Scotland s National Nature Reserves

Transcription

1 Scotland s National Nature Reserves For further information about Rum National Nature Reserve please contact: Scottish Natural Heritage, The White House, Isle of Rum, Inverness-shire, PH43 4RR Telephone: Fax: The Reserve Plan for Rum National Nature Reserve

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3 Foreword The Reserve Plan for Rum National Nature Reserve Rum National Nature Reserve (NNR) lies about 25 kilometres from Mallaig off the west coast of Scotland. The Reserve is about 108 (km 2 ), and harbours a wealth of wildlife, and dramatic scenery arising from the volcanic geological formations. In particular Rum is renowned for its spectacular seabird colonies which include one of the largest breeding colonies of Manx shearwaters in the world. Golden eagles and white-tailed sea eagles breed here, and soar over the crags and moorland. Redthroated divers nest on the edges of some of the smaller lochs. Much of the island is upland, with vast open areas of wet and dry heaths, blanket bog and species-rich grasslands, with important areas of scree and crevice vegetation, and small freshwater lochs. The rare slender green feather-moss grows in flushes in some of the upland areas, and is just one of a vast array of scarce mosses, liverworts and other plants that flourish on Rum. Everyone is welcome to visit the island and, as many do, stay for several days to discover for themselves its wildlife, its spectacular scenery, and that special island atmosphere. The Reserve has been here for more than half a century and, in that time, has gained a reputation for supporting world-class research and educational visits. We would like to do more, and this document sets out our plan for managing the Reserve over the next six years. Rum is on the threshold of a new beginning. Kinloch village and the surrounding land will shortly be managed by the Isle of Rum Community Trust, who will increasingly provide services and facilities to resident and visitors alike. The Reserve boundary will be redrawn to reflect these changes by removing areas without special interest and allowing us to focus our attention on the special environment of Rum, ensuring it thrives and continues to provide an inspiring setting for all who come here. The plan contains ideas for projects within the village where these will have positive benefits for the Reserve. We would like to progress these projects in partnership with the Isle of Rum Community Trust, through support and grant aid to ensure effective, integrated delivery of visitor services.

4 The Reserve Plan for Rum National Nature Reserve Rum is one of 57NNRs in Scotland. NNRs are special places where some of the best examples of Scotland s wildlife are cared for. Nature comes first on NNRs, and people are welcome to discover the rich natural heritage of these places and to contribute to our knowledge and enjoyment of these areas. The first section of this Plan gives our vision for Rum, describing how we would like to see the Reserve in It specifies our objectives for management and outlines projects planned to deliver these objectives. In 2009, we carried out a public consultation on our proposals for management. The consultation report is available from the SNH Fort William office. Your feedback from the consultation has informed the completion of this Reserve Plan. During the final year of the plan, we will review our progress against this plan to determine the future direction of our management on the Reserve. The Story of Rum National Nature Reserve is a companion document which has more information about Rum NNR and its history. The Story provides the foundation for managing the site and is recommended reading for those wishing to understand more about the management of this very special place. For further information about Rum National Nature Reserve please contact: Scottish Natural Heritage, White House, Isle of Rum, Inverness-shire, PH43 4RR Telephone Fax ii

5 The Reserve Plan for Rum National Nature Reserve Content Foreword i Maps of Rum NNR iv 1 Our Vision for Rum NNR 1 2 Management of the Natural and Cultural Heritage 6 3 Management for People 24 4 Property Management 38 5 Document properties 47 Appendix 1 - National Nature Reserves (NNR) 49 Appendix 2 - Special Area of Conservation (SAC) 51 Appendix 3 - Special Protection Area (SPA) 59 Appendix 4 - Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) 63 Appendix 5 - National Scenic Area (NSA) 67 Appendix 6 - Scheduled Ancient Monuments and Listed Buildings on Rum NNR 69 Appendix 7 - Reserve buildings on Rum 71 iii

6 The Reserve Plan for Rum National Nature Reserve Maps of Rum NNR Location maps Boundary of Rum NNR iv

7 The Reserve Plan for Rum National Nature Reserve Map showing key locations on Rum NNR v

8 1 Our Vision for Rum NNR Our vision for Rum NNR describes how we would like the Reserve to be in The proposals in this document will help us work towards our vision during the next six years. Rum NNR in 2040 Rum is an outstanding island nature reserve, showcasing a wealth of wildlife, and offering a unique experience to visitors from near and far. The internationally important habitats on Rum are in excellent condition benefitting from our careful management of grazing animals. The island s biodiversity has improved over the past 30 years. Established woodland is well managed and expanding gradually to create a richer, more natural woodland cover. The characteristic plants and animals, including otters, golden eagles, redthroated divers and the wide ranges of insects, mosses and liverworts, are flourishing. The island continues to be renowned for its globally important colony of Manx shearwaters. Species foreign to Rum are vigorously controlled so that they do not threaten important habitats and species. Across all our natural heritage work we consider how we can help the Rum ecosystems become more resilient to climate change so that our wildlife has a good chance of long-term survival. Rum s important rock landforms and natural habitats, which are of world renown, are a popular and accessible teaching and study resource, promoted to a wide range of audiences. The fascinating cultural history of Rum is woven into all our visitor facilities. Rum is known world-wide as a wild Scottish island that is accessible and welcoming to all. Welcoming visitor facilities in the village promote and explain the special features of the Reserve. Red deer continue to roam the Reserve, attracting visitors and providing a continuing focus for important research. We manage the population in balance with the Rum s special habitats and demonstrate the success of our approach to other land managers. We manage the Reserve throughout to high standards working together with the local community and other organisations. The Reserve provides economic opportunities and supports a vibrant island community. Volunteers, both local and from further afield, play a valuable role in the continuing success of Rum NNR. 1

9 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) developed a policy for NNRs in 1996 (see Appendix 1). The policy states that NNRs must be nationally important for wildlife, managed primarily for nature, and proven management methods must be followed. The management proposed at Rum should achieve this. The NNR policy also requires the Reserve to be used for one or more of three purposes: raising national awareness, specialised management, and research and demonstration. Rum will continue to be used for all three purposes. Management objectives Our objectives for managing Rum NNR over the next six years are: Management of the Natural and Cultural Heritage Management of People 1. To improve the condition of the internationally important open ground habitats through targeted management of grazing animals. 2. To ensure the populations of Manx shearwaters and other internationally important bird populations are safeguarded. 3. To enhance the overall biodiversity on Rum and look after populations of rare and specially protected species. 4. To maintain and safeguard the nationally important rocks and landforms of Rum. 5. To create awareness and tackle the problems caused by non-native and invasive species. 6. To encourage research into the natural heritage, and to use the Reserve to demonstrate natural heritage management. 7. To safeguard and promote the Reserve s cultural and historical heritage. 8. To raise the profile of the island and promote its special qualities. 9. To provide a welcoming experience with high quality interpretation and visitor facilities that leave people wanting to return. 10. To develop the Reserve as a centre for learning, building on existing facilities and provision. 11. To develop opportunities for closer working with the full range of groups with special or general interests in the Reserve. 2

10 Property Management 12. To ensure that all necessary buildings are fit for the future needs of Reserve management. 13. To ensure that all infrastructure and equipment is fit for the future needs of Reserve management. 14. To ensure that all other estate management is carried out to the highest standards. Designations Rum National Nature Reserve was established in 1957, and is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The boundaries of the NNR and the SSSI are currently under review, and are likely to be revised to exclude Kinloch village, where natural features are not of special interest. Virtually the entire island is a European site of international significance through its designation as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) recognising the importance of the otter population and a wide range of upland, coastal and freshwater habitats. Rum is also designated a Special Protection Area (SPA) because of the internationally important breeding populations of Manx shearwaters, golden eagles, red-throated divers, and the wide range of other breeding seabirds. The Earth science importance of the Reserve is also recognised with no less than seven Geological Conservation Review (GCR) sites, all of which are protected as designated features within the SSSI. The island is also included within the Lochaber Geopark. Rum falls within The Small Isles National Scenic Area (NSA). While managing Rum NNR we have to take account of our legal obligations and Government policy to manage the features that are listed as important in a European or international context. Where a proposal may affect one or more of the qualifying interests of the SAC or SPA, we will carry out an appropriate assessment. This includes all proposals, whether they are direct habitat management or providing a new visitor facility on the Reserve. We will only proceed with projects that do not adversely affect the interests. Likewise, we will also take account of obligations to manage features that are valued as important in a British context, as well as features that are locally important. See Appendices for descriptions and maps of designations. 3

11 Table 1 Designations and qualifying features for Rum NNR Designation Special Area for Conservation Special Protection Area Site of Special Scientific Habitats Machair short-turf grassland on shell sand Sand dunes European UK Proposed for removal from citation Proposed for removal from citation Sea cliffs A range of upland habitats, including: Base-rich scree 1 Dry heaths 1 Wet heathland with cross-leaved heath Grasslands on soils rich in heavy metals Species-rich grassland with mat-grass in upland areas 1 * Blanket bogs * Alpine and sub-alpine heaths Tall herb communities Depressions on peat substrates Base-rich fens Acidic scree Plants in crevices in base-rich rocks Plants in crevices on acid rocks Acid peat-stained lakes 1 Clear-water lakes 1 Species Breeding seabird assemblage, including: guillemot and kittiwake Manx shearwater 4

12 Designation Special Area for Conservation Red throated diver Otter 1 Vascular plant assemblage Bryophyte assemblage Invertebrate assemblage Earth Science Quaternary of Scotland Tertiary Igneous Special Protection Area European Site of Special Scientific UK 1 Habitats or species that are primary reasons for selecting Rum as a SAC * Priority habitats under the EC Habitats Directive 5

13 2 Management of the Natural and Cultural Heritage Habitats Objective 1 To improve the condition of the internationally important open ground habitats through targeted management of grazing animals. Background Over 70% of Rum s surface carries internationally important habitats, the majority of which are great sweeps of open-ground habitats such as heath, bog and grassland. In addition there are significant areas of screes and rocky slopes with crevice plants, coastal cliff, and a large number of small freshwater lochs. These habitats are all described in The Story of Rum National Nature Reserve. Much of the open-ground habitat has been affected by burning and heavy grazing over the historical period before Rum became a NNR, and still needs careful management to achieve the quality expected of these special sites. Grazing is the main tool we use for managing open habitats on Rum. We carry out targeted culling of the population of red deer in response to information on habitat condition. Some of the deer management is carried out as part of a commercial stalking operation, working closely with SNH, to support employment on the island. We manage the small numbers of cattle to benefit plant communities that can become dominated by more aggressive plant species. The issues relating to grazing however are many. For example, the attractiveness and sensitivity of different plant communities to grazers varies in many ways, and some plant communities require heavier grazing levels to maintain their structure and species diversity than others. The greatest grazing impact comes from the red deer herd, but goats, cattle and ponies increase grazing levels in localised areas. To assist and guide our habitat management proposals we gathered a group of experts to help us develop our thinking on how we should continue to manage the habitats influenced by grazing animals. We assessed the range of monitoring information available and made recommendations for future grazing management. This work is outlined in a Grazing Management Issues Paper which can be obtained from the SNH office in Fort William. 6

