in this report, although the area around
Loch Meallard falls outwith the designated site for which the Conservation Objectives apply.
1.2 Designations
A gross area of 710 hectares of woodland and associated open ground is designated as a
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This area also forms part of the Ardvar and Loch a'
Mhuilinn Woodlands Special Area of Conservation (SAC), which qualifies as an SAC for the
Western acidic oak woodland, otters and freshwater pearl mussel.
1.3 Woodland Type
The native woodlands within the survey area are dominated by birch, often in association
with rowan, hazel and willow (Salix cinerea, aurita and caprea). Aspen, holly and oak are
also present but are scarce. Oak (Quercus petraea) is approaching the northern limit of its
range.
Most of the woodlands may be categorised under the National Vegetation Classification as
either W11 (oak and birch wood with a ground layer dominated by ferns, mixed grasses or
wood sorrel) or W17 (oak and birch wood with heather and rich in brypophtyes). Small areas
of wet woodland dominated by birch and willow are also present; National Vegetation
Classification (NVC) types W4 and W7.
The woodland supports a good assemblage of lichens, including a number of “old forest”
indicators such as Lobaria pulmonaria and L. scrobiculata. Throughout the survey area
woodland forms an intimate mosaic with open habitats. Grazing by stock appears to have
been an established practice until recently, as indicated by the remains of redundant fences
and stone dykes. Coppice regrowth of birch, hazel and rowan suggests woodland has been
partially cleared at some point in the last century.
5.4 Review of existing conservation measures
Two Woodland Grant Schemes (WGS) with a total area of 10.09 ha were established in 2000 by fencing, planting and natural regeneration of native broadleaves (Map 1, Appendix 1). One of these is within the SAC/SSSI (1.8 ha at Dubh Letir) and one is outwith. A detailed assessment of the condition of planted trees within the WGS scheme was not within the remit of this survey, however exclosures were walked and a visual assessment on the success of tree establishment made. Data on vegetation and tree height was collected from one plot within an exclosure to aid this assessment. Both fence lines were found to be in good condition and functional. Tree species within exclosures included ash and sessile oak, which perhaps should be better represented within Ardvar woodlands although on the northern limit of the range for oak. Planted trees had rapidly become established. Plot data collected from a total of 15 individuals showed 6% were small seedlings, 27% large seedlings and 67% saplings. Hence the fence appeared to be serving its intended purpose in protecting the planted trees and more recent natural regeneration.
6. CONCLUSIONS
There is a risk to the extent and continuity of woodland habitat within areas A, B and C shown on Map 5, Appendix I. Within these areas there is an absence of large seedlings, saplings and young trees thought to be as a result of long term suppression by red deer. Area B, the north-east section of Glen Ardvar, has the highest proportion of over mature woodland, therefore action to secure established saplings within this area is the most urgent. A reduction in deer numbers, or exclusion by fencing, is considered to be necessary to secure the survival of young seedlings in areas A, B and C. The current density of young trees is not sufficient to maintain the existing canopy density of mature woodland. Dense bracken is inhibiting tree seedling regeneration, and is associated with an open canopy and woodland margins. A future decline in canopy density or woodland extent is likely to increase the proportion of dense bracken within the field layer and further restrict tree seedling regeneration. Vegetative growth from coppiced or collapsed stems has been the most successful form of regeneration in the woodland’s recent history. A decline of species less successful at producing vigorous vegetative shoots in this manner may have occurred. Over the last century browsing by red deer will also have influenced the species composition and diversity of the woodland if current levels of browsing reflect the past patterns. Species palatable to deer such as holly and rowan may have declined. Similarly the proportion of rushes, sedges and grasses within the field layer is likely to have increased as a response to historic browsing by herbivores.
Under current environmental conditions and management practices the species composition of the woodland is likely to alter, with an increase in the proportion of birch and willow and a decrease in the proportion of hazel. This may be detrimental to the assemblage of lichens present within the woodland. A high proportion of existing mature hazel stands appear to be derived from coppice regrowth. Coppicing could be a means of improving the age structure within hazel stands but would need to be carefully considered due to the over maturity and senescence of existing individuals.
The existing conservation measures in place and the condition of the site in 2004 and the report in 2009 does not suggest a great deal of enthusiasm by the landowner for conservation of the woodland to the requirements of an SAC. The majority of the Ardvar woodland SAC is owned by the Ardvar Estate, with the Quinag Estate and the Assynt Crofters Trust owning minority areas.
