Garbh Allt

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 58.1033, -3.6800

Also within

Sutherland County

Condition (NatureScot)

Unfavourable Declining (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Upland birch woodland Unfavourable Declining 2019-01-24

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Coastal

Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine · Rock Type: Granite, Sandstone

Landscape processes: Coastal, Volcanic / Igneous

Description

GARBH ALLT Garbh Allt Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) covers a short section of the Garbh Allt burn where it flows through a ravine 2km south west of Helmsdale on the east coast of Sutherland. The SSSI is notified for the nationally important upland birch woodland which grows in the ravine. The lower ravine is very narrow and supports mixed deciduous woodland that is dominated by downy birch Betula pubescens, together with aspen Populus tremula, hazel Corylus avellana, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and wych elm Ulmus glabra. Ferns and mosses thrive in the humid conditions close to the burn with fox-tail feather-moss Thamnobryum alopecurum growing in the spray zone, just above the normal water level of the burn. There are also species-rich flushes with opposite-leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium, herb robert Geranium robertianum, locally frequent wild garlic Allium ursinum and hairy-brome Bromopsis ramosa. The Garbh Allt ravine is characterised by two rock types, Old Red Sandstone and red granite. Birch-rowan woodland grows on the more acid soils of the red granite rock, with fine greater woodrush Luzula sylvatica -tall fern and bryophyte communities in this section.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
hairy brome Bromopsis ramosa LC grass poaceae
ramson Allium ursinum LC herb liliaceae
opposite-leaved golden- saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium LC herb saxifragaceae
herb Robert Geranium robertianum LC herb geraniaceae
fox tail feather moss Thamnobryum alopecurum LC moss hypnales
great wood rush Luzula sylvatica LC rush juncaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
downy birch Betula pubescens LC tree betulaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
aspen Populus tremula LC tree salicaceae
wych elm Ulmus glabra LC tree ulmaceae

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.

SpeciesStatusVia host-plant
Chequered skipper
Carterocephalus palaemon
Endangered Bromopsis ramosa
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Crataegus spp.
Dark bordered beauty
Epione vespertaria
Endangered Populus tremula
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Crataegus monogyna
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Ulmus spp.
White-letter hairstreak
Satyrium w-album
Endangered Ulmus glabra, Ulmus spp.
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Crataegus spp.
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Populus spp., Ulmus spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Betula spp., Ulmus spp.
Scarce chocolate-tip
Clostera anachoreta
Vulnerable Populus spp., Populus tremula
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Populus tremula, Ulmus spp.
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Ulmus spp.
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Populus spp., Ulmus glabra
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Crataegus monogyna
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Populus spp.
No common name
Zeugophora turneri
Vulnerable Populus tremula
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Betula spp., Crataegus monogyna, Ulmus spp.
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Purple emperor
Apatura iris
Near Threatened Populus tremula
Minor shoulder-knot
Brachylomia viminalis
Near Threatened Populus tremula
Dusky-lemon sallow
Cirrhia gilvago
Near Threatened Ulmus glabra
The sallow
Cirrhia icteritia
Near Threatened Populus spp., Ulmus glabra
Kentish glory
Endromis versicolora
Near Threatened Betula pubescens
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Populus spp., Ulmus spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria
Near Threatened Betula spp.
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Betula spp.
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Populus tremula
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Betula spp., Crataegus spp., Ulmus spp.
White prominent
Leucodonta bicoloria
Regionally Extinct Betula 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.

Plant communities

W11 — Altantic hazel wood, Atlantic oak wood, Caledonian forest, Upland birch wood, Wood pasture

Quercus petraea-Betula pubescens-Oxalis acetosella woodland

Matches 5 species from the description above: Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Geranium robertianum, Luzula sylvatica