14 A review of the SSSI features has concluded that the machair and sand dunes are of not of national significance and these will be removed from the SSSI description. Management of these habitats will continue to ensure that species diversity and overall habitat condition is maintained. Management and Monitoring Our main focus for ensuring that all the internationally and nationally important habitats are in good condition will be getting the grazing management on the Reserve right. Our assessment of recent monitoring tells us that habitats are responding positively to recent reductions in deer numbers. There are still some areas where grazing and trampling pressure is too high and localised reduction culls will be undertaken over the next 2-3 years to ensure that the condition of these areas improves. Goats are having a damaging impact in some areas and will therefore need to be controlled too. Further reductions in deer and goat populations have to be managed carefully as recent monitoring has shown that some areas of species rich grassland, in the core of the island are under grazed and beginning to become dominated by coarse grass species. This will be tackled with more carefully targeted grazing of cattle to ensure that grassland diversity is maintained. Ongoing monitoring will be crucial over the next few years to ensure this fine tuning of our grazing management is effective. A detailed grazing management plan is in development to ensure the deer and goat population are managed sustainably, in balance with the islands important habitats. The Plan will be developed in consultation with the Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS) and other key organisations, which will define cull targets for individual management blocks. Management in the Kilmory study area boundary is being adjusted in partnership with deer research interests, as part of an investigation to consider whether temporary electric fencing can be used for short periods of time to allow recovery of important habitats. This investigation of grazing management for habitat mosaics will be used to inform future management on Rum and at other sites. Together with the deer research team and DCS we have agreed a plan that outlines the research work and the fall back management we will undertake, including culling, if this investigation does not achieve the desired habitat response. Once the localised reduction culls are completed the deer population density will be maintained at around 8.5 deer per km 2. Ongoing deer and goat counts and habitat monitoring information will be used to assess whether this management approach requires further adjustment. 7

15 The key projects are: develop a grazing management plan to guide herbivore management for the next 6 years; undertake targeted control of deer and goats within established management blocks; graze cattle more widely on grassland habitats to promote species diversity; confirm a targeted monitoring programme that will inform ongoing grazing management and support site condition monitoring: support an investigation of approaches to achieve habitat condition objectives in the deer study area, and; review vegetation monitoring exclosures and repair or remove. 8

16 Map showing changes to our deer management on Rum NNR 9

17 Birds Objective 2 To ensure the populations of Manx shearwaters and other internationally important bird populations are safeguarded. Background The island s huge colony of breeding Manx shearwaters elevates Rum to world importance. The colony is in favourable condition, but may be threatened by brown rats which have colonies on the island. Rats cause problems on islands all round the world by predating eggs and chicks which eventually leads to population decline. Predation of seabirds by rats had not been considered a problem on Rum until recently, when increasing evidence of rat predation amongst the Manx shearwater colony has been seen, coupled with declines in shearwater breeding success. While we are not certain that the declines are caused by brown rat predation (climate and food supply are also possible causes), experience from other offshore islands suggests that this is likely to be a factor. Of course, predation, climate and food supply can act together, and it is possible that even quite small levels of predation may push the colony over the edge if the food supply is reduced, or some other factor limits breeding success. Extermination programmes have already eradicated rats from several British islands including Canna, Lundy, and Ramsey Island. While we could take the precautionary approach and try to eliminate the rats, we are faced with a much bigger rat-eradication task than has previously been undertaken anywhere in the UK. We would also need to ensure that any eradication programme is accompanied by strict control measures to prevent re-colonisation of the island, and does not impact on other animals, such as wood mice. We are currently working with a group of experts who are helping us to determine the best combination of research and practical projects to help us to effectively assess the current problem and take effective action. An Issues Paper outlining recommendations on the way forward has been produced and can be obtained from the SNH office in Fort William. Other threats to Manx shearwaters include changes in food supply, flooding of nest holes, and increasing light pollution from Kinloch village; which can disorient the birds on misty nights. 10

18 Rats may also threaten other internationally important birds that nest on or in the ground, such as puffins. Counts of these other seabird populations are made but, a more systematic monitoring programme is needed. We are concerned about two species in particular, kittiwake and guillemot, which seem to have declined in numbers, and more work is needed to investigate causes. The red-throated diver on Rum is also of international importance. While there is little reason to be concerned about its population on Rum, breeding success has been poor over the last couple of years. Angling around the lochs where they breed may cause problems and will be more actively managed in the future. Disturbance by visitors may also be a potential problem for the small breeding populations of golden eagle and white-tailed sea eagle. Guidance will be provided to encourage visitors to be aware of the potential risks of disturbance. This will be monitored to ensure that disturbance continues to be minimised. Management and Monitoring A number of projects are already under way to help determine the relative importance of rat predation and other factors (such as rainfall) in reducing Manx shearwater breeding success. These include a rat control experiment and investigation of rat distribution to better understand the predation threat and how to combat it. This will allow us to consider the feasibility of eradicating rats from the island. It is important to relieve any other possible pressures on the Manx shearwater colony, so we will ensure that new developments on the island minimise and shield light sources at night to avoid disrupting birds night time navigation. To minimise disturbance of all birds by visitors we will provide better information about why, where and how people should take care. The use of freshwater lochs for angling, which could disturb nesting red-throated divers, will be controlled by an effective permit scheme allowing access only to lochs not used by divers. To help us reach a better understanding of the important bird populations on the Reserve, we will prioritise our monitoring so that we are targeting key species and develop a robust, long term monitoring programme. This will include a continuation of the current monitoring of occupied territories and breeding success of golden eagles and white-tailed sea eagles, which will be used to determine if our herbivore management is impacting on breeding productivity. Improvements will be made to our monitoring of guillemot, kittiwake and other seabirds, by setting up plots for assessing their productivity that can be easily refound. 11

19 Beyond the Reserve, an extension to the Rum SPA boundary has now been created which will help protect feeding areas for species such as guillemots, razorbills and puffins that all breed on the Reserve. The key projects are: continue to monitor the breeding success and population of Manx shearwaters; investigate the feasibility of installing and maintaining an automatic weather station to collect rainfall data at the Manx shearwater colony; run an experiment to find out what effect rats have on Manx shearwaters; gather information about the behaviour and distribution of brown rats on Rum, and consider the feasibility of a future eradication project; ensure that new developments on the island take into account the need to minimise and shield light sources at night; control disturbance of red-throated divers by anglers, and; prioritise bird monitoring and develop a long-term monitoring strategy, to include ongoing monitoring of eagles, red-throated divers and key seabird species. 12

20 Other species Objective 3 To enhance the overall biodiversity on Rum and look after populations of rare and specially protected species. Background Otters are of international importance, and can be seen quite regularly around Loch Scresort. They are known to venture all over the island to quite high altitudes, and to breed around the coast. We believe the population is currently healthy and that there are no special threats, although we do not have a complete picture of where these animals are living. A number of vascular plants, lower plants and invertebrate species on Rum are of national importance. These are all in favourable condition, except for the important range of vascular plants where a number of species seem to have disappeared. For most vascular plant species, we have not found any obvious reasons, although grazing pressures may be too high for some species. Whilst the important range of mosses and liverworts (bryophytes) is in favourable condition, we still have some cause for concern. In some cases, for example wet heath, the habitat is not in good condition, and this may affect the bryophytes in the longer term. We need to find out more about the status of the invertebrate populations on Rum. Monitoring methods are still be finalised for this important group of species. Amongst Rum s very few mammal species are two species of bat (both UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) species). Pipistrelles roost in the Castle, in several other buildings around Kinloch village and forage on the Reserve. Future building conversions could threaten roosts, especially if sites have not been located, so further investigation is needed. Daubentons bats have also been seen recently, and may roost with the pipistrelles. While much of the surface of Rum is covered by internationally important habitats, other habitats also contribute to the diversity of the island and support their own range of species. Increased biodiversity will be encouraged where it is compatible with maintaining condition of important habitats and species. We believe that the biological and landscape diversity on Rum would be enhanced by restructuring existing woodland, and gradual expansion of woodland. This has been a particular focus of the Reserve since it was declared, aiming to restore the Hebridean woodland that had previously been almost 13

21 entirely lost. So far, more than a million trees have been planted. In recent years a Habitat Restoration Programme for woodland has been developed that has identified suitable planting areas for further woodland expansion. The challenge in taking this forward is to balance the needs of internationally important habitats, such as grasslands, that require moderate levels of grazing, with the development of woodland which requires very low levels of grazing. The farmland around the village once supported a more varied bird population, including corncrakes. We will undertake more active management of this area to support UK and local biodiversity targets. The possibility of climate change causing damaging changes to the environment of Rum continues to be a real concern. We collect climate and pollution data on Rum and have long term records from Kinloch & Kilmory. This information is being used to investigate the effects of climate change on deer, but we have not yet used this to investigate more general ecological change, or to compare data on Rum with other locations. Management and Monitoring Across all our natural heritage work, we will consider how we can help the Rum ecosystems become more resilient to climate change so that our wildlife has a good chance of long-term survival. We will plan new projects with this in mind and review our continuing projects, taking account of new information and strategies as they arise. In line with national biodiversity strategies, we will also consider how the island can contribute to the overall resilience of Scotland s wildlife, especially as islands may offer refuges in times of stress or during migrations. The UK s Environmental Change Network has been set up to measure environmental change. A number of National Nature Reserves are members of the Network, which is being expanded to include new sites making a smaller number of measurements. We will investigate the possibility of the Reserve joining the Network which would provide an opportunity to develop environmental monitoring on Rum to universally comparable standards. We will continue to carry out a survey of otter habitat and holts around Loch Scresort and the wider island to help guide our future management. To safeguard our bat populations, we will work with the Community Ranger to provide bat boxes to broaden their options for roosting, and improve feeding grounds by managing and maintaining hedgerows and freshwater habitats to favour aquatic insects. While site condition monitoring gives us helpful information about the success of our management, we need additional information to help us manage our 14