On the opposite side of Gleann Ardbhair one of the scarce sessile oaks in the Ardvar woodland SAC - Dec 2015
In 2005 the John Muir Trust purchased the Quinag estate and the Quinag estate reportedly covers 7% of the Ardvar woodland SAC.. The John Muir Trust in its own words
'is a conservation charity dedicated to protecting and enhancing wild places'
The Quinag estate appears to be surrounded by a number of sporting estates whose owners have a great enthusiasm for high deer populations and not quite so much enthusiasm for maintaining National Nature Reserve status or reversing the decline of woodland designated a Special Areas of Conservation. The Inchnadamph National Nature Reserve was delisted by Scottish National Heritage in 2009, The Scotsman published an article . Management of the deer population for environmental conservation was at odds with the ideal deer numbers of the sporting estate that owns the land. There is some previous form for delisting National Nature Reserves in the Assynt region, the Inverpolly NNR was delisted in 2004, although a fragment of the former Inverpolly NNR at Knockan Crag was instead listed as an NNR.
In 2012 the John Muir Trust decided to terminate the arrangement with the Ardvar Estate to control deer on the JMT Quinag estate and implement a sustainable deer management policy on the Quinag estate. Up until this point, coverage in the media had been virtually non existent, that was about to change.
PLANS by the John Muir Trust (JMT) to almost double the stag cull on its north-west Sutherland estate have enraged neighbouring landowners.
The move is a bid to protect the ancient Ardvar Woodland, part of which lies on Quinag, from being damaged by foraging deer.
The woodland, which contains birch trees, has been designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
Andy Hibbert runs a sporting enterprise on the 2000-acre Loch Assynt Lodge which borders Quinag. Other landowners which share boundaries in the area are Ardvar Estate and Assynt Crofters Trust.
Mr Hibbert said: “This level of culling will just devastate the deer population here. The pressure this kind of cull will put on all of us is going to end it as a business for people.
“I really don’t get the reasoning behind birch trees being of such great importance. Tourists aren’t going to pull over to see trees.”
Mr Hibbert’s suggestion that the woodland should be protected by deer fencing had been opposed by JMT.
He said alarm bells started ringing at the start of the stag culling season two months ago when it became clear that the trust had changed the goalposts.
“Normally the deer stalker on Ardvar Estate, Michael Ross, undertakes the cull on behalf of the trust. That’s been the case since the trust bought Quinag,” said Mr Hibbert.
“But this year they have dispensed with his services without informing him and brought in a contract stalker instead.”
11.10.2012 The Northern Times published a letter from the owner of the Ardvar Estate and reference may need to be made to the 2004 and 2009 SNH condition report on the Ardvar Woodland and the deer population figures of the Ardvar and Quinag that were subsequently produced in a Scottish Wildlife Trust/JMT briefing that included a case study on the Ardvar woodland SAC.
Ardvar agree to cull of 15-20 stags
Sir – I refer to the article in your edition last week (Trust’s stag cull plan causes fury). It might be helpful to all concerned to state some facts:
* Ardvar and Quinag share a common deer herd with a number of other Estates including the Assynt Crofters Trust.
* Quinag was purchased by the John Muir Trust (JMT) in 2005.
* From 2005 until May 2012 the Quinag/Ardvar shared deer herd was managed by Ardvar.
* The number of stags on the two estates has been regularly winter counted by DCS/SNH, and in 2006 there were 292 stags and in 2011 there were 210 stags.
* The summer counts were in 2008 = 101 stags, 2009 = 74 stags, 2010 = 64 stags.
* The average number of stags culled in the last three years has been 25 in each year on the two estates, not the 45 stags mentioned in your article last week.
* SNH has proposed a cull for this year of 20 stags off Ardvar and 25 stags off Quinag. Ardvar agree 15/20 stags and Quinag/JMT do not agree their cull should be capped at 25 stags and wish to go on culling out of season and have proposed up to 100 stags off both estates.
* Ardvar do not cull out of season.
Both estates have a need to address the degradation of the woodlands in the Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Ardvar plan to, in agreement with SNH, fence off approximately five per cent of the estate for regeneration.
We are also tackling the bracken problem on an ongoing basis as this greatly suppresses seedling regeneration and woodland expansion. This plan is in addition to the enclosures already established on Ardvar over the last 20 years.
JMT as a matter of policy are opposed to fencing and intend to increase their deer culls to reduce browsing impacts in the SAC and this will affect deer numbers on all the neighbouring estates.
This unfortunate situation needs to be resolved by the Assynt community in conjunction with the Assynt Peninsular Deer Group where all the neighbouring estates are represented.
