Alison Dyke. 9th November 2006

SURVEY OF NEWTONHILL WOODS, 6TH AND 7TH OCTOBER 2006

INTRODUCTION

A survey of Newtonhill woods was carried out on the 6th and 7th of October 2006, as a means of establishing the non timber forest products potential of the woodland and to provide training in survey methods to local people. In all the training was attended by nine people. In addition to this report, outputs include: photos of species found, a visual record of the transect walk, a list of participants, a spreadsheet detailing species found, the original survey sheets and further information on some of the species found in the woodland.

METHODS

A transect walk following a bearing of due west was followed from the South East corner of the wood to the Northern boundary. Along this transect, species of interest (together with the tree species make up) were recorded and photographed, and a recording of the discussion on the uses of these species was made. A visual record of this transect was made and a spreadsheet detailing the species found is attached.

Following the transect walk, the locations of six random plots were generated and at each of these points a nested circular plot method was used to record ground flora of interest, shrub layer species, fungi, tree species and evidence of animal activity. These random plots fell in eastern half of the woodland, and therefore it is difficult to extrapolate the results to the woodland as a whole as the tree species make up and age in the western half of the woodland is quite different.

FINDINGS

A spreadsheet detailing the species found on the transect walk is attached, this shows both the common and Latin names of these species, the tree species they were found in association with, the type of use these species have and further detail on their uses.

Having analysed the results of the survey, recommendations are made based on both the abundance of particular species or groups of species found in the wood and the relative usefulness of the species. Three main recommendations are made both on species or groups of species which could be used within the woodland and those which are worthy of further investigation.

1)Mosses

Mosses are found in great abundance throughout the woodland, both sphagnum and weft forming species. The most easily havestable areas of moss are found in the more open areas of young conifer woodland, in particular along drains. A note of caution should be added that while the weft forming mosses found in these areas are less likely to contain rare species, this survey is not sufficient to identify rarer species and it would be advisable to seek more specialist help if extensive harvesting was to take place. The harvesting of sphagnum, in any case should probably be avoided. These mosses have many commercial and domestic uses. Given the woodland owners’ horticultural interests two particular uses may be worth pursuing: the use of moss as a packing material for plant products and the suggestion of one of the participants that moss could be used as a slug repellent when soaked in water.

2)Edible fungi

Several patches of Chanterelle were found in the woodland, together with Saffron milk cap and Larch boletus. Angel’s wings were also found in abundance – which are edible and good mixed in with other species. It is likely that in the younger conifer plantation species such as Lactarius triviallis would be found. These mushrooms are commonly eaten in Scandinavia and are often preserved in oil to last through the winter months. These edible fungi would provide a good supply for domestic consumption throughout the autumn and winter months. It would certainly be worth trying to arrange a thorough investigation of the edible fungi to be found in the woodland.

3)Sitka Spruce

The majority of the woodland in under plantation of fairly young Sitka spruce or Sitka spruce mix. The older of these two areas of plantation is coming to the age where thinning might be advisable, therefore recommendations are made on the basis that some use might be made of thinnings, or that thinnings could be taken gradually as needed. While the non timber uses of Sitka spruce have been little explored in Scotland this is not the case in the Pacific Northwest where it originates from. Bearing in mind that the plantation growing conditions for Sitka found in Scotland are very different from the natural conditions in the Pacific Northwest, and that these trees are unlikely to ever reach the size and age of trees that are found in the Pacific Northwest, there are many uses of this tree that are applicable – as a medicinal and a craft material. A local company, Highland Natural Products has sold Sitka Spruce based products as a part of their smokery range. Further information on Sitka spruce products is attached.