Creating an Integrated Habitat Network in the Nethan Gorge

The Scottish Wildlife Trust currently manages 2 reserves in the Nethan Gorge, namely Upper Nethan Gorge and Lower Nethan Gorge. Both are Sites of Special Scientific Interest and form part of the Clyde Valley National Nature Reserve and the Clyde Valley SAC under the EU Habitats Directive.

The reserves represent two of the best examples of semi-natural woodlands still surviving in the Clyde Valley and have well-developed ash and elm woodland which support a wide variety of breeding birds and insects. The area also hosts a diverse woodland flora, The opportunity has arisen to purchase three areas of woodland and two fields located between these two reserves. This would fulfil the long-held aspiration to ensure a continuous woodland habitat network and protect a currently fragmented SSSI.