22 vascular plants. We will therefore carry out more detailed monitoring and some more intensive surveys targeted at the more elusive plant species. The creation of croft land on Rum is an ideal opportunity to encourage and increase farmland birds. We will encourage and support crofters to develop an action plan to obtain funding under the Rural Development Programme to encourage UK BAP farmland birds such as skylark, twite and corncrake. Improving and expanding of existing woodland is an important part of our wider biodiversity objectives and consideration is being given as to how that can be progressed without impacting on other habitats. We are preparing a woodland management plan to support this work and the key principles for prioritising work have been established in discussion with partners. Short term activities will focus on enhancing established woodland areas. This will include an assessment of existing fences, which will be repaired or removed if not required. Where fences are replaced we will realign them to promote woodland expansion, particularly within Kilmory Glen where we will investigate combining some of the existing exclosures on one side of the Glen. The woodland within the designed landscape will be managed collaboratively with the Isle of Rum Community Trust (IRCT), and funds are being sought to support sustainable management. We will also investigate options, with the Forestry Commission for Scotland, to secure the future of relict woodland fragments and to trial new approaches to planting without fencing. The key projects are: ensure new projects support climate change resilience across all our natural heritage work; consider the resource implications and benefits of joining the Environmental Change Network; establish and implement the grazing management requirements of the range of important vascular plants and monitor their response; carry out a thorough survey of the otter population to provide a basis for more effective monitoring and management decisions; develop a project to improve bat feeding habitat, provide bat boxes, and promote feeding habitats for bats on the island; prepare a woodland management plan to improve existing woodland areas and identify actions to secure and expand woodland remnants across the Reserve, and; to review local biodiversity priorities and develop additional projects if opportunities arise. 15

23 Geodiversity Objective 4 To maintain and safeguard the nationally important rocks and landforms of Rum. Background Large areas of the rocks and landforms of Rum are of national importance, and the island is a popular destination for research and specialist field trips. When last monitored in 2004, the earth science features were all in favourable condition, which requires that they continue to be visible and accessible for study, and are not significantly diminished. The very small-scale removal of samples for study, which does occur from time to time, is not likely to be detrimental if done with care. Management and Monitoring Our main aims in managing the earth science features are to ensure they are available and accessible for study, and to promote their continuing use as an educational resource. At the same time, we must ensure that our management of other aspects of the Reserve avoid compromising these important areas. Promotion of these aspects of the Reserve should result in increased visitors, so we will track changes in use of these features. The key projects are: ensure that earth science features are taken into account in all Reserve management work; promote responsible use to ensure that earth science features remain undamaged, this will include active briefing of specialists and student groups; monitor the level of use of the earth science resource by including appropriate questions on visitor surveys, and; monitor the earth science features every 6 years. 16

24 Non-native and invasive species Objective 5 To create awareness and tackle the problems caused by non-native and invasive species. Background Invasions of islands by species not normally found there can cause major problems for resident populations, and these have been well-documented around the world. Globally, invasive species are considered to be the second most important threat to biodiversity (habitat loss being the first) so action to address these problems is critical. Preventing invasive species becoming established is generally far easier and less expensive than eradicating problem species once they have become established. On Rum, we are aware of some existing problems: rats destroying Manx shearwater eggs, cotoneaster amongst the important bryophytes, and rhododendron in woodland. These are still at the stage when they have done little or no damage, and may be relatively straightforward to tackle. While some invasive or non-native species may reach the island unaided, the regular arrival of ferries and private boats provides an ideal route into Rum for certain species, with the rat being a likely invader at any time. Other animals and plants may be specifically brought to the island for garden or crofts. Pets, such as cats, can cause problems if animals breed and disperse out of the village, and hedgehogs can cause major problems for ground nesting bird species. Rabbits and polecats could also impact on agricultural and horticultural enterprises around the village. Management and Monitoring We hope to tackle the threat of invasive species spreading onto important habitats in a number of ways. A proactive approach will be taken to develop and operate a policy for species that are not native to Rum, identifying those likely to cause problems if brought to the island. We will keep this under regular review and publicise this on the mainland, at landing points on Rum, and to all private boat owners calling here. We have worked with the Isle of Rum Community Trust to develop a list of undesirable species, including pets such as cats that people will be discouraged from bringing to the island. For maximum effectiveness, this policy will be 17

25 expanded to identify actions to be taken if any of the problem species are recorded on the island. It will be critical for our staff and the wider community to work together to ensuring this policy works. As part of a programme to control invasive and non-native species on the island, we will locate and remove Himalayan cotoneaster to eliminate the possible threat to bryophytes. Rhododendron will also be controlled and consideration given to replacing some rhododendron species in the village with less invasive shrubs. We have already detailed the action we need to take over the brown rat population and their possible effect on ground-nesting birds (Objective 2). This will be a priority for this plan period. The key projects are: operate a policy for preventing the arrival of problem species in conjunction with the community and other key partners; publicise, to all potential visitors and residents, the need to keep Rum free of non-native species; progress a framework for monitoring and managing (or eliminating) invasive plant and animal species present on the island; consider whether visitors could help in the control of rhododendron; eradicate the most invasive non-native species from the island, for example rhododendron and cotoneaster, and; work with the Isle of Rum Community Trust to implement guidelines on which animals can be brought on to Rum. 18

26 Research and demonstration Objective 6 To encourage research into the natural heritage, and to use the Reserve to demonstrate natural heritage management. Background Research into the natural heritage on Rum began well before the Reserve was established, and we have continued to welcome and encourage research studies. As a result, some aspects of Rum have been very intensively studied, notably its geology and the population dynamics, behaviour and genetics of the red deer population. Both are known to scientists around the world, and several academic institutions are involved in each. Other research includes population studies of the feral goats and of the Manx shearwaters. Over the last decade, earthworms have been studied on Rum and the results may have practical benefits in helping accelerate soil improvement after tree planting. In addition to these more or less self-contained studies, a huge amount of data has been collected over the decades about the animals and plants, the habitats and their management and restoration. Much of this has accumulated as a result of surveys commissioned by us, and from visits by universities, wildlife groups and societies. We are pleased to make data available for research purposes, but most of this is not easily accessible, with much of it being filed away on paper. We are often asked about how we manage the Reserve. While we are always happy to explain, we don t have any formal demonstration programmes in place. Management and Monitoring We always encourage research that contributes to achieving our conservation objectives. We welcome groups and individuals who want to use Rum for research and recording, providing that all data and results are made freely available to us and the public. When we identify gaps in our knowledge that students or research institutes could help fill, we will publicise these to suitable institutions. We are proud of the role of the Reserve in the important deer research carried out on Rum, and we would like to summarise and promote the findings more widely, in collaboration with the research staff. Research based on the Rum deer 19

27 herds has shaped knowledge of deer biology, and we are very keen to support this research and will work closely with researchers to ensure that it is compatible with the management of the internationally important habitats. We have a specialist earth science field guide which we will continue to update. Making our data readily available will be a major task for Reserve staff. We will need to start by prioritising our data holdings for uploading onto computer databases and also consider the most appropriate form of publication. Species records will be transferred to the publically available National Biological Network (NBN). We will continue to undertake research which will expand our knowledge of the Reserve s important features and identify potential areas of research that could be undertaken by others to support our management activities. As an initial step in establishing a range of management demonstrations, we will develop and promote a programme to illustrate how ponies are used in deer management on Rum and how public and commercial deer stalking can operate in parallel. There may also be an opportunity to consider a demonstration of rat control or eradication in the future, as this work goes forward. The key projects are: encourage others to use Rum for research and promote their findings, where this work supports our conservation objectives; support existing research programmes, including deer research, where they are compatible with our conservation objectives; jointly prepare an accessible summary of the main findings of the deer research for promotion to land managers and interested visitors, and support the erection of a hide as a focus for raising awareness; consider opportunities for demonstration projects in relation to deer management; prioritise our data holdings, and begin to make them available electronically, and; develop a portfolio of potential research projects that could inform our Reserve management. 20

28 Cultural and Historical Heritage Objective 7 To safeguard and promote the Reserve s cultural and historical heritage. Background Humans have lived on Rum for thousands of years, and have left many traces on the land. The full extent of the archaeology has not been intensively investigated, but some remains are important enough to be protected as Scheduled Ancient Monuments, and many others have been found. Some of the older buildings, such as the Castle, have been given Listed Building status though not all of these fall under the responsibility of Reserve management. Further information can be found in The Story of Rum National Nature Reserve. Kinloch Castle is a category A listed building on which construction was started in 1897 for Sir George Bullough, a rich industrialist whose father had bought Rum as a sporting estate. The Castle was built at great expense with stone brought from Dumfriesshire for the construction. The Bullough s regularly visited Rum and the Castle and its contents remain hardly altered from when it was inhabitated by the Bulloughs. The intact interiors are of particular interest and are one of the principle reasons for its Listed Building status. The Castle will not lie within the future NNR boundary but will continue to be crucial in attracting people to the island and the Reserve, as well as providing accommodation and educational facilities for visitors. The Castle also plays a vital role in maintaining the overall sustainability of the community on Rum, by attracting visitors and employing staff. A proposal to restore the Castle to its former glory and provide improved visitor facilities is well developed, but will require substantial funding in order for it to be taken forward. Continued public access to the unique Caste interiors are a key component of these proposals. Finding these funds will be very challenging and an independent charitable trust is may be established to progress these proposals. The Rum pony is an indigenous Highland breed which is smaller than its counterpart on the mainland. Small, hardy, Highland ponies have been on Rum since at least the 18 th century, so the ponies we keep here now are a recognisable link with the past. Our small herd of ponies are ideally suited for transporting deer off the hill during the deer cull. They can access remote areas of the Reserve with minimal impact on sensitive habitats. They are considered by many to have a special place here on the island; enthusiasts often visit the Reserve especially to see them. Highland ponies are classed as a vulnerable 21