The charity claimed it needed to increase the cull in order to protect the ancient Ardvar woodlands, which are a Special Area of Conservation and a Site of Special and Scientific Interest.
But the proposal was opposed by neighbouring landowners who feared a continuing cull would reduce numbers to a level that would impact on nearby sporting estates and the region’s fragile economy.
The Government agency SNH has now turned down JMT’s plan, a decision which “disappointed and surprised” the charity.
A spokesman said the outcome would be welcomed by those estate who wish to “maintain high deer populations purely for sport”.
And Mike Daniel’s, JMT’s head of land management, said: “It’s a tragedy that people have eradicated the natural predators, such as lynx and wolf, which would have kept the populations of deer at sustainable levels.
“Instead, deer management is now in the hands of humans. In Scotland, given the soaring deer population, we’re clearly failing.”
In August 2013 the Scottish Wildlife Trust/John Muir Trust published a briefing paper on Sustainable deer management that made for insightful reading, some pertinent sections I have quoted below
Deer management
Deer are a public resource - they belong to no one - but the right to take them is restricted to the owners of
the land on which they occur. Privately owned sporting estates make up the majority of upland land-use and
are traditionally valued in part by their annual sporting take of red deer (with £40-50,000 added to the value
of an estate by estate agents for each ‘sporting’ stag shot. 6 This encourages estates to maintain high deer
populations, often above that which the land can support in ecological terms, in order to boost the capital
value of the land.
Therefore, conflicts arise in agreeing acceptable and sustainable deer numbers when private interests
(maintaining high stag numbers for shooting interests) come up against public interests (protecting natural
assets /restoring degraded habitats and ecosystems /native woodland regeneration /forest estate/ carbon
sequestration). The costs incurred from high deer numbers are borne by the Scottish public, but the
economic benefits from this sort of ‘traditional’ deer management mainly flow to private individuals.
The briefing highlighted the following in RED text for emphasis
Deer management in terms of setting and achieving cull targets remains entirely voluntary.
The briefing article continued to list some figures and make some statements on the effects of an unsustainable deer population.
'damage to protected sites - 248 (out of 957) SSSIs are in unfavourable condition because of
overgrazing (which includes deer)'
'locally severe physical poaching of peatlands/ increased rates of soil erosion on blanket
mires'
'over the last 10 years, erection of deer fencing across Scotland – to keep deer out of protected sites
and forests has cost the tax payer £20 m'
'the disproportionate burden of culling efforts by FCS (Forestry Commission Scotland) - despite managing only 8% of the land area, FSC delivers 36% of Scotland’s annual cull'
The briefing paper then presented a case study that of the Ardvar woodland SAC
Example of how a Section 7 is failing to protect the degraded Ardvar and Loch a' Mhuilinn
Woodlands SAC
When the owner of Ardvar Estate purchased the property from Lord Buxton in 1977 (five years after the
SSSI was designated), in his own words: ‘The Estate was not purchased as a deer forest, but over the years
we have been able to improve the habitat with various fenced enclosures and at the same time by selective
culling improve the deer herd to give an annual sporting cull of about 15 stags per annum’. This is borne out
by long term count data which shows an increasing population on the designated site as well as in the wider
Sutherland area: on Ardvar, the 1976 annual deer count was below 20 deer – since then there has been a
dramatic increase in numbers and the 2013 count recorded 189 deer; the 1976 Quinag count recorded 180
deer and again deer numbers have increased so that the 2013 count recoded 335 deer (table of counts is
shown in Appendix 1). So Sutherland has seen nearly a three-fold increase in deer numbers over the last 50
years.
SNH’s site conditioning monitoring in 2004 indicated that the Ardvar and Loch a' Mhuilinn Woodlands SAC
was ‘unfavourable and declining’ due to years of overgrazing and damage to the woodlands by deer. The
unfavourable condition of the site prompted the then DCS (now subsumed into SNH) to invoke a Section 7
agreement. To date this has failed to produce any habitat improvement on the designated site, in fact
browsing by deer has got worse. The key reasons for this failure are: a) the agreement did not include all of
the landowners (the Assynt Crofters Trust refused to sign) or neighbours; b) the Ardvar estate vetoed the
use of any close season authorisations; c) SNH did not adjust cull targets sufficiently in response to habitat
data.
