2. Key Features: Upland Oak Woodland (Western Acidic) Exceptionally extensive area of semi-natural deciduous woodland, largely of ancient origin. Special Lichen Represent both the character of wet western oceanic woods & more continental woods of east What is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): A SSSI is an area of land considered to best represent our natural heritage- by its diversity of plants, animals and habitats, rocks and landforms or a combination of all of these Notable Species: Above ground: Sessile oak with downy birch, ash, alder, hazel & juniper Ground flora: blaeberry, heather, bracken, grasses, dog’s mercury, broad bucker-fern, marsh violet, yellow pimpernel, wood sedge & wild garlic Fauna: notable beetles, moths, hoverflies, pied flycatcher, tree pipit & redstart Feature Condition: Unfavourable, recovering

3. Key Features: Extensive area of semi-natural woodland, mostly ancient in origin One of largest areas of wet woodland in local area Woodlands are characteristic of western highlands Rich moss and lichen flora, several of which are associated with ancient woodlands Rich ground flora containing several species of note Notable Species: Above ground: Alder, oak, birch, hazel, ash, hawthorn & holly Ground flora: smooth-stalked sedge, wood speedwell, slender false- broome grass, green spleenwort Fauna: Otters, pied flycatcher, redstart, wood warbler, tree pipit, deer & feral goats Feature Condition: Unfavourable declining (Wet woodland)/ Favourable maintained (Bryophytes) & Favourable declining (Lichen) What is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): A SSSI is an area of land considered to best represent our natural heritage- by its diversity of plants, animals and habitats, rocks and landforms or a combination of all of these

4. Key Features: Fen, marsh, swamp (wetland) Relatively undisturbed & extensive valley mire system with adjacent fens and groundwater flushes Rare & unusual feature: Next to this nutrient poor fen are nutrient enriched flushes Historically was the Brig o’Turk curling pond Notable Species: Mire surface: bog moss forming lawns & carpets throughout the system Tall bog-sedge, fairy flax, marsh orchid Drier slopes: grasses and birch woods dominate Fauna: renowned locally for dragonflies Feature Condition: Favourable, maintained What is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): A SSSI is an area of land considered to best represent our natural heritage- by its diversity of plants, animals and habitats, rocks and landforms or a combination of all of these

5. Key Features: -Fen, marsh, swamp (wetland) - flood plain fen & Open water transition fen -Standing open water & canals - Oligotrophic loch Complex mosaic of wetland habitats with open water habitat fringed by open water transition fen Notable Species: Ground flora: bog sedge, small-fruited yellow sedge, melancholy thistle, globe flower, marsh orchid, juniper, aspen, purple moor grassland & soft rush Fauna: Atlantic salmon, sea lamprey, river lamprey, brook lamprey Feature Condition: Unfavourable declining (flood-plain fen & open water transition fen). Favourable maintained (oligotrophic loch) What is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): A SSSI is an area of land considered to best represent our natural heritage- by its diversity of plants, animals and habitats, rocks and landforms or a combination of all of these

6. Key Features: Broad leaved, mixed & yew woodland - Upland oak woodland Fen, marsh & swamp - Springs (including flushes) Series of nutrient-rich upland calcareous flushes. Upland oak woodland is of ancient & long-established origin. Wet birch woodland also important site characteristic. Notable Species: Above ground: sessile oak, downy birch Ground flora: blaeberry, broad-leaved cotton grass, fragrant orchid, butterwort, sharp-flowered rush, globeflower & marsh violet Fauna: Atlantic salmon, sea lamprey, river lamprey, brook lamprey Feature Condition: Unfavourable, no change (upland oak woodland). Unfavourable, declining (springs- including flushes) What is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): A SSSI is an area of land considered to best represent our natural heritage- by its diversity of plants, animals and habitats, rocks and landforms or a combination of all of these

7. Special Qualities: - A traditional ‘Gateway to the Highlands’ - A harmonious concentration of lochs, woods & hills - Rugged Ben Venue, the centrepiece of the Trossachs - Loch Katrine, the ‘Queen of the Trossachs’ - A landscape of beautiful lochs - The romance of the Trossachs What is a National Scenic Area (NSA): NSA’s are defined as an area of ‘of outstanding scenic value in a national context’. The designation both identifies and protects Scotland’s finest landscapes. There are 40 NSA’s in Scotland. General Qualities of the Wider Area: - A world-renowned landscape famed for its rural beauty -Wild & rugged highlands contrasting with pastoral lowlands - Water in its many forms -The rich variety of woodlands - Settlements nestled within a vast natural backdrop - Famous through-routes - Tranquillity - The easily accessible landscape splendour Ben A’an

8. Special Qualities: - Immensity of loch & landscape - Two lochs in one - A multitude of beautiful islands - Distinctive mountain groups - Ben Lomond, widely known, popularly frequented - Banks of broad-leaved woodland - Peaceful side glens What is a National Scenic Area (NSA): NSA’s are defined as an area of ‘of outstanding scenic value in a national context’. The designation both identifies and protects Scotland’s finest landscapes. There are 40 NSA’s in Scotland. General Qualities of the Wider Area: - A world-renowned landscape famed for its rural beauty -Wild & rugged highlands contrasting with pastoral lowlands - Water in its many forms -The rich variety of woodlands - Settlements nestled within a vast natural backdrop - Famous through-routes - Tranquillity - The easily accessible landscape splendour Inversnaid

9. Trossachs Wood Qualifying habitat: Western acidic oak woodland Loch Lomond Woods Qualifying habitat: Western acidic oak woodland Otter River Teith Qualifying habitat: Atlantic salmon Brook lamprey River lamprey Sea lamprey What is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC): Special areas of conservation are internationally important for threatened habitats and species Trossachs Wood Site condition: Unfavourable recovering Loch Lomond Woods Site condition: Favourable maintained (otter) Unfavourable declining (woodland) River Teith Site condition: Unfavourable recovering (salmon) Favourable maintained (lamprey)