Report of two day field visit to Loch Tummel Pearl-bordered Fritillary Network using GPS, measure out the main clearings at various site compartments using GPS, measure out the main clearings at various site compartments take photographs of site compartments take photographs of site compartments assess need for management – scrub/tree clearance and bracken spraying assess need for management – scrub/tree clearance and bracken spraying make further habitat assessments such as abundance of dog violet if possible make further habitat assessments such as abundance of dog violet if possible By Andrew Masterman 28 March 2008

Summary 12 existing compartments visited on 26 & 27 March existing compartments visited on 26 & 27 March 2008 although time of year not ideal, south-facing bracken hillsides were clearly identifiable but dog violet not easy to find although time of year not ideal, south-facing bracken hillsides were clearly identifiable but dog violet not easy to find some large compartments (>10 ha) were found some large compartments (>10 ha) were found key feature of network is the west-east wayleave which comprised mostly steep, dry south facing bracken hillside key feature of network is the west-east wayleave which comprised mostly steep, dry south facing bracken hillside survey and photographs show the large extent of thick bracken litter and the need for bracken control. survey and photographs show the large extent of thick bracken litter and the need for bracken control. Good habitat also present along stretches of north side of road and several north-south wayleaves link road to main wayleave Good habitat also present along stretches of north side of road and several north-south wayleaves link road to main wayleave

Loch Tummel Pearl-bordered Fritillary Network - West Overview of site compartments visited: small features not visible at this resolution. Red line crudely shows path of main west-east wayleave. Blue areas are Forestry Commission blocks.

Easter Bohespic Started at Easter Bohespic in far west Started at Easter Bohespic in far west Last visited by David Spooner 29/5/97 when 5 PBF seen Last visited by David Spooner 29/5/97 when 5 PBF seen Size circa 9 Ha but site extends further west – will investigate in further visit Size circa 9 Ha but site extends further west – will investigate in further visit Good PBF habitat but thick bracken litter % of site & birch woodland perhaps a threat too Good PBF habitat but thick bracken litter % of site & birch woodland perhaps a threat too Recommend site assessment in May to assess need for management Recommend site assessment in May to assess need for management

Easter Bohespic –Photo 1

Easter Bohespic – Photo 2

Easter Bohespic – Photo 3

Easter Bohespic – Photo 4

Two new site compartments Main west-east wayleave passes to south of Easter Bohespic across wetter unsuitable habitat and then heads south Main west-east wayleave passes to south of Easter Bohespic across wetter unsuitable habitat and then heads south Tummel Bridge Wayleave 1 is where this splits with piece going east to form main west-east wayleave (photo 3) and another piece continuing south – most is flat and wet (Photo 2) but good habitat nr road ~ 4 ha (Photo 1) Tummel Bridge Wayleave 1 is where this splits with piece going east to form main west-east wayleave (photo 3) and another piece continuing south – most is flat and wet (Photo 2) but good habitat nr road ~ 4 ha (Photo 1) Tummel Bridge 2 is a small bit of marginal habitat associated with a short north-south wayleave Tummel Bridge 2 is a small bit of marginal habitat associated with a short north-south wayleave

Tummel Bridge Wayleave 1 –Photo 1

Tummel Bridge Wayleave 1 – Photo 2

Tummel Bridge Wayleave 1 – Photo 3

Tummel Bridge Wayleave 2

Tummel Bridge Tummel Bridge was last visited by Tom Brereton 9/6/97 when he saw 1 PBF Tummel Bridge was last visited by Tom Brereton 9/6/97 when he saw 1 PBF The area he visited is now Holiday Homes. The area he visited is now Holiday Homes. To the north of the holiday homes on the north side of the road, some good habitat ~ 100m deep merges with the wayleave but birch woodland is well-established here To the north of the holiday homes on the north side of the road, some good habitat ~ 100m deep merges with the wayleave but birch woodland is well-established here To the north of the wayleave, a large area of south-facing bracken hillside bordered by birch & coniferous woodland was discovered but bracken litter was thick and dog violet not found To the north of the wayleave, a large area of south-facing bracken hillside bordered by birch & coniferous woodland was discovered but bracken litter was thick and dog violet not found Further clear areas to east may be present – need to re-visit. Further clear areas to east may be present – need to re-visit. These compartments need to be revisited in May to confirm PBF here and if so, bracken spraying required. Perhaps birch clearance by holiday homes. These compartments need to be revisited in May to confirm PBF here and if so, bracken spraying required. Perhaps birch clearance by holiday homes. Compartment Dalcroy which was visited by Ron Youngman is at eastern extent of this site. Compartment Dalcroy which was visited by Ron Youngman is at eastern extent of this site.