29 breed by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, and the Rum ponies are the least numerous group within the breed. We manage the herd in close consultation with specialist groups and breeders. Management and Monitoring The archaeological and historic buildings designations give us an additional set of responsibilities and legislative requirements. We must keep all Listed Buildings in a reasonable state of repair and ensure that any work on or near a Scheduled Ancient Monument does not damage the monument. We feel that there is more that could be done to safeguard and promote these important historical links to our cultural past. In particular, some of the historic houses and features such as deer traps could be restored and interpreted for visitors. We have potential partners who have much more expertise in this area than ourselves, so we will work with Historic Scotland and the Small Isles Archaeological Project to develop a dossier and a management brief for each of the Listed Buildings and Scheduled Ancient Monuments. These documents will ensure that any specialised management is built into our work programme, and opportunities for promoting areas of cultural interest are identified. We will assemble an inventory of known archaeological sites on a Geographical Information System (GIS) so that Reserve staff will know where each site is, and can take them into account during their work and advising contractors. Maintaining a highland pony herd on Rum is currently necessary to support our deer management and meet our natural heritage objectives. We also recognise the significance of the Rum pony herd and are keen to ensure that our herd contributes to the long term future of this rare breed. An Issues Paper has been prepared in which we considered a range of options to maintain the Rum highland pony herd, including the continued ownership and management by SNH or the sale to a private individual or organisation. The paper concluded that continued ownership and management by SNH was the best way to achieve in the short term, and that more should be done to expand the mainland population. We will support efforts by others to expand the wider highland pony population. A copy of the Issues Paper is available from the SNH office in Fort William. The key projects are: develop a simple management brief for all important cultural sites on Rum outlining how they will be protected and promoted; establish a Reserve GIS inventory of all archaeological features to help ensure that they are not affected by Reserve activities; 22

30 continue to train and work Rum ponies for Reserve management purposes, and; make Rum ponies available for breeding purposed to secure the Rum pony breed both on the mainland and Rum. 23

31 3 Management for People An island the size of Rum has the capacity to absorb quite large numbers of visitors, but we need to make sure that they have the information and facilities they need to appreciate the special nature of the island and get the best out of their visit. The most recent figure we have shows that at least 10,000 people visit Rum each year. Just over half of these come from outside Scotland, and nearly 10% from outside the UK. A large proportion comes, as we would expect, to see wildlife and to walk through a wild landscape. More arduous pursuits, climbing, cycling and running, are enjoyed by relatively small numbers, as are fishing and water sports. A number of organisations make group visits for learning or research. Some visitors come specifically to see the Castle and take guided tours to see its splendid interiors. Most visitors come to the island by ferry, but those arriving in their own boats can moor at the old pier. Anyone wanting to stay on the island has a choice of a basic campsite or dormitory accommodation in the Castle. The more adventurous can camp anywhere outside the village, and we also have mountain bothies at Dibidil and Guirdil. Visitors will find plenty to do close to Kinloch. The Reserve has a low key Interpretation Centre and an Information Point, and two self-guided trails highlight some of the more easily reached aspects of the island s natural heritage, and include an otter hide. The village has an independently run shop and a tea room. Outside the village, access is completely open with paths and pony trails reaching most parts of the island. Fishing is available in certain lochs and river in season and by licence. Given the effort it takes to get to Rum, and the variety of things to see and do, it is not surprising that our visitors spend much longer here than at most NNRs; 65% of our visitors spend more than 5 hours here, compared to 15% on average across all NNRs. Staying for more than 5 hours almost certainly means making an overnight stay. Rum is in need of upgraded facilities to welcome visitors and raise awareness about what the island has to offer. The Isle of Rum Community Trust will play an increasingly important part in the provision of facilities for visitors and all new developments will be jointly developed to ensure they meet the needs of the local community and visitors to the Reserve. This section sets out our proposals for developing Rum NNR as an even better place to visit. We want to promote the island in as positive a way as possible to encourage visitors, and the media, to come to the island and find out more. We feel there are opportunities to make 24

32 a visit to Rum exciting for everyone, whatever their interests and abilities. We appreciate that not everyone will be able to get here, so we d like to encourage virtual visits by making available as much of the Rum experience as possible through the internet. Of course, whatever we do we will avoid developments and activities that might threaten the natural heritage that is the primary reason for the Reserve. 25

33 Map showing current visitor facilities for Rum NNR 26

34 Promotion of the Reserve Objective 8 To raise the profile of the island and promote its special qualities. Background Rum has been freely accessible for many years - anyone can visit and roam the island at any time. But queries from would-be visitors show that some do not realise that this is the case, believing that historical restrictions still apply. Getting to Rum also involves quite a lot of effort, and not everyone has a good idea of what they will find or need - for instance, stout footwear and something to keep the midges at bay! We want to do much more to help the public get a clear idea of what Rum is all about, why they should visit, and how they should prepare. Management Perhaps the single most important thing we want to do at Rum is to promote the island as somewhere that welcomes visitors, where everyone will receive a warm reception, and find plenty that matches their interests and abilities. We want this positive image to be developed in partnership with the local community and to be used consistently by everyone involved in promoting Rum. We will develop a visitor management plan in partnership with the community to enable us to focus our joint efforts on facilities and messages that will be most meaningful to island visitors. We need to get better at portraying what Rum is about with local businesses, tourist information providers, and the media and through other broader designations such as the Lochaber Geopark. We will develop a media campaign guided by themes defined in a visitor management plan, to promote the island and encourage people to come and explore its fascinating history and landscape. We will promote Rum more actively through tourist and outdoor pursuit publications, websites and Tourist Information Centres across Lochaber. We propose to develop and trial two standard promotional descriptions of Rum, a short one to be attached to any press releases concerning the island, and a longer one for anyone planning to produce articles or programmes. The Scottish Wildlife Trust and the National Trust for Scotland are both important partners, sharing similar issues to us and working on adjacent islands. The Small 27

35 Isles presents opportunities to work together promoting the natural and cultural heritage, and we will approach both organisations to investigate collaborative approaches. Each visitor s experience of Rum starts long before they step off the boat. We will help them prepare for their visit in many different ways, through websites and guidebooks, at Tourist Information Centres, at the harbour-side in Mallaig, and even on the ferries themselves. We want to ensure that they have the best idea possible of what they might see and experience on Rum, and how they can make the most of their visit. Specifically, we will improve the information on the NNR website to better prepare and inform potential visitors, including links to ferry timetables, current research and management projects. We will also explore with CalMac and other ferry operators the possibility of putting information onto the ferries. We need to have up-to-date and relevant Reserve leaflets and booklets that we can provide to visitors, and in response to enquiries. We will review our current range of leaflets, identifying any unnecessary titles and any gaps that we need to fill. We will reprint or rewrite these as necessary, ensuring that they reflect a welcoming image, and are kept up to date and available from a variety of sources. Within SNH, we will ensure that Rum figures prominently in the NNR brand campaign in a way that will benefit and promote the island and all its attractions. The Scotland s NNR website will project the same image. The key projects are: develop, with partners, a new and consistent image of Rum to promote a unified sense of place and welcome; develop standard up-to-date and positive text about Rum for provision to the media; ensure that Rum figures prominently in the NNR brand campaign and is promoted through our NNR website, with key information and links to relevant information, such as ferry timetables; collaborate with the Scottish Wildlife Trust on Eigg, and the National Trust for Scotland on Canna, to jointly promote the wildlife and other attractions of the Small Isles; review current Reserve leaflets and booklets, reprint or rewrite as necessary and ensure current versions are readily available, and; work with boat operators to encourage them to provide information about Rum and its special attractions. 28

36 Visitor facilities Objective 9 To provide a welcoming experience, with high quality interpretation and visitor facilities that leave people wanting to return. Background Most visitors to Rum will take the ferry-ride from Mallaig and disembark at the ferry terminal. Facilities at the terminal are still limited, and it is a priority for us to change this. The Rum pier is now run by the Highland Council so any improvements will be undertaken in partnership with the Council. A short walk takes visitors to the information point outside the Reserve Office in Kinloch village. Nearby, is a small interpretation centre managed by the Community Ranger. This was established to provide basic information while we investigate the needs of visitors to the island and confirm what enhanced facilities should be provided. Two self-guided trails start from the village. One of these runs on the north side of Loch Scresort. The other leads along the south side to the newly completed Otter Hide. Each has its own leaflet. At present, it may not be very clear to visitors where these trails start, and the leaflets need some updating. Between the mid-1970s and mid-1990s, the number of visitors to Rum increased four-fold. We have a recent snapshot of visitor activities on the island, but to target potential visitors effectively we need to obtain more detailed information on our visitors and the facilities they would benefit from. Many visitors come to Rum to see Kinloch Castle, which is a short walk beyond the Reserve Office. We will continue to safeguard the special features of Kinloch Castle, and until such time that the significant funds required to under take the full restoration of the Castle can be found, we will do all we can to secure a sustainable future for the Castle through a programme of restoration of the buildings fabric and historic interest. Parts of the Castle may be closed to visitors while repair works are undertaken, but we will do all we can to ensure visitors can still visit the Castle. We publicise the Reserve through a dedicated Scotland s NNR website, and through a range of general and specialised booklets and leaflets. Leaflets are supplied to relevant outlets on the mainland and other islands. 29

37 Management It is important to provide facilities which will be well used and enhance people s visit to the Reserve. In order to plan these facilities properly, we must be clear about who visits the Reserve, why they visit, and what they expect of us. Detailed survey information will enable us to confidently plan for future management of visitors to the island. Once this information is available, we will work closely with the local community to update our existing visitor management plan and set out the direction and principles for future visitor management on the Reserve. This will help us to focus on what is required in terms of providing new facilities, maintaining existing facilities, and meeting any additional visitor needs. The Isle of Rum Community Trust and SNH are keen to ensure that any visitor facilities are well co-ordinated and jointly promoted. To help achieve this we will set up a Visitor Management Group to guide development of future facilities and promotional material. We know that visitors would benefit from welcoming visitor facilities at the new pier which contains information to help them plan their visit. This will enable visitors to be confident in setting out to explore the island, and aware of the opportunities available to them. A new building is a priority to provide information, shelter and act as a waiting area for departure. A new Ranger service has recently been established in partnership with the Isle of Rum Community Trust to provide a welcome and introduction to the island. The Ranger provides a programme of talks, guided walks and other interpretive experiences. Many visitors relish the short walk into Kinloch village, and some will wander far beyond, but we do need to consider how best to cater for people who find this distance challenging. Transport options will be investigated with the wider community to ensure opportunities for private enterprises are supported. This is likely to be less of an issue in future if a tearoom is built closer to the pier. In the meantime we will prepare a simple flyer alerting people to the nature of tracks on the island and the distance to key facilities. Accessibility information will also be made available on the Scotland s NNRs website in the future. Most first-time visitors will want to orient themselves by walking the two existing trails so we will ensure that the starting points of these are clearly marked, and that they are covered by a single leaflet that can be kept up-to-date. We will continue to manage and improve the hostel accommodation within Kinloch Castle for visitors, and will support the development of other accommodation provision to encourage a good choice of facilities on Rum. 30

