Local Nature Reserves
Over the next two years the council proposes to increase the number of Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) within the city. Currently there are 7 LNRs all located in the north of the city. The aim is to declare 3 LNRs in the south at Linn Park, Cathkin Braes and Darnley.
We are therefore proposing to declare Linn Park as a new LNR in the Spring of 2011.
By declaring land as an LNR this commits the council to managing the site for people and wildlife and makes progress towards the aim within our Single Outcome Agreement to “increase the land area of designated Local Nature Reserves in the city to 0.75 hectares of LNR per 1,000 population by 2012/13. (Currently the total stands at 0.43ha/1,000)
Heritage
Currently visitors to Linn Park already enjoy a rich heritage of semi-natural woodlands with small areas of meadow, all set in a mature parkland estate setting. The aim is to increase the number of people visiting the park and to improve the visitor’s overall experience and increase their awareness and appreciation of the site’s rich natural heritage. This will be achieved by delivering well managed high quality woodlands and meadows, linked by a well designed path network, and supported by signage, interpretation, leaflets and a range of events and educational activities.
The woodland management plan recently developed and widely communicated to the local community will be a major step in improving the parks biodiversity over the long term and fundamental to the enhancement of the LNR. There are a few additional works proposed for the LNR, which will complement the major woodland initiative. A summary of the recommended works is outlined below.
To help fund the recommended woodland improvements an application for funding has been submitted to Forestry Commission Scotland under its Woodland In and Around Towns initiative. This bid was submitted on the 31st January and the council is likely to be informed of its success or otherwise by May of this year.
Woodland and Open Habitat recommended Management Works
The following improvements are proposed as part of the LNR declaration.
The accompanying map shows the compartmental unit system of the Woodland and Open Habitat Management Plan.
Compartments 1 to 7: Woodland compartments
• Enrich the ground flora through planting of local provenance plants.
• Remove invasive Rhododendron ponticum and control regrowth to encourage understory development.
• Woodland thinning works (Cpts 2a, 3b, 6c, 6d,)
• Remove exotic understory (Cpts 2a, 3a, 6a )
• Group fell exotic canopy (Cpt 6b)
• Enrichment tree planting (Cpts 2a, 3a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8)
• Remove unsafe trees as appropriate, to ensure continued safe public access.
• Upgrade 1.6km. of footpath (Cpts 2b, 3c, 5c, 6a, 6c)
Compartment 1a: Former grazing field (improved grasslands)
• Assess future needs and develop land use plan
Compartment 3c: Former horse grazed fields (improved grassland)
• Develop new access routes, create meadows and extend woodlands
Compartment 4b: Amenity grassland area with burn to woodland edge.
• Improve diversity of marshy burnside vegetation
• Develop a broad meadow strip parallel to the burn.
Compartment 4c: Mature parkland trees and mown grass
• Retain parkland setting of trees and grassland
• Locally diversify grassland through modified cutting regimes
• Investigate enriching ground flora in shaded, low-lying western area
Compartment 5b: Old zoo area: amenity grass, some poorly draining zones
• Assess feasibility of pond or wetland creation.
• Develop activity area and informal meeting/picnic area.
Compartment 5c: Amenity managed grass with area of meadow
• Manage the meadow through annual cut regime
• Extend meadow to south and modify mowing regime.
• Cut informal grass tracks through meadows.
• Maintain and enhance marginal hedgerows
Compartment 8: Habitat mosaic of developing woodland, scrub and grassland glades.
• Meadow manage a network of grassland glades.
• Maintain an informal path route
• Diversify scrub through enrichment planting
• Removal undesirable exotic species
• Create a meadow strip parallel to the path
Compartment 9a and b: Mature trees and amenity grassland
• Diversify woodland ground flora and marginal grasslands
• Rhododendron ponticum clearance where present and accessible
For your information please see link to a copy of Linn Park Woodland and Open Habitat Management Plan and associated maps:
Contact Details
For Open habitat proposals please send any enquiries to,
Francesca Pandolfi
LES Conservation,
Land and Environmental Services,
231 George Street Glasgow, G1 1RX.
E-mail: francesca.pandolfi@glasgow.gov.uk
Tel.: 0141-287-3753
For woodland and access proposals please send any enquiries to,
Ian Boyd
Assistant Woodland Officer
Land and Environmental Services
Glasgow City Council
37 High Street Glasgow G1 1LX (when calling in person)
231 George Street Glasgow G1 1RX (when addressing mail)
E-mail: ian.boyd@glasgow.gov.uk
Tel: 0141 287 5920