Tummel Bridge Holiday Homes

Tummel Bridge Hillside

Bohally This compartment was last visited by Ron Youngman on 23/5/98 when 9 PBF seen This compartment was last visited by Ron Youngman on 23/5/98 when 9 PBF seen Ron described site as “Basically a road verge with scrub below conifer plantation” Ron described site as “Basically a road verge with scrub below conifer plantation” This description was confirmed and a Bohally north-south wayleave linking with main west-east wayleave identified. This description was confirmed and a Bohally north-south wayleave linking with main west-east wayleave identified.

Bohally Wayleave

Looking west along main wayleave from Bohally Wayleave

Aldcharmaig Wayleaves Ron Youngman visited the main west-east wayleave at NN on 2/6/4 and saw 2 PBF. Ron Youngman visited the main west-east wayleave at NN on 2/6/4 and saw 2 PBF. Two north-south wayleaves joining the road to the west-east wayleave were identified Two north-south wayleaves joining the road to the west-east wayleave were identified Further habitat along north side of road below conifer plantation Further habitat along north side of road below conifer plantation

Ardchalmaig Wayleave 1- looking north

Ardchalmaig Wayleave 2 – looking south

Looking east along main wayleave from Ardchalmaig Wayleave 1

Looking west along main wayleave from Aldcharmaig Wayleave 2

Loch Tummel – Tressait area There is a big gap in the conifer plantations above Strath Tummel associated with Tressait farm. Most of this area is intensively grazed by cattle and sheep and some is moorland. But there are some areas of good quality PBF habitat, mostly at Croft Douglas. Borenich site is probably too intensively grazed by cattle to offer good habitat but it is a south facing bracken hillside.

Tressait Pasture This area visited by Tom Brereton 9/6/97. This small pasture with bracken may provide a marginal pocket of habitat for PBF

Croft Douglas Last visited by Richard Buckland 30/05/04 when 1 PBF seen. Last visited by Richard Buckland 30/05/04 when 1 PBF seen. Dog violet could be found here and site appears to be high quality PBF habitat. Dog violet could be found here and site appears to be high quality PBF habitat. Site divided in two halves by barbed wire fence and the main wayleave passes through site. Site divided in two halves by barbed wire fence and the main wayleave passes through site. Western half is cattle grazed and fairly open, eastern half has mature birch woodland to north and south of wayleave and would benefit from having some woodland glades created. Western half is cattle grazed and fairly open, eastern half has mature birch woodland to north and south of wayleave and would benefit from having some woodland glades created.

Croft Douglas West – Photo 1

Croft Douglas West – Photo 2

Croft Douglas East – Photo 1 Looking east along wayleave from barbed–wire fence.

Croft Douglas East- Photo 2 Looking east along path

Croft Douglas East – Photo 3 Looking west along wayleave with birch woodland either side

Borenich Ron Youngman has visited the wayleave thru the conifer plantation 23/5/98 and 02/06/04 and found 1 & 5 PBF respectively. Ron Youngman has visited the wayleave thru the conifer plantation 23/5/98 and 02/06/04 and found 1 & 5 PBF respectively. West of conifer plantation is a south-facing bracken hillside grazed by cattle which was mapped out West of conifer plantation is a south-facing bracken hillside grazed by cattle which was mapped out Some habitat along north side of road too. Some habitat along north side of road too.

Borenich Foreground not suitable habitat but large area of south facing bracken hillside higher up but heavily poached by cattle- no dog violet seen

Looking west along main wayleave at Borenich conifer plantation

Looking east along main wayleave at Borenich Conifer plantation

Roadside east of Borenich