38 Rum s natural and cultural history is a great story, but we are not telling it to best advantage with the interpretation facilities we currently have. Our investigations of visitors will confirm the type of interpretive provision required and we will aim to re-develop the visitor centre in partnership with the community, complete with high quality displays and media. In the meantime, we will continue to support the Community Ranger in making small-scale improvements to interpretation and facilities within the existing visitor centre. The farm steading building is not well suited to modern agricultural use and has the potential for conversion to a range of uses. We will explore future options with the Isle of Rum Community Trust when we no longer have operational need for the building. As the Castle is of such interest to visitors, and plays a significant role in the Rum story, we will make sure that it is properly explained in any interpretive material and will look for ways to inform visitors about the restoration proposals for the Castle and gain their support for the project. We know that there is huge potential for a wide variety of recreational activities on Rum and that it is particularly valued by those looking for a remote wilderness or challenging recreational experience. We will cater for those wishing to explore Rum by foot, sea-kayak or yacht and provide guidance on wild camping to ensure that recreational impacts on the environment are limited. 31

39 Map showing current and planned new visitor facilities on Rum NNR 32

40 The key projects are: develop a campaign to promote Rum to selected visitor groups; establish, through survey and other methods, current and potential visitor numbers, and reasons for visiting the island; prepare a collaborative visitor management plan; create a Visitor Management Group on the Island to ensure integrated development of tourist facilities; develop proposals for a visitor waiting room at the new pier (with Highland Council & the Community Trust) promoting island highlights; mark the starting points of the two village trails, and produce a joint trail leaflet, showing route and features of interest; support the Community Ranger to welcome visitors, provide talks, guided walks, and other interpretation; raise awareness of the Castle restoration plans and any renovation work, and; encourage the exploration of Rum for more specialist recreational activities, and; plan and re-develop the visitor centre in Kinloch village. 33

41 Learning Objective 10 To develop the Reserve as a centre for learning, building on existing facilities and provision. Background The Reserve already hosts regular visits from universities and schools, as well as occasional vocational visits. The Reserve Story describes many of these. Most groups stay several nights to make the most of the time spent travelling to the island and to fully explore the educational opportunities available. Rum is principally an outdoor classroom, although we have been able to offer some basic classroom accommodation in the Castle basement. We support visits by educational or vocational groups with a staff member providing an introduction to the Reserve, but we do not have dedicated staff to support educational visits. Rum has been particularly well used by university groups who have developed long term data sets, and provided valuable information to the Reserve. Management Study is one of the principal purposes of NNRs, and we want to do much more than we do currently at Rum, not only encouraging more use of the Reserve, but also improving the facilities and direct input by ourselves. Most visiting groups need some well-organised space where they can brief students, consolidate what they have done in the field, and sort and identify material they have collected. During bad weather, a good classroom is essential to make best use of time on the island. The class room requires improvements to maximise its use and so we will install additional storage, equipment and computer facilities. While we will promote Rum generally as a venue for education, training and demonstration, there are a few areas we would particularly like to develop. We think that the island could be used more by schools and we will investigate the demand for this with local schools. Schools would benefit more from short visits to Rum if we could provide them with materials they could use in the classroom or ferry before they get here, so we will develop a classroom pack with this in mind. 34

42 We will work with the community ranger to provide practical support to the Rum school and visiting school groups. Rum has been popular for many years with study groups in higher education. We welcome and encourage their use of the Reserve, and will support their visits wherever we can. We will take the opportunities available through the Lochaber Geopark to promote the island to people wanting to learn about its fascinating geological history. The island provides many opportunities for learning practical skills. It is a particularly useful venue when experience of working in rugged environments is needed. We would like to encourage more vocational learning on the Reserve, so we will investigate rural skills, and deer management courses that might like to make use of our facilities, and keep in touch with them as facilities develop. The key projects are: promote Rum as a venue for learning and demonstration, particularly focusing on higher education groups and local schools; investigate the opportunities that could be provided for primary and secondary schools and the demand that exists for this provision; support the local school and actively encourage staff and visiting researchers to visit the school when they can provide valuable input to the curriculum; improve the current Reserve class room to ensure facilities meet requirements of existing and proposed visitors; develop a pre-visit classroom pack drawing on materials in the existing pack produced for Isle of May NNR; support the production of an interactive geological field trip for school and university use; support the community ranger services work with school groups, and; investigate rural skills and deer management courses that might want to use Rum for practical work. 35

43 Community involvement Objective 11 To develop opportunities for closer working with the full range of groups with special or general interests in the Reserve. Background An over-arching principle of our work on Rum, which under-pins all these proposals, is that we work in partnership with the local community. In addition, we welcome the interest of the wider community in the management of the Reserve. A range of special interest groups, including those concerned with natural history, outdoor pursuits, and science, all use the Reserve and we support all those pursuits that are compatible with the purposes of the Reserve. Many people have worked on the Reserve in the past as volunteers, and this has provided important experiences of island living and conservation work, as well as a means for us to complete certain types of project more effectively. Management We are committed to supporting the local community in taking over responsibility for assets and facilities in Kinloch village, and we will continue to provide advice and grant aid for projects that support the objectives within these Reserve proposals. We will also look for ways to support the community to develop business opportunities which make provision for visitors by providing facilities or experiences that complement the environmental quality of the island. By supporting the local community we hope to enable them to create businesses which are economically independent of SNH and contribute to the long term viability of the community. We will aim to strengthen our relationships with specialist groups that use the island ensuring that we make regular contact with them to find out what they need from the Reserve. We will ensure that these groups understand the importance of the natural and cultural heritage of Rum and the need to respect all these aspects of the island during any visits they may make. The impact of volunteers on the work of the Reserve is perhaps less now than it has been in the past. We recognise the benefits volunteers can make to the Reserve and the valuable experience it can offer to individuals. We believe that there are plenty of opportunities for volunteers at Rum, (including supporting the work of the Community Ranger) so we will draw up a list of suitable work or projects, such as path maintenance and removal of invasive species. We will 36

44 find ways of publicising this list to the local community, such as through Volunteering Highland, and to the wider conservation community through societies, websites, and magazines. The key projects are: encourage and support economic opportunities for the local community especially where they complement proposals in the Management Plan; collaborate with special interest groups to improve our understanding of their needs, and to promote their sensitive use of the Reserve, and; develop and publicise a list of volunteer opportunities on the Reserve, and wider island. 37

45 4 Property Management SNH owns most of the buildings on Rum. This will change shortly as much of the land and property in Kinloch Village will be transferred to the Isle of Rum Community Trust. In addition, the Castle may transfer to a separate Castle Trust to progress the restoration proposals outlined previously. We will retain use of those buildings in Kinloch which are essential for Reserve management. They include office accommodation, workshops and storage, and facilities for livestock and deer management. Properties that currently house staff will be transferred to the Isle of Rum Community Trust but will be reserved for staff accommodation. These changes provide us with a considerable opportunity to focus our management on Reserve management priorities. Some of the facilities, particularly to do with energy generation and supply, are expected to be shared with the Community Trust in the future. The Reserve boundary will be changed to reflect this new approach with Kinloch village being removed from the National Nature Reserve. All the footpaths and access tracks outwith the village will remain our responsibility. In this section we set out our proposals for managing the buildings and infrastructure of the Reserve, and for other aspects of estate management. We will continue to manage Reserve facilities in a way that is efficient and cost effective. We will agree all significant changes in building use and future capital investment with the Isle of Rum Community Trust before progressing any of the proposals outlined below. 38

46 Buildings Objective 12 To ensure that all necessary buildings are fit for the future needs of Reserve management. Background The principal buildings used for reserve management are located in Kinloch village. At the farm we have our main storage area and various workshops and subsidiary storage sheds for wood, and other materials. The main steading building is not accessible by modern farm vehicles, which makes handling and storage of agricultural equipment and feed difficult. A lack of washing facilities makes storage and use of agrochemicals problematic. Overall, this storage area no longer supports effective management of estate work. In this area we also have our stables and cattle handling area, both of which are essential to the way we currently manage the Reserve. The adjacent mechanics workshop is a more modern building, but needs re-roofing. The White House provides accommodation for Reserve staff and the Reserve Office which does not adequately accommodate current staffing levels. Outside the Reserve Office stands a covered information point. The recently refurbished deer larder, which is essential for the deer management programme, is located close by. Toilet facilities and showers are provided by the community for day visitors and campers between the ferry terminal and the Reserve office. The interpretation centre is in a small building near the old slipway which is managed by the Community Ranger. It offers a variety of hands-on interpretive material but is only intended to be a temporary facility while consideration is given to how best to provide improved visitor interpretation within the village. The new ferry terminal is the point where most visitors first land on Rum. There are no facilities here at the moment, and we think this is a priority for action (see objective 9 for details). A number of buildings lie outside of Kinloch village. At Harris, we have cattle management pens which are being re-built this year (2009). Our cattle spend a good deal of their time at or near Harris, and it is essential that we can work with them there rather than always having to bring them back to Kinloch. For this same reason, we will keep the shepherd s bothy at Harris to create a full cattle handling facility similar to the one at Kinloch. 39

47 At Kilmory, we have three buildings (a house, laundry and coal shed). Kilmory is where the Rum red deer research is centred, and these buildings will continue to be used to support this work. At Dibidil and Guirdil, two bothies are managed and maintained by the Mountain Bothy Association. A number of buildings and an area of land within Kinloch Village where transferred to the Isle of Rum Community Trust in Spring These will allow the development of more community facilities and independent housing. This is the start of a process that will see most of the land and buildings around the village being owned and managed by the Isle of Rum Community Trust. Management We need to continue to make major investment in buildings and infrastructure at Rum. While there are some pressing maintenance and repair issues, we must also re-think how we can accommodate and modernise our work premises and visitor facilities. Farm storage problems can best be solved by building a new storage unit suitable for farm vehicles, equipment and for mechanical handling of large items such as bales. Inclusion of washing facilities will permit the storage and mixing of agro-chemicals at the same site. We need to explore sites for this unit close to the current farm buildings, and then draw up plans for development. The office within the White House does not provide adequate space or facilities for staff and these will be improved as soon as possible. Additional, flexible accommodation will be provided within the White House for temporary staff and research students that come to Rum. There may be benefits in integrating our office, classroom and reserve facilities in the long term and we will give further consideration as to how this may be achieved when opportunities and resources allow. Some other buildings need attention. The mechanics workshop must be reroofed, and this will be done as soon as possible. We want to provide improved visitor facilities by substantially upgrading the Visitor Centre as soon as we are clear what type of provision visitors are looking for. In the short term we will continue to support the Isle of Rum Community Trust in maintaining and improving the temporary centre. All proposals for building work will be fully assessed to ensure that there are no damaging impacts on bat or bird species such as swallow, that use the buildings. 40

