Avon Gorge
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Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Upland mixed ash woodland | Part Destroyed | — | 2024-08-16 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine
Landscape processes: Fluvial
Description
AVON GORGE Avon Gorge Site of Special Scientific Interest comprises the steep, wooded banks of the River Avon, approximately 2km south-east of Grangemouth. This site is one of the few remaining ancient, semi-natural woodland sites in the Falkirk area. The wood has been relatively undisturbed and there is a good variety and age structure of native deciduous trees, including elm, oak, alder, hazel, ash, rowan and wild cherry. On the mainly basic soils there have developed a rich and varied ground flora, including plants which are rare in the area, such as alternate leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium alternifolium, moschatel Adoxa moschatellina and hemp agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum. In addition, the site contains pendulous sedge Carex pendula and lily of the valley Convallaria majalis, which are both uncommon in Scotland.
Species mentioned
Show the 5 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| moschatel | Adoxa moschatellina | LC | herb | adoxaceae |
| alternate leaved golden saxifrage | Chrysosplenium alternifolium | LC | herb | saxifragaceae |
| lilly of the valley | Convallaria majalis | LC | herb | liliaceae |
| hemp agrimony | Eupatorium cannabinum | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| pendulous sedge | Carex pendula | LC | sedge | cyperaceae |
Insects to look out for
These moths, butterflies and beetles are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.
| Species | Status | Via host-plant |
|---|---|---|
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Eupatorium cannabinum |
Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.
Plant communities
A14 — Fast flowing river and stream
Myriophyllum alterniflorum community
Show 15 indicator speciesIsolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina
A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream
Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community
Show 11 indicator speciesBerula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans
A18 — Fast flowing river and stream
Ranunculus fluitans community
Show 12 indicator speciesFontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea
A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream
Potamogeton natans community
Show 20 indicator speciesSchoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa