Brian Robinson NDT', InstG

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Brian Robinson NDT., InstG

• Seed Research Director
• Rigby Taylor

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WELCOME TO THE CAIRNGORMS

• FUNICULAR RAILWAY PROJECT

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION

• PROJECT
• Replace chairlift with Funicular Railway
• Ptarmigan, Snow Bunting, Reindeer
• Areas within the national park for nature
  conservation

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PROJECT

• The development site spans altitudes between
  600mts and 1,080mts
• The Cairngorm lies partly within the Cairngorm
  area of conservation
• The main principles to consider are
• Minimise damage to the vegetation and protect
  areas surrounding the development
• Scrap off the existing vegetation as turf for
  reinstatement
• Excavation of the organic material situated
  between the plant root mass and granite base
• The organic material to be removed by horizons
  for storage prior to reinstating them in their
  original position

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MINIMISING DAMAGE

• A two stage cable crane was erected following the
  line of the original ski lift
• The crane was capable of lifting up to nine
  tonnes
• This reduced the need for frequent access and
  reduced vegetation damage

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SCALE OF THE OPERATION

• Largest single component was the cut and fill
  operation to construct the tunnel
• The tunnel is approximately 250metres long and
  50metres wide (including excavation area) and is
  situated at an altitude of 1,080 metres
• Vegetation, contours and soil profiles were
  plotted and photographed prior to commencement of
  the construction

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PRINCIPLES OF HABITAT RENOVATION

• Minimising damage
• Removal and replacement of vegetation in exact
  location
• Storage and documentation of soil profiles and
  vegetation

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WHY USE AMENITY GRASSES?

• Varieties easier to control by nutrient
• Establish under more varied conditions
• Can be controlled by nutrient to avoid
  contamination of local flora
• Wider portfolio of grasses available

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ADVANTAGES OF AMENITY GRASSES

• Can formulate mixtures to create a long- term
  vegetation structure, which encourages
  development of new flora, i.e. crowberry from the
  peat root zone material
• Rapid root establishment for stabilization
• Protects sensitive vegetation during the
  regenerating process
• Less risk of contamination

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TIME SCALE OF GRASS TRIALS

• Initial trials 8890
• Mixture trials 95-99

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TRIAL MIXTURE 1
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TRIAL MIXTURE 3
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TRIAL MIXTURE 4 Northern Carries (SSI Area)
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MIXTURE OBSERVATIONS

• Within three years, local heather Nardus stricta
  and Deschampsia flexuosa grasses were noted to be
  developing in the base of the original sward.
• Heathers and local flora were noted to have
  increased by 30 over the initial 3 years of the
  trials.
• The level and seed of colonisation by local flora
  and the existing numbers of seed heads generated
  by individual plants.
• Altitude contrasts in the formulation of the
  mixtures. Monitoring of the mosses that develop.

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WIND CHILL / GERMINATION TRIAL

• Perennial Rye Grass cultivars from STRI lists.
• 20 cultivars selected and monitored at the
  following height
• 1,000metres
• 750metres
• 500metres

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IDENTIFYING GROWTH PATTERNS IN RAPIDLY CHANGING
TEMPERATURES

• Example
• 8 weeks 8th October to 30th November
• Monitored growth and temperature at which plants
  become dormant

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SCOTTISH NATIONAL HERITAGE APPROVED RENOVATION
MIXTURE SELECTED FOR THE CAIRNGORM PROJECT
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Thank you for your attention

• Have a nice day!