48 We regard the provision of shelter and toilets at the pier head to be an urgent priority to make Rum a more welcoming place. We will work with the local community and the Highland Council to develop plans for this as soon as possible. The key projects are: extend the current Reserve Office by using part of the White House accommodation; re-roof the mechanics workshop; support the Isle of Rum Community Trust in undertaking improvements to the existing visitor centre, and preparing plans for its re-development; develop plans, with the local community and the Highland Council, for a pier head building consisting of shelter, orientation information and toilets, and; find a location for and erect a new storage unit, with washing facilities, suitable for Reserve management purposes, close to the current farm buildings. 41

49 Infrastructure, equipment and estate management Objective 13 To ensure that all infrastructure and equipment is fit for the future needs of Reserve management. Background The main track across the island runs west from Kinloch to the centre of the island then branches north to Kilmory, and south to Harris. This track is essential to Reserve management, and is also used by researchers and others to transport people and supplies. It can only be used by four-wheel-drive vehicles and is costly to maintain. We have recently made major repairs to this track, but it needs constant monitoring and maintenance. At Kilmory, the road bridge has a weight restriction that limits its use. The island also has a number of footpaths and pony paths which are used for stalking and recreational walking, as well as for other Reserve management purposes. These pony paths were surveyed in 2008, and a repair and maintenance programme is in development. These paths cross several bridges that also need to be maintained. Rum is entirely independent in terms of electricity and water supply. The water supply has recently been upgraded and is considered adequate for the foreseeable future. The electricity is supplied by a small hydro scheme and a back-up diesel generator. Supply can be unreliable and is insufficient for the predicted future use. A feasibility study to look at all the options for improving the electricity supply, including wind, photovoltaic, and additional hydro-power has been completed which identifies actions needed to stabilise the current supply along with significant opportunities for increased power generation. The improvements to power stability will be beneficial to all activities on the island. Increased power generation is not required to support current Reserve activities but may be needed to enable community expansion. Distance from the mainland puts pressure on telecommunications. At present, it is not possible to connect our Reserve staff reliably to the SNH corporate data systems, and the lack of video-conferencing facilities increases travel away from the island for meetings. Rum has many miles of fencing, much of it having been erected to protect planted woodland from deer. Much of this fencing is in a poor state and no longer serves its purpose. 42

50 SNH currently holds the role of harbourmaster for Rum and provides support for the roll-on-roll-off ferry. This role will transfer to the Highland Council in the near future. The Reserve has a fleet of vehicles that needs to be maintained and replaced as necessary as well as a rigid inflatable boat (RIB), used by the Reserve staff for seabird monitoring and transport around the coast. Management and Monitoring A survey of pony paths has identified the repair work that needs to be done. We are developing a programme of repair and maintenance to improve the path network, to ensure it meets operational needs and provides maximum recreational opportunities. We will replace the foot and pony bridge at Harris which is near the end of its life. A similar approach to monitoring and maintenance is needed for the vehicle tracks, following the repair work carried out during We will strengthen and repair the defective bridge at Kilmory. Routes suitable for mountain biking will be identified in Reserve publications. We will consider the need for existing fences as part of our woodland management plan and fences will be repaired or removed over the course of the next 3-5 years. At present, our signage is in good condition. If any is replaced during the next six years we will re-site it to reflect any amended boundary of the Reserve. Our investigation of visitor needs will help guide future information provision. Securing the island s electricity supply and improving telecommunications are both essential for Reserve management, and could have benefits for the wider community. We will stabilise the existing supply by the addition of a battery inverter system to store electrical energy. This should eliminate power cuts, and provide some additional capacity. We will support community proposals to expand the electricity generation capacity in a way that is compatible with the special interests of the Reserve. We are committed to improve the current telecommunications systems in our offices, so that staff have effective communications and continuous access to the SNH corporate systems. We will work with the Highland Council and the Isle of Rum Community Trust to ensure that the management of piers and slipways is transferred smoothly to the Highland Council and facilities are suitable for all visiting boats. 43

51 The key projects are: re-assess the condition of the main access routes on the Reserve, and establish a programme of rebuilding and continuing maintenance; repair and maintain the pony paths, rapidly addressing unforeseen path erosion; replace the foot and pony bridge at Harris; monitor and repair the vehicular tracks as necessary and consider improvements to the vehicular bridge at Kilmory; install a battery inverter system to stabilise the electricity supply, and; complete the transfer of harbour operations to the Highland Council. 44

52 Other estate management Objective 14 To ensure that all other estate management is carried out to the highest standards. Background All NNRs must have up-to-date plans covering Health & Safety provisions and fire on the Reserve. Both of the Reserve s plans are due for revision. All large operations generate waste materials, and these can be difficult to dispose of on an island. We encourage visitors to take their litter off the island with them, and dispose of it elsewhere. Visitors on private boats may not appreciate the difficulties of rubbish disposal and rubbish is often left in plastic bags beside moorings, meaning that we have to collect it and ship it off the island. This is a drain on staff resources, and creates a litter problem as well as encouraging vermin. Management The Fire Plan and the Health & Safety Plan will be brought up to date as a matter of urgent priority, and we will ensure that key staff members are well-versed in their content. If the plans identify any requirement for action or equipment, then these will also be classed as high priority. We will develop a plan for the Reserve which will identify opportunities to conserve energy, recycle goods and ensure that we take sustainable issues into account when developing projects and purchasing new materials. We will carefully store and manage waste materials and in the longer term consider with the Community Trust and Highland Council whether there are more opportunities for recycling and better waste management on the island. We will investigate how to raise awareness with boat owners of the importance of taking their rubbish away rather than leaving it on Rum, ensuring that this does not create a different environmental problem through dumping at sea. The key projects are: update the Reserve Fire Plan and implement any actions required; update and maintain the Reserve Health & Safety Plan and ensure staff are familiar with its content; 45

53 to prepare a plan to minimise the environmental impacts of our work on Rum; to find a means of managing rubbish from visiting yachts, and; to work with the Community Trust and Highland Council to improve recycling and other waste management. The Reserve Budget Over the past three years, we have managed the Reserve with an ongoing revenue budget of around 60,000 each year, excluding staff salaries and large one-off projects. These funds are used to maintain buildings, fund estate management and cover office running costs. Additional funds have been provided in recent years to undertake significant upgrades of the island tracks and water supply as well as for the construction of the otter hide. To help finance the new Reserve Plan, we will aim to secure additional resources for the new projects. These will include significant sums for a new waiting room, agricultural storage building, an improved visitor centre, and improved Reserve offices. In addition, we need to secure increased, regular investment in our tracks and footpaths. We expect to maintain existing staffing levels of around 6 full time staff, plus seasonal workers, on Rum for the foreseeable future. As the transfer of responsibilities for the operation of the pier and infrastructure takes place our staff will be able to devote more time to implementation of these Reserve Proposals. Summary Rum NNR is poised on the brink of some significant changes. These will allow us to focus more on the key aspects of Reserve management over the next six years. We have set ourselves an ambitious set of projects: improving the condition of much of the natural heritage; promoting a new image of a welcoming island to purposely attract a wider audience to enjoy Rum s many attractions; developing the island facilities for recreational and educational visitors; and creating new opportunities for the people who make their homes on this island. This is a sixyear plan, and should see us well on our way to our vision of the Reserve in thirty years time. 46

54 5 Document properties Acknowledgements The Reserve Plan for Rum National Nature has been developed from the Proposals for Rum National Nature Reserve which were written by Dr Terry Rowell (Freelance contractor). The Reserve Plan has been edited by Eileen Stuart (Rum Project Manager) and approved by Susan Davies (Director Operations North). We would like to thank the following SNH staff for their contribution and comments on earlier drafts: Richard Kilpatrick (Reserve Manager - Rum), Marcel Blankers (Deer Management Officer), Lesley Watt (Reserve Officer Rum), Sean Morris (Reserve Support Rum), David Maclennan (Area Manager Western Isles), Emma Philip (Managed Sites Officer - NNRs), Jill Matthews (Managed Sites Manager NNRs), Susan Luurtsema (Managed Sites Officer NNRs), Martin Faulkner (Area Officer East Lochaber), Stewart Sandison (Area Access Officer West Highland), Brian Eardley (Managed Sites Managers Site Condition Monitoring), Andy Douse (Senior Ornithologist), Rachel Haines (Policy & Advice Manager Natura), John Kerr (Policy & Advice Officer Designated Sites), Duncan Stone (Policy & Advice Manager Land Use), Rachel Wignall (Policy & Advice Officer Earth Science), Graham Sullivan (Policy & Advice Officer Uplands), Jenny Bryce (Policy & Advice Officer Deer), Sue Atkinson (Strategy & Communications Officer Education), Martin Faulkner (Area Officer) and Susi Hodgson (Geographic Information Officer). We would also like to add our special thanks to Professor Mick Crawley (Imperial College), Josephine Pemberton (Edinburgh University) Dr Robin Pakeman (Macaulay Institute), Graeme Taylor & Sinclair Coghill (Deer Commission Scotland), Richard Wallace & Ian Collier (Forestry Commission Scotland) Robert Patton (Highland Council), Professor Pete Higgins (Edinburgh University), The Highland Pony Society, The Rare Breeds Survival Trust, and Alison Brooks (Pony Breeder). 47

55 Links Scottish Natural Heritage SNH Sitelink Joint Nature Conservation Committee Rum and the Small Islands: Landscape Fashioned by Geology website version of printed SNH publication Archaeological description of the Small Isles, including Rum The National Biodiversity Network report on Rum NNR Red deer research project Goat research project Earthworm research BSBI information about Rum and a prospective new flora, with links to other documents about the island. UK Ammonia Network, with access to information and data from the Rum station The Rum meteorological station, and access to the data Community website Wikipedia entry A great collection of photographs of Rum p html peciesgroups.jsp?useintersects=1&engor d=false&allds=1&maxres=1&sitekey= /pages/rum.html ml g/research_population.htm index.html index.html m 48

