Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve | |
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View from the summit (85m) of Inchcailloch over the woodland and the neighbouring island, Inchfad
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Location | Scotland |
Coordinates | 56°04′55″N 4°33′08″W / 56.082°N 4.5521°WCoordinates: 56°04′55″N 4°33′08″W / 56.082°N 4.5521°W |
Governing body | Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) |
Loch Lomond |
Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve encompasses 430 hectares of land in the southeastern parts of Loch Lomond.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) owns two parts of the Reserve- the island of Inchcailloch and part of Gartfairn Wood - and the rest is privately owned. The NNR is managed in partnership with the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, along with the owners and tenants of the land under agreements.
The first part of Loch Lomond NNR to be declared a National Nature Reserve was Clairinsh in 1958, and was subsequently extended three times to reach its present size. The Reserve encompasses a wide range of habitats, including woodlands, open water, grassland and wetlands. Due to its position on the Highland Boundary Fault, the varying natural environments of the highlands and lowlands give rise to habitats and species at both their northern and southern limit. Before its NNR status, the land at Loch Lomond NNR was used for farming, producing woodland and to a lesser degree, for recreation. Some of these practices are still used, yet with a stronger focus on wildlife practices and maintaining the diversity of the area.
Loch Lomond NNR supports a wide range of bird species, including Greenland white-fronted geese; greylag geese;grasshopper warbler; sege warbler; reed bunting; redstart; spotted flycatcher; skylark; buzzards; and snipe. Ospreys are also regularly seen at the Endrick Mouth section of the Reserve
Nearly 400 vascular plants have been recorded at the Reserve, which is around 25% of the species found in Britain. There are also a number of rare plants found at the Reserve, including elongated sedge, six-stamened waterwort, cowbane, summer snowflake and mudwort. More details about the flora and fauna of Loch Lomond NNR can be found in SNH's Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve Story.