Saturday 14th April 2012.
Taynish Nature Reserve is a short distance from Tayvallich and this ancient deciduous woodland is one of the largest in Britain.
It lies on a scenic peninsula overlooking Loch Sween and has an atmosphere all of its own. The humid woodland offers ideal growing conditions. Trees and rocky slopes in the wood are home to around 250 species of mosses and liverworts (bryophytes) – a quarter of all the species found in Britain, including seven which are nationally scarce. Amongst the special ferns, delicate and translucent filmy ferns grow on rocks and tree trunks. Around 500 species of lichen have been found in the Reserve, including 91 nationally scarce species. Over 300 types of flowering plants grow here, including two colonies of narrow-leaved helleborine, an uncommon orchid for which Taynish is a UK stronghold. A wide range of butterflies, moths, beetles, dragonflies and other insects live in the woodland and woodland clearings, including many that are nationally scarce.
Directions : From the A816 Oban – Lochgilphead road turn onto the B8025 to Tayvallich 1 mile south of Kilmartin or take the B841at Cairnbaan and turn onto the B8025 at Bellanoch. The Reserve car park is one mile south of Tayvallich, on a partly unmetalled road..
Please meet in the car park (Grid Ref : NR737852), at 1000 hours with suitable outdoor waterproofs and footwear. Please also bring along a packed lunch.
It is essential to book for this event, please contact Richard Wesley on :-
L: 01852 300388, M: 07788 721448, E: snhguk@gmail.com