56 Appendix 1 - National Nature Reserves (NNR) Scotland s National Nature Reserves are special places for nature, where many of the best examples of Scotland s natural heritage are protected. Whilst nature always comes first on our NNRs, they also offer special opportunities for people to enjoy and find out about the richness of our natural heritage. NNRs are declared under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 or the Wildlife & Countryside Act A policy for NNRs in Scotland was developed in This policy requires NNRs in Scotland to have four attributes and be managed for one or more of the three purposes. The attributes are: Primacy of nature The needs of nature will be placed at the heart of decisions about land-use and management of our NNRs, and nature conservation will be the overriding land use, although it may not be the sole purpose of management. National importance The NNR must be managed for the features of interest, which are of national importance on the NNR i.e. for the protection of geological features, habitats or species found there. Best practice management NNRs must be well managed, not only to safeguard the nature conservation interests, but also to provide for people s enjoyment and understanding. Continuity of management Both research and management on NNRs require us to take a long-term view, so it is important that management continuity is assured. The purposes are: National awareness of NNRs The NNR is managed so that people can take pride in the natural heritage on display and come to understand it better and enjoy it to the full. Specialised management of NNRs - The character of one or all of the features of interest on the Reserve requires specialised and pro-active management, which is best, delivered by a Nature Reserve. 49

57 Research-related NNRs - These NNRs will offer opportunities for research into the natural heritage and its management. The research specifically requires a Nature Reserve location. From all of Scotland s NNRs were reviewed against this policy. Because of the review there are now (2009) 57 NNRs in Scotland. There are currently a number of NNRs identified during the review which have still to be taken through the de-declaration process. As a result of this a search on many SNH systems will show more than 57 NNRs until this work is complete. More information can be found at: Scotland s National Nature Reserves: A policy statement: National Nature Reserves General Information: 50

58 Appendix 2 - Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Special Areas of Conservation are areas designated under the European Community Council Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and Wild Fauna and Flora (92/43/EEC), commonly known as the Habitats Directive. Together with Special Protection Areas (SPA), which are designated under the Wild Birds Directive for wild birds and their habitats, SACs form the Natura 2000 network of sites. The Natura 2000 network is designed to conserve natural habitats and species of animals and plants, which are rare, endangered or vulnerable in the European Community. Annexes I and II to the Habitats Directive list the habitats and (non-bird) species respectively for which SACs are selected. In Great Britain, the Directive was transposed into domestic legislation via the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations The Regulations cover both SPAs and SACs. Natura sites are generally underpinned by a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in the terrestrial environment, although there are a few exceptions where other management measures are employed. The Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department Circular No. 6/1995 (Revised June 2000) on the Habitats and Birds Directives gives further details of how the Regulations apply in Scotland. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) acts as the advisor to Government in proposing selected sites for ministerial approval as possible SACs. SNH then consults with key parties over the site proposals on behalf of Scottish Ministers. The consultees, who include owners and occupiers of land, local authorities and other interested parties, are sent details of the proposed site boundaries and the habitats and/or species for which they qualify. SNH also negotiates the longerterm management of these sites. Following consultation, SNH forwards all responses to Scottish Ministers who then make a decision about whether to submit the site to the European Commission as a candidate SAC. Once submission of all candidate sites is completed, the Commission, together with Member States, will consider the site series across Europe as a whole. At this stage, sites that are adopted by the Commission become Sites of Community Importance (SCIs), after which they can be finally designated as Special Areas of Conservation by national governments. The following websites provide further information: Special Areas of Conservation: 51

59 Rum SAC Country Unitary Authority Grid Ref* Latitude Longitude SAC EU code Status Area (ha) Scotland Highland NM N W UK Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC) *This is the approximate central point of the SAC. In the case of large, linear or composite sites, this may not represent the location where a feature occurs within the SAC. Site details Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site: Oligotrophic to mesotrophic standing waters with vegetation of the Littorelletea uniflorae and/or of the Isoëto-Nanojuncetea 52

60 The mountainous terrain of the island of Rum off the west coast of Scotland supports waterbodies typical of oligotrophic to mesotrophic standing waters. The lochs in this site are classified as Type 2 or 3 and can be extremely oligotrophic with a low species diversity. However, some coastal lochs exhibit a strong maritime influence and, as a consequence, support a greater diversity and abundance of macrophytes. The three major rock types on the island, Torridonian sandstone and ultrabasic and granitic igneous rocks, influence the trophic status of the lochs. The site contains several species of note including awlwort Subularia aquatica, floating bur-reed Sparganium angustifolium and common reed Phragmites australis. The remote location of the island and its National Nature Reserve status means that the lochs have not been subject to significant unnatural change. Natural dystrophic lakes and ponds Rum, on the west coast of Scotland, contains dystrophic lochans formed mainly at mid-altitude in areas of upland Blanket bogs and Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix over Torridonian sandstone. The impoverished aquatic flora is typical of this habitat type and includes bulbous rush Juncus bulbosus and bogbean Menyanthes trifoliata. The dystrophic lochans vary in size but are typically relatively small unnamed waters that are highly acidic and have a range of substrates, from boulders to organic mud or peat. Their small size and remote location has helped to protect the lochans from any significant unnatural change. Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix Rum, in the Inner Hebrides, has an extensive development of the black bog-rush Schoenus nigricans-rich form of northern Atlantic wet heaths that is restricted to western Scotland. It is extensive on slopes which are underlain by ultra-basic rocks, and shows the development of Schoenus in response to mild base-rich flushing. The Schoenus-rich form has affinities to the strongly-flushed Carex panicea sub-community of M15 Scirpus cespitosus Erica tetralix wet heath, and shows some similarities to the Schoenus-rich heaths of the Lizard district, which are also on ultra-basic rocks. Other more typical western forms of wet heath with abundant deergrass Trichophorum cespitosum and purple moor-grass Molinia caerulea are also represented. European dry heaths Rum has examples of European dry heaths typical of the Inner Hebrides but is particularly noted for the presence of species-rich heath on base-rich soils. A large extent of the local, species-rich form of H10 Calluna vulgaris Erica cinerea heath, Thymus praecox Carex pulicaris sub-community (H10d), occurs on steep, southerly-facing slopes on ultra-basic rocks. The associated flora includes a number of northern and arctic-alpine species, such as mountain 53

61 everlasting Antennaria dioica, viviparous sheep s-fescue Festuca vivipara, alpine meadow-rue Thalictrum alpinum, alpine bistort Persicaria vivipara and alpine sawwort Saussurea alpina. The associated invertebrate fauna contains large populations of rare and local burnet moths. This northern form of species-rich heath complements that on Great Orme s Head in Wales, which has a speciesrich heath of a much more southern floristic character, overlying limestone. Other kinds of dry heath on Rum are typical of north-west Scotland. They include species-poor H10 Calluna Erica heath and H21 Calluna Vaccinium Sphagnum heath, including some of the Atlantic bryophyte-rich forms of the latter. Calaminarian grasslands of the Violetalia calaminariae Rum is one of the best sites in the UK for open rocky Calaminarian vegetation characterised by the presence of arctic sandwort Arenaria norvegica ssp. norvegica and northern rock-cress Arabis petraea, similar to that on Keen of Hamar. The habitat, which represents Calaminarian grasslands of the Violetalia calaminariae, is developed on rocky areas of debris and erosion terraces on the peridotite of Ruinsival eastwards towards Sgurr nan Gillean. A. norvegica is the rare ultramafic species represented, while other uncommon basiphiles include purple saxifrage Saxifraga oppositifolia, mossy cyphel Minuartia sedoides and moss campion Silene acaulis. This is one of the most maritime-influenced sites of the series and the maritime species sea campion Silene uniflora, sea plantain Plantago maritima and thrift Armeria maritima are especially frequent. Species-rich Nardus grassland, on siliceous substrates in mountain areas (and submountain areas in continental Europe) * Priority feature Rum is one of five sites on the oceanic west coast of Scotland representing lowto moderately high-altitude oceanic sub-types of species-rich Nardus grasslands. This site is characteristic of the communities found to the north and west of the range. Extensive herb-rich grasslands have developed below cliffs of ultra-basic rocks along the coast. The grasslands occur from near sea level to about 750 m. Both CG10 Festuca ovina Agrostis capillaris Thymus praecox grassland and CG11 Festuca ovina Agrostis capillaris Alchemilla alpina grassland are wellrepresented. The stands are more scattered and more varied ecologically than on the basalt sites elsewhere in Scotland, but overall the flora is similar. Many uncommon but characteristic species are present, including mountain everlasting Antennaria dioica, bitter-vetch Lathyrus linifolius, milkwort Polygala vulgaris, field gentian Gentianella campestris, small-white orchid Pseudorchis albida, pale sedge Carex pallescens and lousewort Pedicularis sylvatica. Arctic-alpine and northern species include alpine bistort Persicaria vivipara, alpine meadow-rue Thalictrum alpinum, alpine lady s mantle Alchemilla alpina and viviparous sheep s-fescue Festuca vivipara. There is a range of transitions to maritime grassland, calcareous grasslands, herb-rich European dry heaths and open communities on ultra-basic rocks. 54

62 Calcareous and calcshist screes of the montane to alpine levels (Thlaspietea rotundifolii) Rum is representative of mildly calcareous and calcshist screes up to moderately high altitude in oceanic western Scotland. Rum has screes of various types, some of which are relatively small areas composed of ultra-basic rocks. Gravelly screes are widespread and unusual in supporting Scottish asphodel Tofieldia pusilla, which is usually associated with fens. Associated species include mountain everlasting Antennaria dioica, moss campion Silene acaulis, mossy cyphel Minuartia sedoides, thrift Armeria maritima, sea plantain Plantago maritima and purple saxifrage Saxifraga oppositifolia. Other species found in scree of larger rock fragments include northern rock-cress Arabis petraea, alpine penny-cress Thlaspi caerulescens, mountain sorrel Oxyria digyna and stone bramble Rubus saxatilis. Many ferns such as hay-scented buckler-fern Dryopteris aemula, northern buckler-fern D. expansa and male-fern D. filix-mas find a refuge from grazing animals in scree. Also there is a rich community of lower plants. Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site: Vegetated sea cliffs of the Atlantic and Baltic coasts Alpine and Boreal heaths Hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities of plains and of the montane to alpine levels Blanket bogs * Priority feature Depressions on peat substrates of the Rhynchosporion Alkaline fens Siliceous scree of the montane to snow levels (Androsacetalia alpinae and Galeopsietalia ladani) Calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation Siliceous rocky slops with chasmophytic vegetation Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site: Otter Lutra lutra 55

63 This island contains numerous freshwater lochs and lochans at a range of altitudes from near sea level to over 400 m, a wide range of small rivers and streams, and an extensive area of coastline. The site provides the full range of marine and freshwater requirements necessary for otter Lutra lutra including breeding, feeding and resting sites. Rum s otter population is representative of otter populations throughout the Small Isles and Inner Hebrides. Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection: Not applicable. 56

