Cartland Craigs
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Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Upland mixed ash woodland | Unfavourable Declining | — | 2024-08-14 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine · Rock Type: Sandstone
Landscape processes: Fluvial
Description
CARTLAND CRAIGS Cartland Craigs, located approximately half a kilometre north west of Lanark, is one of the best remaining examples of semi-natural deciduous woodland in Lanarkshire. The woodland occupies a deeply incised gorge in Old Red Sandstone. The canopy is dominated by elm, ash and oak and the rich and varied ground flora includes flowering plants with a restricted distribution in south west Scotland, such as mountain melick Melica nutans, alternate leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium alternifolium, shining crane’s-bill Geranium lucidum and wood stitchwort Stellaria nemorum.
Species mentioned
Show the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mountain melick | Melica nutans | VU | grass | poaceae |
| alternate leaved golden saxifrage | Chrysosplenium alternifolium | LC | herb | saxifragaceae |
| shining cranesbill | Geranium lucidum | LC | herb | geraniaceae |
| wood stitchwort | Stellaria nemorum | LC | herb | carophyllacaea |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Stellaria spp. |
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.