Acer campestre, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Larix decidua, Sorbus aucuparia, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Juniperus communis, Vaccinium myrtillus, Cytisus scoparius, Crataegus monogyna, Rubus saxatilis, Carex pilulifera, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula pilosa, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium affine, Plagiomnium undulatum, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Cirriphyllum piliferum, Eurhynchium striatum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Loeskeobryum brevirostre, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Polytrichum longisetum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila asplenioides, Plagiochila spinulosa, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Campanula rotundifolia, Lonicera periclymenum, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Stellaria holostea, Pyrola minor, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Lathyrus montanus, Geranium robertianum, Hypericum pulchrum, Ajuga reptans, Teucrium scorodonia, Convallaria majalis, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Rumex acetosa, Lysimachia nemorum, Primula vulgaris, Trientalis europaea, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Thelypteris limbosperma, Athyrium filix-femina

W17 — Altantic hazel wood, Atlantic oak wood, Caledonian forest, Upland birch wood, Wood pasture

Quercus petraea-Betula pubescens-Dicranum majus woodland

Matches 4 species from the description above: Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Luzula sylvatica

Hedera helix, Salix caprea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sorbus aucuparia, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Juniperus communis, Rhododendron ponticum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Crataegus monogyna, Carex pilulifera, Luzula multiflora, Luzula pilosa, Luzula sylvatica, Andreaea rupestris, Mnium hornum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranodontium denudatum, Dicranum fuscescens, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Dicranum scottianum, Leucobryum glaucum, Ptychomitrium polyphyllum, Racomitrium fasciculare, Racomitrium heterostichum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Eurhynchium striatum, Heterocladium heteropterum, Hylocomiastrum umbratum, Hylocomium armoricum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Loeskeobryum brevirostre, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sematophyllum demissum, Sematophyllum micans, Thuidium delicatulum, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fimbriatum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum subnitens, Tetraphis pellucida, Adelanthus decipiens, Anastrepta orcadensis, Barbilophozia attenuata, Barbilophozia floerkei, Bazzania tricrenata, Bazzania trilobata, Blepharostoma trichophyllum, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Diplophyllum albicans, Frullania tamarisci, Fuscocephaloziopsis lunulifolia, Harpanthus scutatus, Jamesoniella autumnalis, Jungermannia gracillima, Lepidozia pearsonii, Lepidozia reptans, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophocolea heterophylla, Lophozia ventricosa, Marsupella emarginata, Microlejeunea ulicina, Mylia taylorii, Nowellia curvifolia, Plagiochila asplenioides, Plagiochila atlantica, Plagiochila killarniensis, Plagiochila porelloides, Plagiochila punctata, Plagiochila spinulosa, Ptilidium ciliare, Saccogyna viticulosa, Scapania gracilis, Scapania nemorea, Scapania umbrosa, Tritomaria exsectiformis, Tritomaria quinquedentata, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia digitata, Cladonia furcata, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia polydactyla, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia squamules, Cladonia subcervicornis, Parmelia saxatilis, Sphaerophorus fragilis, Sphaerophorus globosus, Solidago virgaurea, Lonicera periclymenum, Succisa pratensis, Cornus suecica, Hypericum pulchrum, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Goodyera repens, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Lysimachia nemorum, Trientalis europaea, Anemone nemorosa, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Poa nemoralis, Poa pratensis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris aemula, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Hymenophyllum tunbrigense, Hymenophyllum wilsonii, Polypodium vulgare, Thelypteris limbosperma, Athyrium filix-femina

W4 — Raised bog, Upland birch wood, Wet woodland

Betula pubescens-Molinia caerulea woodland

Matches 3 species from the description above: Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna

Hedera helix, Salix aurita, Salix caprea, Salix cinerea, Salix pentandra, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Pinus sylvestris, Sorbus aucuparia, Alnus glutinosa, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Crataegus monogyna, Carex laevigata, Carex nigra, Carex rostrata, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus effusus, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Orthodontium lineare, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Drepanocladus fluitans, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Straminergon stramineum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum fimbriatum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Calypogeia fissa, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophocolea heterophylla, Angelica sylvestris, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Cirsium palustre, Lonicera periclymenum, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum palustre, Lotus pedunculatus, Menyanthes trifoliata, Chamerion angustifolium, Epilobium palustre, Oxalis acetosella, Rumex acetosa, Comarum palustre, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium palustre, Galium saxatile, Galium uliginosum, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Poa trivialis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris carthusiana, Dryopteris cristata, Dryopteris dilatata, Athyrium filix-femina