64 Conservation Objectives for Rum Special Area of Conservation Habitats: To avoid deterioration of the qualifying habitats (listed below) thus ensuring that the integrity of the site is maintained and the site makes an appropriate contribution to achieving favourable conservation status for each of the qualifying features; and To ensure for the qualifying habitats that the following are maintained in the long term: Extent of the habitat on site Distribution of the habitat within site Structure and function of the habitat Processes supporting the habitat Distribution of typical species of the habitat Viability of typical species as components of the habitat No significant disturbance of typical species of the habitat Qualifying Habitats: Acid peat-stained lakes and ponds Acidic scree Alpine and subalpine heaths Base-rich fens Base-rich scree Blanket bog* Clear-water lakes or lochs with aquatic vegetation and poor to moderate nutrient levels Depressions on peat substrates Dry heaths Grasslands on soils rich in heavy metals Plants in crevices on acid rocks Plants in crevices on base-rich rocks Species-rich grassland with mat-grass in upland areas* Tall herb communities Vegetated sea cliffs Wet heathland with cross-leaved heath * Indicates priority habitat 57

65 Species: To avoid deterioration of the habitats of the qualifying species (listed below) or significant disturbance to the qualifying species, thus ensuring that the integrity of the site is maintained and the site makes an appropriate contribution to achieving favourable conservation status for each of the qualifying features; and To ensure for the qualifying species that the following are maintained in the long term: Population of the species as a viable component of the site Distribution of the species within site Distribution and extent of habitats supporting the species Structure, function and supporting processes of habitats supporting the species No significant disturbance of the species. Qualifying Species: Otter 58

66 Appendix 3 - Special Protection Area (SPA) Special Protection Areas are areas classified under Article 4 of the European Community Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds 1979 (EC79/409), commonly known as the Birds Directive. SPAs are intended to safeguard the habitats of birds which are rare or vulnerable in Europe as well as all migratory birds which are regular visitors. Together with Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), which are designated under the Habitats Directive for habitats and nonbird species, SPAs form the Natura 2000 network of sites. The Natura 2000 network is designed to conserve natural habitats and species of animals and plants which are rare, endangered or vulnerable in the European Community. Natura sites in Great Britain are protected via the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994, which transpose the Habitats directive into GB law and are relevant to both SACs and SPAs. Natura sites are also generally underpinned by the SSSI mechanism in the terrestrial environment. The Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department Circular No. 6/1995 (Revised June 2000) on the Habitats and Birds Directives gives further details of how the Regulations apply in Scotland. SNH acts as the advisor to Government in proposing selected sites for ministerial approval as proposed SPAs. SNH then consults with key parties over the site proposals on behalf of Scottish Ministers. The consultees, who include owners and occupiers of land, local authorities and other interested parties, are sent details of the proposed site boundaries and the species for which the site qualifies. SNH also negotiates the longer-term management of these sites. Following consultation, SNH forwards all responses to Scottish Ministers who then make a decision about whether to classify the site as a Special Protection Area. The following websites provide further information: Special Protection Areas: 59

67 Rum SPA Country Authority Grid Ref Latitude Longitude SPA EU code Status Area (ha) Scotland Aberdeenshire NO N W UK Classified SPA Site details Rum qualifies as an SPA under Article 4.1 regularly supporting 1.2% of the GB breeding population of Gavia stellata (5 year mean, ). Rum further qualifies under Article 4.2 for regularly supporting approximately 20.7% of the breeding population of Puffinis puffinis (Count as at 1995) and for supporting an internationally important assemblage of birds. During the breeding season the area regularly supports seabirds (5 year peak mean 30/06/1999). 60

68 The boundary of the Special Protection Area overlaps with Rum SSSI and the seaward extension extends approximately 4 km into the marine environment to include the seabed, water column and surface. Classified on 31st August 1982, with marine extension classified on 25th September

69 Conservation Objectives for Rum Special Protection Area To avoid deterioration of the habitats of the qualifying species (listed below) or significant disturbance to the qualifying species, thus ensuring that the integrity of the site is maintained; and To ensure for the qualifying species that the following are maintained in the long term: Population of the species as a viable component of the site Distribution of the species within site Distribution and extent of habitats supporting the species Structure, function and supporting processes of habitats supporting the species No significant disturbance of the species Qualifying species: Guillemot (Uria aalge)* Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)* Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) Red-throated diver (Gavia stellata) Seabird assemblage * indicates assemblage qualifier only 62

70 Appendix 4 - Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Scottish Natural Heritage is the key statutory agency in Scotland for advising Government and for acting as the Government s agent in the delivery of conservation designations in Scotland. Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is the main nature conservation designation in Great Britain (GB). These sites are special for their plants or animals or habitats, their rocks or landforms or a combination of these. The SSSI series has been developed over the last 50 years, and since 1981 as the national suite of sites providing statutory protection for the best examples of GB s flora, fauna, or geological or physiographical features. Originally notified under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, many SSSIs were renotified and others newly notified under the Wildlife and Countryside Act SSSI continue under the Nature Conservation Act (Scotland) 2004, which further strengthens their protection and makes the system more user friendly. These sites are also used to underpin other national and international nature conservation designations. Most SSSIs are privately owned or managed; others are owned or managed by public bodies or non-government organisations. There are more than 1400 SSSIs in Scotland. Web Links: The Nature of Scotland A Policy Statement 'People and Nature: A New Approach to SSSI Designations in Scotland' Guidelines for selection of biological SSSIs Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): List of Scottish SSSI: 63

71 Rum SSSI Country Unitary Authority Grid Ref* Notified Area (ha.) Scotland Highland NM March ,836 *This is the approximate central point of the SSSI. In the case of large, linear, or composite sites, this may not represent the location where a feature occurs within the SSSI. Site description Rum Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) encompasses most of the Isle of Rum and has several biological and two geological features of national importance. Rum is one of the Small Isles, a group of Inner Hebridean islands located just off the Lochaber coast west of Mallaig. The coastline of Rum is mainly rocky whilst its interior comprises mountains and moorland with burns and lochs. The mountains rise to 812m and support an assemblage of upland habitats which comprise a range of montane and submontane grassland, dwarf shrub heath and mire communities. The distribution of soils and vegetation is determined by three major rock types: acid Torridonian 64

72 sandstone; calcareous basalt and Triassic limestone; and a complex of magnesium-rich ultra basic igneous rocks. The vegetation also reflects the long occupation of the island by people; grazing and burning have resulted in an almost treeless landscape except for plantations and fragments of natural woodland in gorges. There are seven outstanding geological areas within Rum SSSI, six of which are Tertiary Igneous, containing lavas, ultra basic rocks and the best occurrence in Britain of the full suite of acid igneous rocks, together with associated faults, tuffs and tertiary sediments. The seventh area, representing the Quaternary period, is found in the Western Hills of Rum. It is part of a network of periglacial landform sites in Scotland and encompasses a superb assemblage of relict and active periglacial features. In particular the site is noted for its blockfields and blockslopes; soliflucted boulder sheets and lobes; and sorted circles and sorted stripes, all of which are most likely to have formed during the Loch Lomond Stadial (11,500-10,000 BP). In addition, the site s landforms clearly demonstrate the role of bedrock mineral composition in determining the extent of frost weathering. The seven geologically significant areas are of importance because they provide an insight into the role of past earth movements and past and present climatic regimes in controlling the form of the features which have developed. The vegetation types on the basic and ultra basic soils include fertile Agrostis- Festuca and Calaminarian grasslands for which Rum is one of the best sites in the UK. The Agrostis-Festuca grasslands are more scattered and more varied ecologically than on the basalt sites elsewhere in Scotland and the Calaminarian grasslands are amongst the UK s most maritime-influenced. Acid grasslands are also present. At higher altitudes there are expanses of dwarf-shrub dominated Alpine and sub-alpine heaths and sparse alpine moss heath. The dry heath communities of Rum are some of the most extensive or species-rich dry heath assemblages in Scotland. Rum has an extensive development of northern Atlantic wet heath including the black bog-rush rich form that is restricted to western Scotland. The presence of black bog-rush with other fen species occurring in extensive sheets running down-slope is peculiar to Rum. The blanket bog communities are the most extensive in North Lochaber. The dominant vegetation on shallow peat is heather, deer grass and purple moor grass while on deeper peat, cotton grass and deer grass are dominant and Sphagnum-rich pools are widespread. The blanket bog also supports hollows with abundant white-beaked sedge. Most of the characteristic western Highland sub-montane soligenous mire types are present. Nutrient-poor lochs and lochans occur across the island and the macrophyte flora of some reflects a strong maritime influence. Rock habitats include both base-rich and acidic rock faces, ledges, crevices, and scree. Taken 65

73 together this assemblage of habitats forms one of the best mosaics of upland habitats in the UK. Submaritime grasslands and heaths associated with the sea cliffs and containing species such as buck s-horn plantain and thrift are among the best in the UK and are widely distributed on cliff tops and above beaches. Associated with the montane, sub-montane and coastal habitats is a wide variety of rare vascular and lower plants. The upland and montane flora of the ultrabasic rock habitats is especially rich. Components of the vascular plant assemblage include Arctic sandwort Arenaria norvegica, brown beak-sedge Rhynchospora fusca and pyramidal bugle Ajuga pyramidalis. The non-vascular plant flora of Rum is also rich and the bryophyte assemblage includes notable species such as Acrobolbus wilsonii, Bryum dixonii, Fossombronia fimbriata, and Sphagnum skyense. The unique mountain top colony of Manx shearwaters Puffinus puffinus exceeds 100,000 pairs (about 40% of the British population). The insect and other invertebrate fauna is rich for a remote island and includes many rare species and Hebridean forms which collectively comprise a nationally important assemblage. Notification history: First notified under the 1949 Act as Rhum SSSI: 1958, 1971 and 1974 Re-notified under the 1981 Act: 27 March 1987 Notification reviewed under the 2004 Act and site name amended to Rum SSSI: 23 September

74 Appendix 5 - National Scenic Area (NSA) National Scenic Areas are Scotland s only national landscape designation. They are those areas of land considered of national significance on the basis of their outstanding scenic interest, which must be conserved as part of the country s natural heritage. They have been selected for their characteristic features of scenery comprising a mixture of richly diverse landscapes including prominent landforms, coastline, sea and freshwater lochs, rivers, woodlands and moorlands. There are currently 40 NSAs in Scotland, covering a total area of 1,001,800 ha. The Small Isles NSA Extent of Area The group of islands known as the Small Isles comprises Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna which form a compact group of contrasting islands within the wider coastal setting of the Cuillin of Skye, Morar, Moidart and Ardnamurchan. Description Each island has a different landscape character and outline that contrast one island with the next, and the sea inevitably plays an important role in setting of 67