Mountain willow scrub encompasses five arctic-montane species – woolly willow, downy willow, whortle-leaved willow, mountain willow and net-leaved willow. They are often accompanied by two more widespread species, dark-leaved willow and tea-leaved willow. The area of this habitat in Scotland is thought to be under 1,000 hectares. Most restoration projects, such as the pioneering one at Ben Lawers NNR, have taken place within fenced exclosures. Some estates such as Mar Lodge NNR and Corrour are now establishing new areas of mountain willow scrub alongside landscape-scale management for low deer densities.
In many places where this scrub occurs it is accompanied by a variety of tall herbs, and along with the catkins of the willows this provides a valuable nectar source for pollinating insects and foodplants for many invertebrates. The willows support rare gall forming sawflies, with Euura arbusculae being known only from mountain willows on either side of Loch Tay and nowhere else in the world. Particularly where mountain willow scrub grades into submontane woodland it can support a wide range of species, including red-listed birds such as ring ouzels and black grouse.
Photo: Sarah H. Watts
Action Needed
- Support measures to combat climate change.
- Enforce strong deer management legislation which prioritises the conservation and recovery of habitats and species.
- Support mountain willow scrub expansion through rural development programme measures.
- Ensure the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy is fully delivered.
Threats
- Overgrazing by deer and in some places, sheep is a serious threat to the establishment, natural regeneration and longevity of mountain willow scrub.
- Climate change reduces the snow lie that protects the plants from browsing animals in spring.
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