On the 26/8/2013 The Association of Deer Management Groups posted a verbose response to the Scottish Wildlife Trusts/John Muir Trust, briefing paper. It didn't disagree with any of the figures presented and the response opened with
It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT)/John Muir Trust (JMT) statement, following hard on the heels of Rob Gibson’s call for statutory Deer Management Groups (DMGs) after his visit to the JMT property at Assynt, amounts to a coordinated campaign to put this old chestnut back on the agenda. One could also mention the Forest Policy Group’s proposal for a licensing system.
and near the end
What is particularly disappointing about this latest divisive statement is that in many DMGs environmental owners, including JMT, have been working well with other deer management interests and there has been an increasing focus on common interest and shared objectives. ADMG acknowledges that the JMT land management objectives are as legitimate as those of its neighbours and should be respected as such.
The Association of Deer Management Groups appears to represent a broad spectrum of members from those who actually practise a high level of responsible conservation management to those members who seem reluctant to. I note that the Association of Deer Management Groups website does present an idealised image of deer stalking, the images are of traditional stalking activities with hill ponies, good to see images from the Letterewe estate, perhaps unsurprisingly no images whatsoever of Argocats and ATV's, nor the ugly scars of bulldozed access tracks or churned up moorland where the vehicles ferry the punters across the land. In my limited experience the sporting estates that practice traditional stalking with hill ponies, although few in number, are generally those with high standards of environmental stewardship and friendlier staff.
Last week’s open letter was issued by Jim Payne of Ardvar Estate; George Vestey of Inchnadamph Estate; Andy Hibbert of Loch Assynt Lodge Estate; Assynt Crofters Trust; and David Walker-Smith of Middle Inver Estate.
In it they state: “You might be a voluntary supporter of JMT. You might even be a small or large financial supporter of JMT. Are you happy to continue to support JMT whilst they continue with their existing policies which bring them into conflict with their Assynt neighbours?”
Speaking to the Northern Times this week, Mr Payne said JMT had not disclosed its stag cull numbers for this season, which ends on 20th October.
“There is only one body that can make them and that is Scottish Natural Heritage,” he said.
Mr Payne added that although JMT had not attended recent meetings of the West Sutherland Deer Management Group it was hoped a representative would be present at the next meeting on 12th November.
Andy Hibbert, owner of Loch Assynt Lodge Estate, said: “The number of stags is definitely way down this year. I am heartbroken about it and it makes me want to turn the trees on my ground into firewood, which is childish, I know.”
The five estate owners have received email responses from Denis Mollison, who helped found JMT 30 years ago, and from the group’s chief executive Stuart Brooks.
Mr Mollison stated: “The dissension you are trying to stir up in the local community has the potential to do much more damage to the fragile local economy than any land management mistakes that either you or the John Muir Trust are likely to make. This is neither wise nor public-spirited.”
Meanwhile Mr Brooks accused the four landowners of “attacking and threatening” JMT. He wrote: “Our objective is to see a healthy deer herd capable of existing sustainably within a healthy environment. I don’t think we disagree on that. “All the biological evidence clearly demonstrates that this is currently not the case – grazing pressure from deer is too high. Reducing the deer population (not eradicating it) and controlling it through stalking is not incompatible with your objectives.” Mr Brooks claimed that the deer management group was not “functioning” properly. He concluded: “The Scottish Government’s rural affairs committee is so concerned about the failure of the current deer management system to protect designated sites that it is looking at the issue of deer damage to the natural heritage across Scotland. Your actions continue to draw attention to these issues.”
It will be interesting to view the agreed Deer Management Plan covering the Ardvar woodland SAC and in a few years time visit to view what effect the deer management plan has on woodland regeneration.
France is a country noted for idealism and perhaps unsurprisingly where the concept of an auteur (author) director in film making, was first proposed by French film critics. Film directors deemed to be auteurs, were those individuals who imparted a distinctive quality on a film and also wrote the screenplay or worked closely with the screenwriter of the film. The author of a film could be also attributed to the screenwriter or as a collaborative effort. The concept of a film auteur was elaborated in auteur theory and auteur study now receives some emphasis in film studies. There are numerous interpretations on auteur theory and counterarguments, not unsurprisingly from producers, cinematographers, actors etc
I quite like the analogy between the film making roles and responsibilities of location scout, cinematographer, screenwriter and film director and the authorship of images by a landscape photographer. The proposal for auteur landscape photographers would not be a universally popular one, especially in certain landscape photography media, cliques and communities. Auteur theory and study can highlight inconvenient truths.
Nonetheless, an auteur designation in landscape photography would differentiate auteurs from landscape photographers who appear content to make derivative photographs of iconic views and other tripod holed ground locations and also those who consciously plagiarise other photographers work. The attraction of auteurism might be the impetus needed to lift landscape photography out of its current malaise and stagnation.
