Torboll Woods
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Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Upland oak woodland | Unfavourable Declining | — | 2024-05-23 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine
Landscape processes: Fluvial
Description
Torboll Woods Torboll Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) lies in southeast Sutherland in and around the gorge formed by the burns draining Strath Carnaig and Loch Tarvie as they flow into Strath Fleet. This is the richest and most varied of the east Sutherland gorge woodlands. Birch-dominated woodland covers most of the site. The acid soils of the slopes east of Allt Loch Tarbhaidh support an unusual combination of birch Betula pubescens and both species of oak Quercus petraea and Quercus robur. hazel Corylus avellana, wych elm Ulmus glabra, aspen Populus tremula, rowan Sorbus aucuparia, bird cherry Prunus padus and willows including goat willow Salix caprea are all present. Alder Alnus glutinosa occurs on the steep, wet slopes. The woodland vegetation benefits from the high humidity maintained by the steep-sided ravine and its waterfalls. The different ground flora communities reflect the variety of soils, aspect and exposure. Notable species include wood false-brome Brachypodium sylvaticum, wood vetch Vicia sylvatica, woodruff Galium odoratum and upland enchanter’s nightshade Circaea x intermedia. Flushes support golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium, and wood fescue Festuca altissima and mountain melick Melica nutans grow in the gorge.
Species mentioned
Show the 17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| wood false brome | Brachypodium sylvaticum | LC | grass | poaceae |
| wood fescue | Festuca altissima | Not listed in GB list | grass | poaceae |
| mountain melick | Melica nutans | VU | grass | poaceae |
| opposite-leaved golden- saxifrage | Chrysosplenium oppositifolium | LC | herb | saxifragaceae |
| no common name | Circaea x intermedia | Not listed in GB list | herb | onagraceae |
| woodruff | Galium odoratum | LC | herb | rubiaceae |
| wood vetch | Vicia sylvatica | Not listed in GB list | herb | fabaceae |
| alder | Alnus glutinosa | LC | tree | salicaceae |
| downy birch | Betula pubescens | LC | tree | betulaceae |
| hazel | Corylus avellana | LC | tree | corylaceae |
| aspen | Populus tremula | LC | tree | salicaceae |
| bird cherry | Prunus padus | LC | tree | rosaceae |
| sessile or durmast oak | Quercus petraea | LC | tree | fagaceae |
| common oak | Quercus robur | LC | tree | fagaceae |
| rowan | Sorbus aucuparia | LC | tree | rosaceae |
| wych elm | Ulmus glabra | LC | tree | ulmaceae |
| goat willow | Salix caprea | LC | tree shrub | salicaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chequered skipper Carterocephalus palaemon |
Endangered | Brachypodium sylvaticum |
| Oak lutestring Cymatophorina diluta |
Endangered | Quercus petraea, Quercus robur |
| Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala |
Endangered | Prunus spp. |
| Dark bordered beauty Epione vespertaria |
Endangered | Populus tremula |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Prunus spp., Salix spp. |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Alnus glutinosa, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Salix spp., Ulmus spp. |
| White-letter hairstreak Satyrium w-album |
Endangered | Ulmus glabra, Ulmus spp. |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Salix caprea |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Populus spp., Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Salix spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Scarce chocolate-tip Clostera anachoreta |
Vulnerable | Populus spp., Populus tremula, Salix spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Populus tremula, Prunus padus, Quercus spp., Salix spp., Sorbus aucuparia, Ulmus spp. |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Galium spp., Salix spp. |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Brachypodium sylvaticum |
| Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Salix spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Alnus glutinosa, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Populus spp., Quercus spp., Salix caprea, Ulmus glabra |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Populus spp., Quercus spp., Salix spp. |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus petraea, Quercus robur |
| No common name Zeugophora turneri |
Vulnerable | Populus tremula |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp., Salix spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Salix spp. |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Salix caprea |
| Purple emperor Apatura iris |
Near Threatened | Populus tremula, Salix caprea |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Sorbus aucuparia |
| Minor shoulder-knot Brachylomia viminalis |
Near Threatened | Populus tremula, Salix caprea |
| Light crimson underwing Catocala promissa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Dark crimson underwing Catocala sponsa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Dusky-lemon sallow Cirrhia gilvago |
Near Threatened | Ulmus glabra |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Populus spp., Salix spp., Ulmus glabra |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Festuca spp. |
| Dingy mocha Cyclophora pendularia |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa, Salix caprea |
| Heart moth Dicycla oo |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Kentish glory Endromis versicolora |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa, Betula pubescens |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Populus spp., Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Salix spp., Ulmus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp. |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Galium spp. |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Populus tremula, Salix spp. |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp., Salix spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Wall Lasiommata megera |
Near Threatened | Brachypodium sylvaticum |
| Clay fan-foot Paracolax tristalis |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Common fan-foot Pechipogo strigilata |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Frosted green Polyploca ridens |
Near Threatened | Quercus petraea, Quercus robur |
| Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata |
Near Threatened | Galium 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.